Having a baby Old Style???

rachbc

Hossie bag - take one for you one for buys. In yours put snacks like cereal bars and drinks - nice and cheaper than in hospital, cheap comfy pants, pads (not maternity, cost twice as much use noraml night/ super ones), invest in washable breast pads (more upfront costs but cheaper in long run), lip balm/ vaseline - both times I've had really dry lips after. For baby one pack of small nappies, 3 bodysuits, babygrows, shawl/ blanket, cardi, cotton wool and water for cleaning (no nasty chemicals on babies new skin). if you need more beacuse you have to stay in oh or one of your visitors can bring stuff.

I took loads of stuff that never made it out of the bag as i was only in labour for 1hr 40 and home 3 hours after - didn't get to listen to my ipod, read my magazine or eat my picnic lol

Another advocate of washable wipes and nappies. I hate changing mats - cold and plasticy for baby to lie on so I always put a towel on top anyway so yeah, just use a towel. Muslin squares are handy for all sort of things, I found asda cheapest. I bf mine but the few bits i did sterilise (breast pump etc) I did in a plastic box in the microwave (essentially a microwave steriliser is a fancy plastic box)

My one essential for any new mum would be a sling - allows you to keep baby close and get on with other things and so much easier than manoevering a pram around on public transport/ small shops/ stairs. Soft fabric slings are much cosier and will last longer than a baby bjorn/ tomy type carrier - take a look at mamanatura.co.uk and sh slings are often sold on the forum there.

narabanekeater

A torch
When I had DD they took em up to the ward at 2am then my DH had to leave
It was pitch black outside and he said he was scared as the streey lighting was poor.
Also change for the phone and some sucky sweets to keep your energy up
Most hospital have a photographer that comes round and takes babies photo quite reasonably so you may like to take a nice outfit in for that
Nappies id take 7-8 as you dont kow how long your going to be in for
Dont forget some nice shampoo for you and maybe even a big bar of chocolate to celebrate all yuor hard work (or was it just me that sat eating dairy milk at 9am)
They dont generally where I am anyway like to keep you in. Ds was brought onot the main ward at 3am by 7am I was up dressed had breakfast, he was fed and we were allowed home.
You wont sleep much with all the babies crying

hex2

water and snacks for your hospital bag - for you and acetate monkey
clothes for the baby - our hospital insisted on hats and mittens. Some sort of coat/blanket to keep he/she warm on the way home. They may also insist on cotton wool/water rather than wipes. I would have some sneaky wipes for getting the lovely tar like first poos off.
Towel for a shower - you will be filthy, and a bag to store wet/dirty stuff in to take home
Anti bac cleaning wipes - fo the shower/loo


On the clothes front mine mostly lived in white vests/white baby grows. Easy to wash, no worrying about sorting stuff out and cheap enough.

I have done the towel thing on holiday, but for the sake of £5 I would buy a cheap changing mat or you generate lots of washing at a time when you are very busy/very tired. Don't bother with baby bath (never used mine)/moses basket (OS would be to use a drawer out of the chest).

Cot sheets - my Mum kindly cut up and hemmed some old double sheets to make my cot sheets. Blankets can be made by cutting up a cheap fleece blanket. If you are any good with a sewing machine you could also make baby sleeping bags. Something I swore by given that we don't have the warmest house in the world.

HTH, bets of luck.

katelu

I'd also add a pair of really warm socks for labour (I used a thick pair of my husbands!) as after both my 2 were born I was suddenly VERY cold for about an hour after. Also they are easier to walk in than slippers in the middle of labour.

I would say don't buy anything other than vests, socks, cardi's and babygro's until they are about 4 months because you'll get loads of gift clothes and in this weather I think babygros are much more practical.

I second lip balm for the bag but beware!! make sure its not scented!! I packed rasberry scented lipbalm for my 1st which started a round of very unfortunate vomiting.:o Also, get some arnica tablets from boots for after birth, they will really help trust me.

hdollabbott

Hi

you will need breast pads even if you dont breast feed most women leak a bit !!!
you will need something other than just hubbys shirt to walk about in pj or nightie (i take it hubby shirt is to give birth in )

some baby gros for baby i did have a few baby nighties with the elastic bottom and made changing very easy but not essential .

your toothbrush and toothpaste and hair brush and hairband or hair ties .

book or mags for those persious moments of peace .

after you come out

face cloths make good baby wipes along side fleece blanket cut up
you WILL need a steriliser a cold water one is less expensive but takes longer
dont bother with a changing table but i did like my changing mat .
my two spent the first two months of their lifes in sleepsuits as they looked more compfy and was easy to change
defo need plenty of bibs and i used muslin squares as well
i used pillow cases for pram sheets as you can turn when out and had loads in the cupboard
baby 2 went straight into a cot at the bottom of my bed no crib or moses basket
but did use a bouncy chair for both once a bit older as could take them round the house with me when they were about 4 months plus
also essential is pram and carseat everything else is a luxuary i think

heather

SmellyOldSock

I bought my changing mat for £1 at a car boot, brand new! For my last one, we just used a towel!

I also used cheap s.towels, cut in half for breast pads to begin with, these are more absortant, and the sticky stuff is alot stronger, okay so you have funny lumps under your top but its better than wet patches!

When I was last in hospital (2 years ago) they like baby to be in bodysuits, not babygrows. Take a packet of nappies, its surprising how many you'll get thru! My hospital supplied me with cotton wool for topping and tailing, and we also had bounty packs bought round, which had lots of useful (and non useful) items in.

I also found a baby sling brillant, especially this time of year, you just tuck baby up inside your coat and off you go! Also if you're in a hurry it stops people holding you up to look at the cutie!

best of luck, I've had 3 but am sitting here feeling slightly jealous of you!

love and hugs
Charlotte

Girl_least_likely_to

Hi Weezl . When I had my DD I had 2 hospital bags, the 1st contained everything that I needed for short stay (24/48) hours, this contained everything on your list, plus slippers, 2 sets of primark pj's (wish I'd taken more though due to leaking despite old pants and pads!), lolly's and sweets for the midwives (they can smell a sweetie a mile off and therefore not as likely to leave you on your own for too long ).

The 2nd bag in the end wasn't needed as I was out of hospital after 24 hours, but because you never know what's gonna happen you could end up having a section and be in for 5 days? This bag just contained more nappies, baby vests, more pj's/clothes. I didn't want my OH having to go out buying stuff and therefore probably getting the wrong stuff if I needed a longer stay. So this bag sat in the baby's room for OH just to pick up and bring in with him if it was required which thankfully it wasn't.

HTH and good luck

LashyLashla

I would suggest several plastic bags.

I dont know how long you will be staying in but I was in for 6 days and every day would send hubby home with a bag of washing stuff or gifts that we had been given to save bringing them all home on the last day.

Even if you are only in 1 day you will doubtlessly have dirty laundry and gifts to bring home.

[Deleted User]

do you really want real os, if not then please don`t read this post



In my day: first we courted and we got engaged, then we saved hard for a house deposit. We bought the house then got married and then we thought about having babies. For most of us this was achieved on a shoestring. Breast feeding, a few baby gowns, square washable terry nappies. Second hand cot but first in a plastic carry cot or in a drawer etc.

I am not talking rights and wrongs of singles but in those days 2 parents and 1 job was the norm and there was no such abbreviation as os. It was as it was

MrsMW

Sorry I haven't read all the thread and I'm not up to date about babies, but for the hospital I would take a pair of flip-flops to wear in the shower.
good luck.