Packing the bags!!

Okay I have a question for those of you that have had more then one child......Is it really worth packing a labour bag, hospital bag and a baby bag or can I just put it all in one??

I need to buy a new suitcase anyways and was looking at this 3 pack one so maybe it is the go if I need to pack all three!!

TIA

I pack all of mine in 1... just a big bag with my stuff for after Birth as i have found I arrive give birth inw hat i am in & then shower change into clothes I have packed dress bubs & send the stuff I birthed in, home with Mum or Dh...
Then am in my room & only have 1 bag (plus a garbage bag that I stick anything baby or self related that needs washing in...)
Then when I leave I have 1 bag & a baby to take home I usually get Dh to take gifts & flowers etc home the night before I leave hospital!

I just wanted to add my 2cents!

I agree with what others have said about those surfboard pads - they look horrendous and you think you'd never wear them in a million years but they are the best!!
I bought the Libra ultra thin as well - thankfully though, my sister gave me a packet of the surfboards. I ended up using the surfboards and nothing else for the first 2 weeks - even after the bleeding slowed down so I could use non-maternity pads. The surfboards are so much more comfy against a sore, torn perenium. The ultra thins HURT!! Youch! Plus, you can tear the end of the surfboards and insert an ice popsicle inside the lining to soothe your sore girly bits. (my hospital supplied the ice popsicles.)

Also, I bought a couple of cheap ($20) Target maternity bras which were brilliant in the hospital. Not a lot of support but enough for sitting around in bed and they were extra comfy for sleeping in.

The pigeon breast pads were my favourite. They are pretty pricey though - after a couple of weeks I switched to the cheapie ones.

The BEST thing I had in my labour bag was some frozen apple juice poppers. I took lollies but in the end, the idea of that fake glucose made me feel ill. But the icy cold fruit juice was great for cooling me down, getting my blood sugar up and it gave me something to suck on. I drank all 6!!

A couple of extras for the labour bag list to consider is swimmers for your birth partner, massage tool and oil.

Also for later, some change for phoneaway cards, magazine cart that comes around, vending machine etc...I'm also going to take a couple of our melamine camping mugs as you get sick of the styrofoam cups pretty quickly.

I'm loving the soft toilet paper idea! Would never have thought about that one!

Happy 1st birthday too hannahfroodoo! :confetti:

Hi. I'm starting to think about packing my bags too... Everyone talks about these maternity "surfboards" . All I can seem to find are the maternity pads that look like the size of regular pads and don't think thats what your on about... Can you tell me what the brand is that these surfboards are? Or which is the best ones to buy?

Thanks heaps

I was really happy with the 'kotex maternity pads'. I tried another brand but was not happy with them. Get the kotex x 2packs!!!!

Kotex here too. They are the same length as a normal pad I think (if I remember correctly) but they're thick thick thick. I'm with Chantal - you can't have too many - you'll change them constantly to keep comfy and clean.

I hear the 'surfboards' they have in hospitals are not plastic backed either. They must be ordered by a man!!

Hi

Last time I found the Kotex ok until the numbness went and then they started getting uncomfortable coz of bruising so the libra maternity or goodnights are vv good when u have bruising n dont feel like a nappy. they are called surfboards coz they are longer than a newborn nappy! if u don't believe me open a pack!

I had 1 suitcase that Sarah n I shared and a labour bag with bathers 4 hubby n snacks that i didn't eat.

Ok,

I just went and found my packing list that i kept on the computer. The only things I can see on there that aren't mentioned here are:

- travel alarm clock - as the clock in my room was in a really strange spot, so this way i could tell the times of feeds, as everytime i wanted to check my watch the baby was lying on that arm.

- safety pins - i took them but don't think i used them, but thought i would mention it

- zoo pillow - great for breastfeeding - in hospital last time i had a triangle pillow which was stupid and hard, got the zoo pillow a few months later and def. taking it to hospital with me for the next one.

- panadol/panadeine - when the nurses were really busy i found it hard to get some pain relief from them, so i bought my own.

- assorted plastic bags for storing stuff (and for the presents people bring you in hospital)

- ice/heat packs (good for labour also)

also, i took all these larger pre-pregnancy clothes as people had told me overnight they could fit back into normal clothes.. which for me was not the case, i still needed maternity for a couple of weeks.. but it was very embarressing the next day when my dr came to see me and i was still in my robe waiting for DH to turn up with clothes!

HTH

:lol:

Would you believe that I STILL dont have my bags fully packed??!! There is something that is just keeping me from doing it.... I think maybe I just dont believe that I could go any minute now!!

But I am right now going to make myself finish it. WIth my hospital bag I have the clothes I want to take in a dedicated section of my drawers, I thought this would be the easiest way. I've bought some new toiletries so have chucked the nearly used ones in my bag,jsut need to grab my toiletries bag off mum...

Hmmm labour bag I have not even thought about!! I am still really stuck on what to wear during labour. I dont understand why I am making it so hard!! I might go out and buy a cheap long night shirt...

Baby's bag.. I am planning to bring some of my own clothes and I will decide if I want to use my clothes or the hospitals when I am there. My hospital supplies cloth nappies, I may give them a go but want to pack disposables. How many does a baby need for a 3 night stay??!!

Sorry V, I seem to be following you with your posts today!

I haven't yet fully packed my bag yet and am trying to get some motivation. I keep telling myself that I will do it tomorrow and tomorrow never comes!!

Argh!:doh:

LOL Danielle!! Its so hard getting the motivation hey but I AM going to do it today. Going to make myself do it. Maybe you should do it today as well and we can both get it done today??!!

I probably should instead of sitting on BB most of the day!! I might go and start .. well ...continue now!

Good luck with yours... i'll let you know how I go!:D

LOL yes I know what you mean about sitting on BB all day. hehe I have packed a little, more than what I had already in the bag!

I got another question to go with the how many nappies to pack.... Do you pack any bibs or 'spew cloths' for breast feeding??

Sorry to crash your post but what about clothing... I am planning on breastfeeding and I dont have many zip up or button up tops. Does this matter??

No worries Danielle :) Anyone can ask questions in here :D

I dont have any tops with zips or buttons either :( I figure I am just going have to bring up my top and just let my belly get cold! Or I might drop in to target or k-mart and see if they have anything cheap.

I only have 1 top with a zip, so I have been thinking the same about maybe going to Kmart or Target or something!!

This whole bag thing is so involved and it makes my head hurt thinking about it!! :doh: