husband has to pack hospital bag.....

Mods please excuse this brain explosion of a thread, I have done a search and looked through the articles, but I'm a bit stressed and nothings working for me...

Have been put on strict bedrest for at least a week and have strict instruction that my husband (or loving other) has to pack me a hospital bag. My nearest loving other is 600kms away so that leaves DH.

I need a clear and concise list to give to him. Of particular help would be any advice from premmie mums out there....

thanks in advance.....

Obviously toiletries for you, clothes, mat bras and nursing/maternity pads, phone charger, camera. *if* bubs does have to come, he/she wont need any clothes, so you wont have to worry about that just yet.

There is an article on the main site, but it's unavailable ATM

Thanks mate :hugs: I thought it was just me.

Oh, one other thing I thought of is if you have a particular brand of maternity and nursing pad that you like, be very specific about it when you write out a shopping list (I'm assuming that you haven't even brought that stuff yet) for him because otherwise he'll get to coles and not have a clue which one, so he'll just grab whatever one he thinks is the right one, and will save you a lot of stress when he brings back the right ones ;)

If you are thinking you might have a premmie, a breastpump is a must. I was using mine constantly while DS was in special care. Most hospitals have them, but I found that they were always being used (apparently - I wasn't going to door knock to see if they really were using them right at that moment)..

I was so desperate to get my milk in for him that I had my own.

Good luck.

i second the right brand of pads etc.... i know i perfer one kind over another,

hugs hun, i hope you wont need the bag this early

top ideas girls thanks. I am writing his list. He's actually relaxed a bit about it since I told him I'd come in here for ideas lol.

Thanks AJP I hope so too.

I took in y own pillow and long body pillow for belly support. I also bought a medulla swing breast pump though I used the hospitals when I was in. Mobile phone and charger, BF pads, Maternity pads (though the hospital also supplied some) reading material, crosswords and games.

I second having a pillow, If you have a premmie, you will need some extra support when learning to BF (BFing premmies is different to FT) and I also second the pump, nothing worse than someone having the pump sitting not doing anything in someone else's room right when you need it to give your bub liquid gold.

Heaps of pairs of old daggy undies ;) heaps of mat bras, for when the milk comes in, I always leaked through the pads. comfy clothes. Bags to put dirties in for him to take home and wash. I would suggest buying 1 tiny outfit once bub is born so that you can have bub in something of their own for your keepsake box (if you have one)

Definitelty take the camera and your phone and charger. Some healthy snacks that will last a while packed. Having little ones in hospy you tend to not be moving much and there isn't much healthy food readily available for snacking. Try sultanas, especially to help with the 1st bowel movement. Maybe a little packet of jelly and fruit things, some dried apricots. When DH comes in to visit each day, get him to bring some julienne carrots, or just some carrots and ask the MW's if there is somewhere you can cut them up. get him to bring apples and bananas too.

The hospital should provide nappies and wipes etc if your baby is born prem, but pack some blankets and a beanie, you will want clothes too but you can have family / friends buy you some once you know what size you will need as the hospital normally have some on hand.

At least you have had some warning, poor DH has to pack mine the day after DD was born becasue she caught us by surprise, it was on my list to do that weekend.

were you making a "pile" of stuff you were planning to put into the suitcase, at home?

in a drawer, or shelf?

here's stuff that would be on my list

• breastpads
• breastpump (if you have one)
• mama pads
• body pillow (if you had back pain during pregnancy, you might have one of these)
• whatever you like to sleep in
• comfy clothing with easy breastfeeding access
• comfy undies
• maternity bras
• camera, spare batteries
• communication if you want it, have it e.g laptop, mobile, etc
• shampoo, conditioner, deodorant
• massage lotion or that stuff you rub over stretchmarks
• bowl of fruit that doesn't need cutting up e.g bananas, mandarins, apples, grapes
• things you like to have around you, to make you feel good - for me that would be eyebrow tweezers, i'm sure you will have your own faves, silly things that make no sense to anyone else!
• i doubt the hospy would let your baby go naked, but you might have a certain outfit you want baby to come home in
• paper and pen for making lists (if that will make you feel calmer)
• something to read (if you like to read)
• tube of Lanisoh to massage into your nipples and for the first few days of establishing feeding
• photos of your loved ones
• slippers, footwear (i was in hospy for five days with NO FOOTWEAR! after emergency ambulance ride - dh kept forgetting to bring me shoes in ).
• a folder to put important things in, that you don't want to lose e.g baby's id bracelet

now you take care of yourself, no heroics hon! hope it all goes well for you sweetie, that this bedrest is JUST a precaution.

:hug: Kim, I have no ideas for your bag, but just wanted to say good luck and I hope things turn out all good.

Hey again Kim. I have also written a list of where everything is for Steph for when I am in hospital for the Man (all her clothes, in which drawer, blankets, sheets, etc, her shampoo, and all that), how to do her washing (I wash her things on the light/delicate cycle, but he is good at washing anyway), her favourite snacks (inc containers to put them in to go out), panadol and measuring cups (and dosage), eczema and nappy creams (and how much to use of cortisone cream), and extra wipes.

My hospital list: Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner (I put some in two great little travel size bottles from BigW), soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, cotton bids, cleanser (I put some in a tiny pump bottle I had from the Body Shop), deoderant, moisturiser (face and body), maternity pads (def tell him the brand/s and where to buy them, ie, 'homebrand' from safeway only, not coles), breast pads (same again for the brand, I thought the pigeon brand wew okay), lip balm, makeup, tweezers, hair brush. For face moisturiser and toothpaste, I snaffled the almost empty ones from the bathroom, put them straight into my toiletry bag and put out new ones for us to use).
Munchies/Food (favourite juice, lollies (I'm asking for Jols berry lollies and marshmallows!), fruit, and chocolate. Mm, crunchy carrots sound good too).
Clothing (all my nighties, fuzzy home socks, all my big granny underwear, maternity bras, nice dressing gown, thongs, specific clothes and shoes for going home).
Baby (not sure how much you need, but I'm taking all nappies and wraps, a few suits, and going home outfit and wrap, formula, bottles and #1 teats, bottle brush, breast pump, nail clippers).
Other (diary, notebook, pens, magazine/puzzles/book, phone, phone charger, camera, camera charger, small rug, mp3 player & the headphones!).

Hope my list will help you, and doubley hope that you won't need your bag soon. Love mobile phones now so that you can direct DH where to look while he's at the shop. I even write down a description of the packet (or give him the old one if I can) to the Man if I need something really specific, and which shop I buy it from. Oh yeah, some of the toiletries come now in little travel size bottles, I have seen them in BigW, at the registers (where their lollies normally are), but not all brands of stuff are available, if that is any help to you.

You know, I started to type this reply just after I replied to my thread earlier tonight. I have only just been able to get back to this one to finish it because I was trying to get Steph to go to sleep on the couch! And I still have to make two lunches for tomorrow!

I would offer to come around and help him pack, but I don't think we live anywhere near eachother! Take it easy... :hug:

From a premmie mum that was in your situation, with her hossie bags already packed for this baby ... here is my list:
Keep in mind that you don't need anything for the baby atm ... if you are on strict bedrest at 24 weeks, I'm so sorry to tell you but the chances are good that your baby will come a bit early and that would mean a NICU stay and there ... they got everything baby needs. So all hubby needs to get for bubba is maybe some premmie dipers .. (my hossie just charged it to my account .. so find out if you'rs will do the same) After you've been released, then you can pack the baby stuff yourself, or at least sit on the bed and deligate ;)

For mommy:

2 pairs of PJ's (I also took a pair of yoga pants and two support tops - for when you are allowed to start walking about again)
Nightgown and slippers
Pads (maternity pad and breast pads)
Your feeding bra's and Nipple cream (even if you are expressing, they get sore and it's just much better with the feeding bra .... )
The BREASTPUMP - I got a handpump from the hossie, but had to buy the electric conversion thingy ... ask the hospital if they don't HIRE out pumps, then you can get a double pump ... much better.
Hairdryer - a girl still has to look good ;)
Phonecharger and 2-point plug (if you need that)
Some tissues ( I cried the whole 10 days in hossie :lol: )
Socks, undies
Reading material, or your knitting, something to keep your hands and mind busy.
Sanitary products: Men usaully forget stuff like lip-ice and hairbands. Make your list for him.
My first pg ended in a c/s, so I'm not sure what you are going to need for a VB.....

