Suggestions of handy things to pack for labour bag?

[Cassius2]

i really loved having my packet of jelly beans...when my energy was going down during labour i found the glucose boost really helped (i got the glucose jelly beans from the chemist...).

i would also pack some socks as sometimes the feet get cold.

and cards are a great idea! my waters broke and the hospy made me stay in, and it took a good 5 hours for active labour to start...magazines are fun too (esp. the baby/parenting ones as it reminds you of what's to come!).

Comfy nighties (i use the plural as they do tend to get messy/wet).

tennis balls are great.

[deni]

Thanks heaps girls, great suggestions! I'll check out the BB article too.

[Gigi]

i had some medium to dark colour, NursingWear breastfeeding t-shirts that were great.

I didn't think of it (due to emergency ambulance ride and no suitcase as a result), but wish i'd been more prepared, to pack cloth post partnum pads and cloth breastpads. The disposable pads really irritated my skin.

Spare batteries for camera is good too.

Heat packs. In the hospital i had my emerg c-section at, the post labour ward staff are not allowed to administer heatpacks! only the phyio department! If i had known that, i would have my own heatpacks, and gotten dh to go down to community kitchen and warmed them up in the microwave - i was really hanging for some heat relief the days after the c-section.

[satya]

The only things we used from our well packed labour bag were lip balm, camera (with spare batteries) and coins to get the TV on when I got to the post natal ward.

I had a couple of t shirt type nighties packed to labour in but what I actually laboured in were the trackies & maternity tshirt that I arrived at hossy in and by the time I wanted to get out of that I was more than happy to get into one of their gowns (even though I thought I wouldn't want to). I had a long labour and my waters broke at hossy so I needed several changes in gown. I also ended up with blood all over the final gown I wore so was very glad not to have worn my own clothing.

We had both the labour bag and the hossy bag in the labour ward with us (the midwife told us it was fine to bring them both in) and I wish we'd packed less in the labour bag as it took seemingly forever for DF to find the lip balm when I needed it as I had too much other stuff packed in there like toiletries that I didn't have any desire to use until I went to the ward.

Unless you are having an epidural I wouldn't be taking cards. I couldn't even concentrate on the news items on the TV in the room.

[Lozza]

hi i just had my baby 2 weeks ago and i found the best thing was a ipod with small speakers. he was born to my fav song. lollies for energy a wheat pack and fannels or hand towels. i took magazines but was in too much pain to read them. music really helps

[Kazbah]

Nice bath gel for after labour ... I can still remember the elation whenever I use it now.

List of contact numbers for after the birth.

I wore a sarong & crop top.

And extra pairs of socks in case they get wet when your waters broke.

[Krisvee]

and nice body lotion! Although just be careful putting it on as afterwards you can feel quite dizzy etc...from showering...

and my number 1 essential - SOFT TOILET PAPER! Trust me - it's well worth the investment - I always buy the softest most expensive stuff I can find and leave it in the toilet...I don't know whether the others that shared my room used it but it was my gesture of kindness! LOL! The last thing you need is that awful papery toilet paper...LOL!