Labour Bag

[rustygirl]

I'm 36 weeks and still haven't packed a labour bag. Not too sure about what to put in it.

With all you ladies that have had a baby before what did you find necessary and unnecessary?

[Sammiejane]

HI Nina,

Haven't had bubs yet, but i have just finished packing and the tips that i was given for the bag (along with the usual stuff)
were
* Hair ties or hair bands to keep hair off face
* Sports drinks for hydration
* little snacks that are easy to chew and taste yummy (i have put apricot delight in mine)
* wheat bag/heat pack if not supplied by hospital
*massage oil/cream

Hope this helps - i will be watching this to see what people really used - and i will repost and let you know what i used if i remember :P

[Kitty33]

KNICKERS!! Lots of knickers !
I put 3 pairs in and used them all!! And was only in for just over 24 hours!!
PJ's.... I put 2 pairs of those in and used them both as the bleeding was heavy and got on them, just in time to get home.
DEFINATLY the hair ties if you have long hair....
CAMERA!! Dont forget your camera if you want to take photos... WE FORGOT OURS!!!
I did pack snacks but didnt get time to eat them as far as pre labour and labour went... but for afterwards definalty pack some snacks... I found I was STARVING between allocated meal times!!
Shampoo and conditioner... Its sooo nice washing your hair afterwards!! just dont have the shower too hot!! i did and nearly passed out as the blood loss was huge and my Blood pressure dropped massivly... Whoops! hehe.
If you are going for a natural birth pop some old face washers in there.... I got 2nd degree tears so putting ice into a washer and sticking it my ample pairs of knickers was bliss!! he he he
Sorry TMI!!
Hope that helps and I didnt just have a massive ramble!! just woke up from a nap so thats my excuse!!
GOOD LUCK SWEETHEART!!
xoxoxo

[danniellabella]

I'm yet to pack mine also, I have written a list of what to pack but just haven't actually done it yet.

I'm planning to pack the following:

For me

• toiletries (loofa, body wash, deoderant, toothbrush/paste, hairbrush/hair ties, moisteriser. Will wash hair at home so not taking shampoo).
• maternity pads.
• few pairs of trackies / pajamas.
• loose fitting tops.
• maternity bras.
• my own pillow.
• laptop and CDs for music during and after labour.
• old undies. (clean of course, but ones that are going to get thrown out).
• camera (still & video)
• slippers
• dressing gown
• socks

For hubby

• Fresh boxers.
• change of clothes (trackies & t-shirt).
• deoderant
• food & drinks (sandwiches, snacks, mug for coffee, stuff like that).

For baby

• Clothes & blanket to go home in (including mittens, socks & hat).

*everything else for bub is supplied by the hospital I'm going to so I don't need anything but what it will go home in.

I'm pretty sure that covers everything.

[Nelle]

My thinking is, you never know what your labour will be like, or what you'll be in the mood for, so pack anything and everything - you might not use most of it, but you never know.

I can post my list, but it's pretty big - I'm a 'just in case' kind of packer.
Also, print out your list, and have where those things are in the bag (like, hair clips - side pocket) - so your birth partners aren't rummaging aimlessly for stuff.


ETA: I've come back now the battery's charged to explain a few things! Since I have nothing better to do...apart from start packing my labour bag!
I'll bold the things I actually used. You'll never know what you need though!
(for labour, so was in one section)
- Camera (and charger)
- Lip balm
- Dark comfy undies
- Face washers
- Snacks (food and juice/cordial) (DH used!)
- Back massager
- Nail scissors and file (I couldn't think of anything worse than being annoyed by a broken nail in labour, it's the little things that annoyed me)
- Dh's bathers (waterbirth), spare jocks, clothes, deodorant
- Hair clips/ties
- Cooling spray/spray bottle for water

(for after, so was in another part)
- Pyjamas
- Slippers
- Dressing gown
- More dark comfy undies
- Maternity bras
- Hairdryer
- Maternity pads
- Breast pads
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Shower gel (amazing to feel fresh again after the birth)
- Brush
- Makeup (for all the 'new family photos, I don't quite look so zombie like!)
- Tooth brush & paste
- Hairties
- Flushable toilet paper (just sooo awesome on a sore grazed tush! Had plenty for home too.)
- Tissues
- Books/magazines/music
- Comfy loose clothes

(for baby)
- nappies/wipes/cream (if hospital doesn't provide, or if you like yours better)
- socks/mittens (thought mittens would be dumb, but ours scratched himself heaps)
- singlets/bodysuits (consider 000 as well as 0000, Riv was a big'un, the Target 0000 stuff fit, but he needed 000 in Bonds)
- wraps
- face washers/cloths

Ah laptop battery about to die!

[{sarah}]

Also, check out this article on the main BB site

[JordieC]

I won't post all the obvious things like clothes and toiletries - that's you choice!! Lots of black undies are a great idea - buy a 6 pack from Target!! Take your own toilet paper - A MUST!!!! Much softer!!

Check with your hospital about what they supply for baby. I took a few nice neutral outfits cause we were there for 5 days and didn't want her in their nighties all the time - on the other hnad they wash everything of theirs so that's a plus! My hospital supplied pads too but I had some of my own as well.

Labour bag - I didn't use mine but I'm glad I had my bathers (for awhile) and savoys!!!

[Ginger]

lots of bonds wondersuits!
lots of undies for you

[Alina0210]

With DS i never actually opened my bag at all.. LOL... and my labour was 12 hours.. hahaha.

Hair ties are good
Sports drinks
Icey Poles (my hospital had some as i forgot mine)
Wheat Bag (to be heated)

[Nelle]

Ohhh icy poles, I'll have to have some in our freezer! Especially if I go into labour on a hot day! (hehe, good excuse to keep the freezer completely stocked - but babe, what if I go into labour?? )

I don't think I'll need to take them into hospital, since I'm planning on doing as much labouring at home as I can, but it could be good, for water and sugar.

[Janie]

Ooooh, I never thought of icy poles! I had jelly DH was spooning it into my mouth while I was in the bath during transition! I really believe that keeping up the fluid and sugar intake really helps a labouring woman. So icy poles sound good!

[Nettie]

Icy poles will be a must for me! It's been the one 'craving' thing I've had throughout my pregnancy - cold things! Must have drinks icy cold and ice blocks, ice cream, cold milk, etc are the only things I absolutely crave (and can't do without!). My sister craved ice when she was pregnant - so maybe it's a genetic thing?

I wonder if the hospital has a bar fridge in the labour ward for icy poles? he he must ask when I see the mw!

[Nelle]

Nettie, I craved ice last pregnancy, a friend's mum said 'oh I craved ice and it meant I was iron deficient' I was like yeah whatever, got my bloods done and was iron deficient! I'm so into the slurpees and icy poles and ice this pregnancy, and same, iron deficient again.

Not saying that you definitely are, I'd have no clue, but might be worth checking out.

[Snoopea]

Knickers and your own maternity pads hospital ones are yuk!!
Changes of clothes for you incase you need to stay in longer than expected and hubbies can be hopeless labour goes to their heads who can blame them!(eg asking for black pants and getting jeans that don't fit)
Change for phone box or mobile phone with credit is a must (if you can use them)
Change for drink machine/ snack machine (found this heapful for hubby)
Nibbles for hubby or midnight snacks for you.
Hair ties
Dressing gown and slippers to keep you snug.
Changes of clothes for bubs, (normally hospital will dress them, but I always liked to dress mine in their own cloths)
Nappies and wipes for bubs
Bunny rugs for going home
Best of luck with your bag!!
Snoopea

[shell_120308]

I am forever putting more things into my hospital bag, I keep remembering items that I should take along. Like the other night I thought about my wheat bag and hair ties.... I think this week I am going to go through the bag and look at everything I have packed and what I still need. I haven't yet packed any snacks or drinks in the bag, so better get something to put in there....

[rustygirl]

Thanks heaps. Very insightful! Def going to pack hair ties as I am very fussy with the ones that I like and don't want to have to get some one to get them and get the wrong ones.....also I thought of a headband to keep my hair off my face. I have lots of little fly away hair. Thought it might be a good idea.

I have a collection of sizes for bubba two size 0000 and three size 000 bodysuits.
Three size 0000 and three 000 size singlets. I don't know what size he will be and I'm pretty sure he is going to be long cause both me and DF are tall. (5'10) I have more packed but can't remember what sizes they are. I think I have gone abit over board but figure that too much is better than not enough.

[Nettie]

I've ordered some 'warm ties' which are little rice heat bag things that you put into a tie-on belt thingy for labour (so your hands are free)...

I can put them on the pile of stuff to pack when they arrive. I still haven't actually put anything IN the bag yet... just in a pile!

I've decided I'll go along to a few op shops and see if I can get reasonable quality 0000 growsuits so it's not such a big expense if bubs doesn't fit in them. I figure lots of people must buy smaller sizes and their either not used at all, or only for a couple of weeks... so the op shops have probably got some pretty good stuff!

Bit bored tonight, so maybe I'll start packing what I've got so at least I feel better about making that start...

[Je$$_84]

Just thought i'd add thongs for the shower... We discussed this in out BB group and it was brought up. I had never thought of it but sounds like a great idea for those hossy's with a shared room and bathroom... IYKWIM???


As for Bubs clothes i had a labour/hossy bag with all the above mentioned items in there. and also i got DP to bring the nappy bag which i filled with several outfits (various sizes), blankets, mittens (very usful as DS kept scratching his face to bits) a dummy (we werent planning on using one but had one just incase- came in handy) and basically anything i thought i'd want or need for bubs