Packing the bags!!

Ok, I thought that it was about time that I start packing the bags - labour, hospital and baby bag. I am normally a pretty organised person but for some reason I just cant get myself in to the mode to pack my bags! I think that may be because I havent had a bag until today as I went out and bought one.

So pretty much I am after some help as to what shall I pack and what wouldnt really be needed and what things really helped you out! What I got from the hospital was pretty vague...

Hospital Bag
Clothing - pj's, comfy day clothes, breast feeding tops (this is a maybe cause I would need to buy them)
Maternity bras
Maternity pads (2/3 packs)
Breast Pads
Nipple Cream
Breast Pump
Toilet paper
Toiletries
Pen and paper
Book
Ipod
Undies (10)
Thongs

Just got a few questions from the above list:
- How many maternity bras did you pack?? I really only have one good maternity bra I do have others that I wear occassionally..
- Breast pads - would one pack be enough? The brand I have is Pigeon Ultra-Slim, are these good enough?
- Maternity pads - I havent brought myself to buying the 'surfboard' maternity pads. I have Libra Maternity Ultra Thin pads at the mo, shall I still buy the 'surfboard' type or are these ok?
- Toiletries - do you just pack these at the last minute or did you buy extras and have it all packed and ready to go?
- Clothing - I guess most people packed these at the last minute. How did you remember to pack everything that you needed? I guess a list would be best!

Well I think that is all the Q's I have at the mo on the hospital bag...

Baby Bag
Disposable Nappies
Clothing
Cotton buds
Toiletries

Above is all the hospital has suggested to bring.

With the clothing, did you just use what the hospital supplied or did you dress your baby in their own clothes??
What else needs to be packed for bubs?? What about wraps, singlets??

Labour Bag
I havent really given the labour bag too much thought!!! Any suggestions on what to pack in the labour bag would be great!!

Well this is all that I have at the moment. I'm sure as time goes on I will have some more questions :)

V- surfboards- midwife at classes suggested to stick 2 together for the first 2 days as the bleeding is really bad, so am thinking that ultra slims won't be a good idea (i bit the bullet and brought surfboards one at a time till i had enough so i didn't look like i had a problem!!!)
bras- again midwife suggested crop tops as the bras can be a bit uncomfy at night and the crop tops have lycra in them so expand so fit the bb as the milk comes in and swells them up.
toiletries- i and putting nearly finished containers into a toiloetry bag as i buy things ie when i brought new shamp/cond I put the nearlly empty bottles in bag- they will be enought to get me through hosp and can just throw out container at hosp before i leave.
breast pads- i brought the same brand- but have never used them, so hpoe they are okay.
clothing- not to worried about this as DH can bring them in as he is visiting every day and can bring in new ones for me.

Here's what I took the last 2 times (this time is different as i will be in Birthing Centre & only for 24hours!)

Hospital Bag for me..
Clothing - Pj's with a top with buttons (for feeding), comfy day clothes (tracky dacks, (loose) t-shirts or button front shirts (for feeding) & singlet tops.
* I never bought special feeding tops just loose tops etc..

Maternity bras x 3! (leaks will probably happen)
Maternity pads (2/3 packs) As I dont bleed heavily or for long I could use normal pads.. But I still grab maternity surfboards to be sure to be sure!!!
Breast Pads x 1 pkt
Nipple Cream
lip balm is important
mobile phone & charger
Toiletries (basic) as i didnt do a full face etc!!!
A pen
Undies (10)
camera & video camera (as I took photo's & video when all alone!)
hair ties
moisturiser
purse an empty garbage ag for dirty washing...

Baby Bag (I just put in my bag too)
3 cloth nappies (for the day to take bubs home in u never know long you'll wait or how messy they can be & my hospital use cloth too. (extra flat nappies for any vomiting)
Clothing (5 singlets, 5 growsuits or nightgowns (easy to change bubs)
Bunny rug/swaddle blankets maybe 3
beanie (?)

Labour Bag
This I never know either & have usually not really taken anything, maybe some music, or whatever you REALLY want when in labour...
With both girls I have arrived at hospital in tracky's & a big T-shirt & ended up birthing in the T-shirt... Listening to radio..

So it's more what you will want/need etc in labour!

Hope that helps!!!

I think (off the top of my head,as I too havent packed... This is what i have had last times...)

