Suggestions of handy things to pack for labour bag?

Hey all !

I know I still have quite a way to go, but as I'm currently packing up our house to move, I'm also putting aside a few things in a small suitcase for my labour bag. Baby things will go in a separate bag I think coz I dont have much room in the case.

Just wondering if anyone has any handy ideas of what should go in there?
And also, what do you find comfy to wear while labouring in hospital? I dont particularly fancy labouring in the nuddie or in a hospital gown if I can get away with it..

I've only so far put in some maternity pads (tho that's more for after labour I guess), toothbrush/paste etc, I might put in one of my heat/cold packs. I dont think we'll be doing the music CD thing. Will I be too naiive if I pack playing cards or something (LOL - as if I'll be thinking clearly during contractions!!).. any ideas for snacks/drinks or anything else?

There was another thread just recently but will try to dig it up for you.
A few handy suggestions are ear plugs and eyemask for sleeping, for labouring in, maybe an oversized large t-shirt, or some comfy trackies or singlet is what I started in, a pashmina shawl was great for labouring in undies but having it around my shoulders was nice to keep a bit of modesty, when Dr's etc came in, lip balm, hard boiled lollies, gatorade type drinks, snacks for DH, my DH took in a mag and read that when things were slow so cards isn't a bad idea if things are going slow(or better still - stay at home til they pick up ;) ) nice pj's, lots of cheap undies you can throw away when they get wrecked, massage oil, heat/cold pack and um that's all I can think of right now! There is an article on the mian site with a good list too! :)

you may need pads during labour but i would suggest you get cheap crap ones, if your water breaks earlier in labour you may find them handy but you might need to change them every couple of minutes hence the cheapies are good.
beckles

ooohh forgot maternity pads, breast pads (I love the pidgeon ultra slim ones) and some nipple cream like Lansinoh.

thongs for the shower, spare batteries/ for camera

I birthed in the nude this time, not by choice but I had just got out of the bath and felt the need to push so they got me on the bed and broke my waters straight away.

I birthed in my swimmers top for all 5.
I didnt really have a labour bag i had my hospital bag which had every thing in it, it was in the labour ward with me, having a nice cosy pair of pjs to get into after baby was born just feels so nice and homely.
maternity pads, breast pads, lots of knickers, change for tv guy, mobile charger, lollies, hairbands, etc just a few items i had.

Hi

I had some tennis balls in my bag. They are great for your partner to use on your back. I also had a yellow stress ball, it got a lot of use during contractions.

Another good thing is some lollies and food for your partner. My husband ate all the food i packed, i got none.

Suzi

Only thing i can think of for your labour bag is you camera, spare batteries, heat pack and as for labouring nude, i didnt wanna do it either so i wore a short nightie, covered the top half of me and went to just above my knees, i will def labour again in it, easy to slip on and off (especially handy when your getting in and out of showers or baths)

And btw you can never be to early to pack your bags, i havent done mine yet but thats only cause im waiting to get the suitcase off my mum. lol

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!