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?
Printable View
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?
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
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.
KNICKERS!! Lots of knickers ! :lol:
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
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. :p
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! :D Since I have nothing better to do...apart from start packing my labour bag! :cryinglaugh:
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!
Also, check out this article on the main BB site :)
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!!!
lots of bonds wondersuits!
lots of undies for you
Thanks for the much needed info ladies.....undies seems to be the most important item....will be packing my bag today!!! Packed Bubba's yesterday!
Ooohh and I won't forget DF's bag either! ;)
Thanks!
I just want to say dont forget to pack enough undies, different types...comfy ones...coz i had an emergency c section and had to send DH to the shop as wanted the high cut briefs and he ALMOST asked a little old lady for advice about undies just because when i was trying to explain the undies i wanted, i explained them as grandma undies. He then sent me about 15 pics on my mobile of different undies!!
I think everything is pretty much covered. The one thing I didn't bring and wished I had was a book. I had 3rd degree tearing and was so weak after I couldn't walk very well for a few days so I had to stay in the hospital 5 days. I tried to sleep as much as i could but there were times when Hubby was out, baby was sleeping, and I couldn't get to sleep and I was bored out of my mind! We live close to the hospital. and so i was able to send him home for clean clothes but I kept forgetting ot ask him to bring me a book or magazine or something.
I brought CD's and they never made it out of my suitcase.
What I used:
- toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush and paste, a hairbrush, deoderant, lip balm and
body lotion)
- clothes (several pairs of PJ's and lots of undies, few pairs of socks)
- slippers
- my fleecy bathrobe
- hairband/bobby pins to keep my hair out of my eyes
- regular pads (I found the hospital ones were too bulky)
- my breastfeeding pillow (sent hubby home for it as the pile of pillows they gave me kept slipping)
- journal and a pen
- camera
- Book - wish I'd had one
Everything else I brought went unused. (except of course the clothes and stuff I brought to bring baby home in)
I heard a good tip the other day...
Pack some Ural to drink during labour (if you can stomach it!!) so that your pee is less acidic on your sore bits after bubs is born. I had never thought of this before but I'm definitely planning on packing some this time around.
Toilet paper!!!!! Soft and thick.
Other than what everyone else said:
I used disposable undies, only needed one packet for a 4 day stay, but the padding in them was really good for after birth and you don't have to wash them, just throw them out later. Also I didn't end up with any blood on my pjs. (I used a pad as well).
Don't forget bathers for hubby if he is going in the shower/bath with you or a change of clothes in case he gets wet pouring the water over you.
All the best!
oh yes dont forget a change of clothes for hubby, my poor DH got soaked helping me in the shower and had nothing to get changed into.
I didnt really use anything in labour, but undies is a definate need for after, plus pads and spare pj pants etc.
dont forget to check what the hospital supplies for bub. some supply everything, others only whats needed for the first day.
Do you just mean LABOUR bag? If so then, here's some things to pop in.....
Lip balm
bottles of water
gatorade
straws
socks
music
hair ties
swimmers for DH
camera
hot/cold packs if hossy doesn't provide them
maternity pads, cos the hossy ones are crap
clothes to wear after your shower
outfit for bub, if you want s/he to have something special
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)
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?? :p)
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.
Ooooh, I never thought of icy poles! I had jelly :p 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!
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 :cryinglaugh: must ask when I see the mw!
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.
Good tip Nelle - thanks!
I'm seeing the ob on Tuesday, so I'll ask him about it then... Got roast beef for tea tomorrow night so that might help boost the iron.. ;)
The maternity ward should have icy poles..... well when i had my son they did as they actually use them to insert inside a maternity pad for vaginal relief after labour... sorry TMI... once i read the post made me think about that... Actually turned me off icy poles for quite some time.
I've got a bit of a dumb question...
Most lists say to take something for the baby to wear home (and at hospital if they don't provide good stuff). What size should I take? Some babies need 00000, some need 0000 and big boofers need 000 (at least that's how I understand it).
How do I know what to take? Should I pack at least 2 or 3 of each? I don't really want to buy much of 00000 in case it's not that small and I don't use it.
HELP! :wall: no idea what to do here!
I've managed to pick up two packs (= 10 pair) of undies from Target yesterday. They had a special on packs - 30% off! And I had $4 left over from a gift card so I ended up getting two packs for just over the price of one! BARGAIN! I couldn't get all black though, so it's an assortment of colours, but I did buy a bigger size and I got full briefs - just for comfort and coverage...
I was going to start packing my bag over the weekend, but DH got it out from under the bed on Friday night and the cat decided to sleep in the bag that night! Looked soooo cute too :cryinglaugh: So now I want to vacuum it out so I don't get cat hair on everything! I should get it done this week though!
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:)
Nettie I don't know if you'll need 00000...how about a couple of 0000's and some 000. You can afford to have more 000's, since if your bub is small, they'll grow into them. I brought two Bonds 0000 wondersuits and two Target 0000 suits, the Bonds ones didn't fit (too small) and the Target ones did for maybe a week or two?
Riv was bigger though, 9.4lb (4.2kg).
How about, with any 0000's you get, only take the tags off one? Or you could just resell or gift them to those with smaller bubs.
I've packed 2 outfits, one in 0000 and one in 000. I guess that even if it's a really small baby, 0000 will be ok for going home even if it's a little bit too big. I thought 000 because a friend who just had a baby said her bub is straight into 000 from birth. I've just packed singlets and jumpsuits in both sizes. Also packed a hat and mittens, a wrap and a blanket.:
I packed heaps in my bag and didn't use too much at all. I guess it just depends what your hospital supplies too. This is what I used (but I packed heaps more!):
- maternity pads (used the hospital ones for a couple of days when I had a really heavy flow after birth - they are like big huge nappies though - lol!!)
- underwear and 2 maternity bras
- 2 nighties (but I wished I had packed 3!)
- hair ties
- going home outfit for Bub (my hospital supplied singlets, nappies, wipes etc)
- toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturiser, deodorant) (I packed my hair straightener would you believe and make up - I did not use these!!)
- camera (make sure you pack lots of back up batteries too!)
- breastfeeding pillow (if you have one, they are excellent!!) - my DP brought mine in from home
I also packed snacks and gatorade for labour but I didn't have them at all - was concentrating too much on the contractions!!! My DP had the snacks in the room over the next few days.
Good luck packing your bag.
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....
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.
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... :clap:
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
Best tip I was given was to buy a pack of mens' undies. They have more room in the ... er ... crotch :D so fit pads better.
Definately pack a lovely shower gel - even now when I shower using the same scented one, I can remember Pip's birth.
I also packed 2 boxes of cadbury Roses for the midwives (figured if they were nasty midwives I'd eat them myself) and thankyou cards to give to the staff.
Because of the change in weather I decided to pack his all-in-ones outfits so it covers him a bit more when we leave the hospital, just soooo cold last night..... It is my back-up in case the other options are just too cold for him to leave the hospital in.
Well, I've finally started packing the bag!!
Very limited on what I can put in it yet though as I can't very well pack my maternity bras and some maternity clothing as I'm still wearing all that (and I don't have enough to spare packing any).
I'm also still using my 'slippers' (ugg boots) occasionally and all my toiletries are in use... might buy extras of those (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, etc) to pack so they're new and ready to go.
Also don't want to pack baby stuff yet as I'm seeing the MW on Thursday 13th March and I'll ask about what the hospital supplies then. That will give me a good indication of what I'll need.
So all I've packed is:
Pj's (2 pair)
Undies (LOTS!)
Some regular clothes (not maternity)
Sanitary Pads & Breast Pads
Heat pack (for labour)
Dressing Gown
I'll get myself a book or magazine or something (just in case) and I like the idea of buying some pressies for the MW's that assist... so I'll try to do that too!
At least I've made a start! Feel better for it...
Thanks everyone for the advice and help... it's made this a lot easier!
The hospital has towels doesn't it...I don't remember packing towels last time, so they must? Gosh, my last stay was such a blur...
I've got the bra dilemma too - what I'll have to do is have a 'last minute' list for dh or me to fill out, like mobile phones, wallets, electric toothbrush...:p
I think my aim is just to keep that 'last minute' list to a minimum, so it only takes us 10mins or so to sort out.
A couple of things I found important
labour bag
camera (obviously but we forgot this when DS was born had been taking pictures of belly and nursery before hand and forgot to repack - very disappointing)
lollies/snack for you and hubby (my hubby appreciated this)
Change of clothes for hubby - I tooko his swimmers but he just got into the shower with me fully clothed and changed afterwards
Waterbottle/gaderade
comfy nightie/change of clothes - think are you going to be comfortable greeting visitors in pj's if bub is born in the morning?
new grandma undies - nice and wide and supportive but ugly enough to throw straight in the bin afterwards.
soothing shower gel - lavender is nice and good for healing
Address book
tennis ball/massager so you don't wear out your support persons fingers
I prefered to use the maternity pads supplied by the hospital for the first day as they are the serious surfboard, industrial strength ones plus they give you the little blue pad to sit on for when (not if) you leak.
I also choose to wear the hospital gowns (when I was wearing clothes) as then they take it away when it's all mucky and yuck instead of poor partner taking it home to wash.
Hospital stay
comfy but nice clothes remember people are going to be visiting and wanting pictures, don't assume you will be able to fit back into normal clothes after the birth, that saggy baby belly is very unattractive :-)
shampoo/conditioner/cleanser/toothpaste Most hospitals don't supply these
maternity bras have a few or a partner willing to wash
plastic bags to store soiled clothes in
couple of pairs of pjs
book/hobby in case you are blessed with a sleepy baby
diary/baby book/journal
snacks with DS I was so hungry esp at 4am when feeding and brekie wasn't until 7am, DD hossy supplied a full stocked fridge with yoghurt, fruit ect
slip on shoes
going home outfit for you and baby x2 because no doubt one of them either won't fit or you won't like on the day
plastic sauce bottle/wipes for irrigation after peeing! V important if stiches/grazes - our hossy had a bidet which was slightly weird but useful
All the best
Nelle, I was just going to suggest for everyone a 'last minute list'! Thank goodness I had lists for my bags, including a last minute one. Because I went into labour at 35 weeks, I hadn't finished packing my bags, and I would have forgotten stuff for sure if I didn't have the lists! But as it was, I just went around calmly packing things, crossing them off as I went.
Wow sounds like lots of hospitals provide pds for mums, mine didn't so make sure you check that out when you're getting organised ;)
Nettie, maybe get trave sized toietries? I've got travel sized toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion & body wash all ready to go, makes the bag lighter & you don't have to pack them later on.