Hey Veronica - you must be getting pretty excited now!! I hear you on motivation on getting the bags packed- I was hopeless and finalised them on the night I went in to be induced at 10 days over!!

I packed 2 bras and didnt really use them until after a few days (c/s and my milk was slow in coming though) Just keep in mind if you only take one and your bb's leak you wont have any others.

Anyway - I would suggest one pack of "surfboards" - I hate them too but they were useful for when my waters were broken -and also for the first day after my c/s as the flow that day was pretty heavy. I went to the ultra thin ones within a few days.

The Pidgeon ultra slim breast pads are great! Ive used others that feel really thick whereas the Pidgeon you cant see under tight tops later on and they stay really dry.

Toiletries - I bought spare shampoo and conditioner and soap, but everything else - i kept on one shelf in the bathroom with the bag ready to go and DH had instructions to grab it all to put in the bag on our way out. Also I found ear plugs and an eye mask cover to be priceless if you are sharing a room!

Clothes- I lived out of my suitcase -= just in case!! Remember Dh can take stuff in for you too. I had a just in case pile at home too for him to bring if needed!!

We dressed bub in our clothes (jumpsuits/singlets) and wrap - with hospital blankets.

Labour bag - IPod, magazines, massage oil and massager thingy, bathers for both of us ( I didnt use them - just went nudie!!) change of clothes for DH, birth plan (I forgot mine!) tissues, lip balm, camera,camera and phone chargers, pens.

Dont over stress - remember that whatever you forget you can get someone to bring in plus the hospital should provide things if you forget them too - like pads etc.

Phew - sorry for the information overload!!! Hope it helps!!!!

Hi Veronica

Not long now until your little miss arrives!

In terms of mat bras, I only packed 2 and that was fine for me. For night time I found any singlets with like a bra bit (you know a built in thingy were good- so you can pop breast pads into it. And of course maternity singlets- but they weren't a neccessity- Bonds have some good ones but.

Maternity pads: I took only one packet and that was fine for me too (the thick ones).

I had toiletries already packed and ready.

I took our own baby clothes to hospital (jumpsuits and singlets). I used their wraps and blankets.

I only took 1 pack of breast pads and didn't use any where near all the pack. Until my milk came in I didn't need them (day 3-4)- then by then I was discharged. I found those ones you bought were fine. You can also buy thicker pigeon ones- I found them a bit more comfy.

All the best sweet

Hello there, you're on the home run now!

Hospital bag - I didn't worry about special breastfeeding clothes - I don't own a lot of tops that button or zip up at the front so thought I need to get used to breastfeeding with whatever I am wearing - I never have a problem - I just pull it up (only problem is a cold back and tummy!). A couple of maternity bras is a good idea. With the maternity pads I also got the ultra thins never having worn surfboards BUT I also got some kotex maternity pads when they were on special and I ended up using them before the ultra thins as they were more comfortable after the birth - they provided a bit of padding to help support bruised regions! The ultra things were perfect before DD was born to mop up the mess after my waters broke. Nipple cream, in my opinion, isn't necessary. I got a small blister initially and I was told to express some milk, rub onto nipple and let airdry 0 blister cleared up within a day, I do this intermittently and 3 and a half months later I have not needed nipple cream. Didn't need breast pump initially either. Had toilet paper which would have been great if I had remembered to use it! 1 pack of breast pads would be more than enough. I packed my clothes once I went into labour as I was still wearing them. I purchased some extra toiletries to pack others I just put in once I went into labour - I had little stickers over mybags of what I needed to add before I left (also for my DH in case he was doing the last minute packing). Ummm...I wish I had time to listen to ipod, read a book or use a pen and paper!!

For baby's bag I put it in with my stuff - we took our own clothes as hospital didn't supply this - wondersuits and singlets and a cute outfit for going home in. A nappy to go home in (hospital supplied the rest). Bath stuff and some wraps.

For labour bag - 90%of the things Ipacked I didn't use. The essentials were a heat pack - brilliant for back. Some lollies (i had a handful), some CDs. I took a t-shirt to change into which I wore for maybe an hour before I ended up naked in the shower for the labour. DHs bathers so he could come in bath/shower with me. Water - lots and lots of water.

Hope this helps and good luck with everything - by the way, you are very organised, I thought about packing my bags at 30 weeks, I packed them at 40 weeks (didn't need them for another 5 days in the end!).

