Bags 4 Hospital - Is It Too Much?

[alioops]

Chargers for your phone and camera!!! Nothing worse than needing something and being able to ring DP, and you want LOTS of photos of your NB. If you have a laptop get DP to bring it in at least once for you to download the photos onto so you have room in your memory card for more if you have a longer hospital stay.

[Liviam]

I would suggest you ring your hospital to find out exactly what they supply for bubba as each hospital is different. Our hospital does not supply anything for bubba but do have some blankets available if needed. I would trim down a little bit for your initial pack. Bubba doesn't need a stuffed toy, shampoo etc, towels or facewashers. Use the hospital supply. I would also only pack 3 of each outfit and have another 3 sets at home for DP to bring in when he visits and takes home the dirty things. I would do the same with your clothes too. Have two changes of clothes and pj's and have 2 changes at home for DP to bring in. You don't have a lot of room in the hospital so the less you bring the better - especially when DP will be coming in everyday to visit and can bring clean stuff with him and take the dirty stuff home. Don't forget your slippers. Think comfy for your feet too.
Your labour bag is good. I'd also think about some music too. A great alternative too barley sugar etc is chupa chups. You can take them out of your mouth with contractions and you/your partner have to hold them by. I probably wouldn't pack my own water unless told too by your hospital. I would be surprised if they didn't provide water.
Have your spares packed in the green shopping bags on the table (or somewhere else really obvious for DP) so he can also use them to bring home the dirty stuff. Plastic bags would be good too.
Think about your own pillow too. Leave as much in the car as you can. DH can bring it in after bubba is born.

[BeautifulMadness]

if thats what you feel comfy with, then go for it, sometimes u want ur own things that make u feel that bit less uncomfy while there. i gotta re think my bag

[Amaunet]

I would pack water as my hossy only has TAP WATER ....YUCK! Central Coast water is disgusting and often brown with floaties if they are flushing the mains.

[satya]

Check what your hospital supplies. Mine supplied nappies, facewashers, wraps, cotton wool (instead of wipes) & when he went into special care they also provided his clothes too... if he'd stayed in the ward they wouldn't have.

I mostly wandered around the hospital in PJ's or light tracky dacks & a light weight top. I don't remember using the robe much at all, or my slippers. I walked around either bear foot or with bed socks that have the grip things on the bottom so you don't slip over.

The only thing I used from my well packed labour bag during the labour was the lip balm.

Make sure you have a charger for your mobile & cash for a tv in the ward (unless it's included in your hossy stay).

We only took the labour bag into the hossy with us & left the hossy bag in the car but the middy told us it was OK to bring everything in so my then partner went out & bought my big bag into the labour room. Their reasoning behind that was that your partner did not have to leave you soon after having the bub to go back to the car to get your other stuff. You may want to check on that beforehand.

If you do cut back on clothing make sure you have a second bag packed in case you stay longer. That's one thing I do regret. I only expected to have a 2 or 3 night stay & ended up with a 5 night one. It's not exactly easy to explain what clothing you want bought in, nor is it easy to remember where it was when you left home (hanging in the wardrobe, in a drawer, on the line, in that pile of washing you didn't get to fold when you went into labour).

[SamiH]

Think about your own pillow too. Leave as much in the car as you can. DH can bring it in after bubba is born.

oh yes!!!! I bought my own pillow too

[Evie76]

My hossy provides nothing for the baby at all. So, if you're in that boat I'd keep your original plan.

I underpacked for DS and my bag will probably look very similar to yours - without the robe.

I love the soft toilet paper idea. My hossy uses the most sandpapery stuff they can find I reckon. When you jaxy's not feeling the best - sandpaper isn't what you'll be looking for.

I would love to go to a hospital where they provide everything for the baby. That would be magic. But, in the country, the choices are just not there.

I'm also thinking of taking my own Panadol. Last time it was like pulling teeth to get Panadol when my uterus was shrinking when BF. They just kept forgetting I'd asked for it. I doubt you'd need to do that though.

[SareBear]

I agree with the soft toilet paper, definitely need that! And the flushable wipes are a great idea too.

I didn't use my robe, spent most of the time in pj's. I'd say overpack underwear and pants, I also had to ask DH to bring me spare pants.

[~CrazyMumOf3~]

Evie - thanks for the panadol reminder. thats what my bag is missing. i too had issues getting it when i needed it at like 3am.

[Evie76]

That's why I'm here Crazy!!

[~Saram~]

Labour Bag:

I think your labour bag sounds good, did you need to add massagers/tennis balls, heat packs etc or does your hossy suppy these. Also pack maybe 2 nappies for bub (unless hossy supplies) incase it gets messed before you get to your room - we were in the labour ward for nearly 2 hrs before I walked myself to a room

I agree what most have said on the baby bag - check what your hospital supplies, they will def supply towels so don't worry about that.

For your bag,

Lots of pj's and maternity bras
little zip lock bags/plastic bags for stained things and plasitic bag for dirty clothes
squeezy sauce bottle for washing your tender tushie after using the toilet unless they have a bidet like mine (oh yes I was spoilt)

[Evie76]

Squeezy sauce bottle? That idea totally rocks.

[~CrazyMumOf3~]

my hospital with my first suggested the sauce bottle but i never bothered with it.

[helle]

Chargers for your phone and camera!!! Nothing worse than needing something and being able to ring DP, and you want LOTS of photos of your NB. If you have a laptop get DP to bring it in at least once for you to download the photos onto so you have room in your memory card for more if you have a longer hospital stay.

I'd just buy a couple more memory cards! You can pick up 2G's for about 9 bucks from Harvey Norman!

[Fleur]

I would also say ditch nearly all of the baby stuff, I thought hospital provides most of that... but as Evie76 says her hosp doesn't provide anything, it's best to check. If they do provide stuff it might be better just to pack the nappy bag for going home.

I don't think you can really over pack for yourself, especially clean underwear & stuff! I'm one who would rather have too much & not need it, than not enough.
I agree though that you shouldn't need the water (& it will be a PITA to lug around).

One thing in my labour bag is TWO pairs of socks... in case my waters break on one pair
And our camera uses batteries, not a charger, so I am buying batteries to keep in the bag ready to go.. nothing worse than getting there with flat batteries & I don't think DH will be inclined to stop on the way lol.

Panadol & flushable wipes are a great idea & will both be added to my list!