PS: Ask the hospital to put you in a wheelchair and take you on a tour throught the NICU. I know we don't want to think about this, BUT it was a huge shock to me and I was not prepared for the NICU ... did not think about going to see what it looks like. Ask questions about the different machines, what you can expect if bubba comes early (baby's apperance ect). Also talk to the nurses about how the NICU work and the visiting hours and breastfeeding times. I know that here the mommies are allowed throught out the day between 6am and 10pm, but daddies have visiting hours.

I might be a doomsday preacher ... but from experiance .. it's better to prepare for the worst

Goodluck and LOADS of sticky vibes for that little one.

Be specific about EVERYTHING. For example dont just write 'knickers' on the list.... write:

Honey, bring the big unattractive granny undies that you hate, not lacy little black ones that you love so much.

... or something like that....

And all the best with your bed rest.

sometimes, its a good idea to have your DH/DP/Support person to pack your bag for you. After Aiden was born, it was DH that went thru my bag to get my bits out for me to have a shower, and it was so frustrating watching him stuff around trying to find stuff. I wanted to jump out of bed and do it myself.
Give him a list to pack, and, at least when the time comes, he will be able to find everything in the bag.

Good luck. Hope you dont need the bag for a while yet.

I second the be specific one. I went into early labour and spent 3 nights in hospital. I told DH to bring a few changes of clothes and toiletries. I got 2 pairs of dirty undies (he took them from the dirty wash basket), no bras, 1 old house dress, a sarong and a new tube of tooth paste?????? What the???? So yeah, be specific.

I second the be specific one. I went into early labor and spent 3 nights in hospital. I told DH to bring a few changes of clothes and toiletries. I got 2 pairs of dirty undies (he took them from the dirty wash basket), no bras, 1 old house dress, a sarong and a new tube of tooth paste?????? What the???? So yeah, be specific.

Oh, Kim, I didn't realise stuff was happening... I wish you all the very best for your time of rest.
Will be thinking of you, matey, and hoping that the little one hangs on for a bit longer for you. :hug:

hope everythings going ok kim and your still at home.

Charlotte and Ali, cheers on the pillow, I remembered that last night when Iwas stcuk in hospital again ;)

Ali good tips on the snacks, thanks

Black Rose, good idea with some beanies and blankets, I will get him to dig some out.

Gigi, no hadn't even started yet...only just hit 24 weeks. Will definitley have an ongoing bag now though lol. Photos, personal thing and lansinoh - you're a legend!!

Thanks Kell.

Netix, a list about Darcy is a FABULOUS idea!!

Nadine - yoga pants of course! I have been sitting here all day wondering what I can get him to but that's comfy!...hairbands - check. That's also a great idea about a tour of the NICU, luckily though as they don't have a NICU here, I was a NICU nurse in a former life.

Haha myson - so true....list ammended

Debbie, thankyou and true, but me either

Lol Macca, that'd be my DH.

Amy and Ray thanks chickies, not at home but at least they haven't found anythoing 'wrong' so it's looking good.

Mens undies !!! Someone recommended them to me and I'm so glad I listened. I bought a dozen pairs of Mens Bonds Bikini Briefs because the extra room in the pouch fits perfectly one of those awful huge maternity pads! And you dont feel so bad throwing them out at the end of the day ......

Kim, I would have to say GiGi had a brilliant list...

You're lucky you had the heads up and can write a list of what you need to be packed in your bag...

DD decided to surprise me two months early and DP had to pack my bag...and he was under pressure and rushing as they were transporting me from one hospital to another, he need to go home and pack for me - and he did do his 'male' best lol - but seriously, 'what does a brand new mum need with g-strings' I ask you??? :wall: Ha ha ha!

I was quite ill with pre-eclampsia so it wasn't for three days until I was able to wear my own clothes anyway - but I would have appreciated after feeling so bad, just to wear a matching outfit for my hourly visits to see DD...;)

I hope all is well for you and bubba!

:

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I was a NICU nurse in a former life.

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Good on you then. After dd's birth and with everything I learned from that ... having a tour/asking as much as you can about the NICU is my best tip for mummies with early babies. THAT was the thing that broke me down in streams of tears at the end of the day.

Goodluck!!