I also wanted to say, as Tan said don't stress too much. There is nothing DESPERATELY URGENT that you won't be able to live without (except the camera!).

I found it so funny, I went to so much trouble making sure we remembered everything and tried to be all organised but when we were ready to go to the hospital (by then I was wanting to push so things were quite intense) we still were like 'what do we need??! where is it all??!! - when it was mostly all there and ready, but we still fluffed around and I think forgot some stuff! So it is good to have things ready.

pads - since my first birth when i had to send Dh to woolies to buy more pads, I always packed three packs of 10 and left one at home where he could find them if I needed more. If you don't use them in hospital you will need them for home anyway.

Breastpads - you don't really need them until your milk comes in, but it never hurts to take box JIC - you will go through them really quick when your milk comes in as you need to change them after every feed.

Bag - I have always packed a pair of jocks, socks, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste for Dh in my bag as he liked to freshen up with a change of undies afterwards as you don't know how long it will go for kwim? he always felt better after that and it recharged the batteries for another few hours afterwards when you are taking soooo many pics of you both wtih bubs.

Baby clothes - my hospital supplies clothes (those daggy nighties that tie at the back) but I always took my own clothes for them because i wanted them to look good LOL. The hospitals will have blankets/wraps etc so you only really need one for going home. We always went down the street and brought a special going home outfit too (hospital lets you have a 'gate' pass to go down the street for an hour or so)

Maternity bras - packed 3 and would wash them out if I needed to

Knickers - at least 7 pairs

toiletries - always buy what I need and have it packed ready to go so I am not searching the house for stuff when the time comes. Plus you will use it at home anyway.

Misc - pen, phone, puzzle book (the nights can get lonely/boring)

The one single thing that I found most important to take (after learning the hard way) was to take a nice soft face washer for drying the boobies. The hospital towels are always so stiff and scratchy that when the boobs are getting a bit war torn it really hurts to dry them off.

Dito on everything the other ladys said, I used the surf boards with my last preg and found they where realy good cause i had had an episiotomy(sp?) and they gave me a bit more cushioning as they where realy painful, found out later that they had been bodged a little hence the pain.

I would recommend taking a couple of cooler items for your self as i found the ward was kept realy warm and you dont want to be to hot if this is the case.

Awesome responses everyone!! Keep them coming :)

How could I forget the camera and video camera!!!

I saved a comp version of my packing list from last time, so i would know exactly what i wanted.

Just wanted to say i had the thin pads and the thick ones, and only went with the thick ones in the end.. I needed something big and soft against my stitches, and i was so thankful for them.. won't even bother with the thin ones this time

I took like 4 bras i think... Oh, and i got this great singlet top (a few months after i gave birth), that absorbs the milk you leak, so you don't have to wear a bra.. they are great, so def. taking those 2 to wear under my pjs (a lot better than bras)

I took toilet paper, but never used it as the hospitals was fine. Maybe some nice soft tissues is better, you could always use it as both?

Def bring pen & paper to write stuff down on... and your address book/phone list to call people...

HTH

- How many maternity bras did you pack?? I packed three.
- Breast pads - would one pack be enough? not sure... I didnt pack or use any in hospital. I left on day 3 and didnt get my milk until day 6 so I didnt need them fo the first few days anyway.
- Maternity pads - I got those same Libra ones as you, and in my experience, they werent that great for those first few days after giving birth. I think I used them about two weeks after. For the first two weeks I used surfboard pads. The hospital supplied surfboards.
- Toiletries - I bought extras and I'm glad I did. toiletries were the last thing on my mind when we were going out the door to go to the hospital and I probably would have forgotton if I left it to the last minute. If you've missed something you can always get someone to go home and get it for you.
- Clothing - I had a few items packed beforehand. I did end up getting DH to go home and bring more after I had given birth. I brought like 10 pairs of crappy undies and dark coloured clothes (which was lucky because I leaked so much blood - i'd get on a new pad and , sorry but huge tmi here: within 20 - 30 minutes it had soaked through the pad, my clothes and onto the sheets of the bed)

With the clothing, did you just use what the hospital supplied ? - yes, they supplied uss with singlets (but most of their singets were massive) and they also supplied little tiny hospital gowns and nighties. I also used their blankets and wraps. They also supplied nappies so that made things a bit easier.
What else needs to be packed for bubs?? What about wraps, singlets?? I just packed a beanie and some clothes and blankets to take her home in.

The pen and paper is a great idea. I used mine heaps, plus they wanted me to write down on our charts when I was feeding and changing Claire, what was in her nappy each change, and how much I was peeing/pooing and I also had to fill in the meal forms to get my food, and some other stuff. So pen was useful there and also I think I did a crossword when I couldnt sleep. I brought my mp3 player but forgot all about it and never used it!

My labour bag had:
camera!! DEFINATELY remember that!
Lollies.
a crappy towel (my waters broke at home so I sat on the towel in the car)
some CD's
extra clothes
pads.

I was a bit too optimistic and thought that I'd be able to fit into pre-pregnancy jammies (they were biggish ones with drawstring waist) but nope. Unfortunately I didn't lose 20kg overnight, LOL. So I'd recommend taking maternity clothes - noice, comfy loose ones.
I used the pidgeon breastpads for ages until I got some cloth ones - I don't know how much I spent on those ruddy things, LOL. Like others, I used the surfboards for cushioning as well as being extra absorbent - and take LOTS cause you don't know how much you'll bleed and you'll want to change them very frequently anyway.
I packed toiletries just before we left - I had my toiletries bag on the bathroom vanity and just threw it in the bag when the time came.
I found it easier to keep bubs in the hospy gown until we went home (on day two), and they only supplied a few nappies, so it was good that we brought our own. Once she did that first poo, she was like a little pooing machine, LOL.
Its so exciting, Veronica! Not long to go now...

I went through 2 packets of the surf board pads so I think it differs between woman to woman as to how much u will bleed.

I also went through my entire box of breast pads and I didnt breast feed.

Lip Balm is real important. The old ducted aircon really really dries your lips out.

Im gonna take more everyday cloths this time cos last time I took heaps of pjs and ended up wearing regular cloths over and over again (mum did come in and bring me normal cloths on day 3 though so I wasnt that much of a feral).

I took 15 pairs of undies and used all but 3 cos of my huge blood lose. U can always rinse them out with soapy water in the shower and hang them up to dry if u really have too but I have just taught my husband how to use this washing machine just incase.

I took thongs (as in the ones that go on your feet). They were easy just to slip on and off.

One thing Im gonna take this time is our bouncer. This is probably totally unnecessary but in hospital my daughter started staying awake between feeds around lunchtime and she liked to look out the window and bounce around so I was going to take that so the baby got used to it. Its not the sorta thing u have to pack or anything. I was just gonna get my husband to bring it with him.

I just want to suggest getting the Kotex Maternity pads, those things were my Saviour!! I had to have stitches and found them incredibly comfortable. I used two packs in the hospital as I changed them so frequently, petrified of getting an infection.

I ended up using these until my stitches were gone as I felt quite fragile without the 'cushioning' to sit on:redface:

I took only two bras but ended up bra-less most of the time in there. Lived in my trackie pants and t-shirt.

One other thing I took was a hand held mirror, just for those quick touch ups before visitors came.

Good luck, how exciting!!

I brought the kotex 'surfboards' which really can in handy as I had a few stitches, and its much easier to spit them open to fit an icypole inside - you can't do that with an ultrathin.

But here hoping you have no need to anyway!

I took the softest toilet paper that I could find, and I was really glad that I did.

For baby, I would recommend using as much of the hospital supplied wraps and clothing as you can, purely to save your's getting lost, as the staff will most likely just throw it all in the linen bag. They won't check to see whther its your/theirs. I know this through personal experience.

We did take an outfit to bring Milo home in.

Ray Ray can I ask why the hospital staff removed your babies stuff??

When I had both girls they never left my sisde from birth til we left? So I am abit amazed that they removed babies clothing or put it in the wash etc?? I'm just asking coz I have not had my babies away from me at all, I have changed every nappy, bathed them etc in my room beside my own bed with all the stuff i have brought in & never has a nurse or anyone taken them away to change or undress them IYKWIM??

So it just sounds quite weird to me that the clothing can go missing???

*sorry hope that doesnt sound strange, I have had my girls at the smae hospital & it's public sharing a room each time but never had either taken away...

Thanks!!

I just wanted to add one thing. We were told by our hospital that having your own Tissues is good to have on hand, and soft toilet paper may also be something you may need.

I agree with Ray Ray make the most of the hospital wraps etc, as its less washing when you get home, and saves the chance of losing something special to the hospital linen system.

Not long now..Goodluck!!

Jacqui