What to pack in Labour Bag?

tsstss7

oh and don'rt forget breast pads - disposable are softer imho. I had lovely organic ones. ALSO LANISOH NIPPLE CREAM -ESSENTAIL FOR BREAST FEEDING IMO.

starbump

cluuuuur wrote: »

I've bought a load of Always Night Time ones for my maternity bag

Definitely recommend Always night time pads. They are very absorbent and much more comfy than maternity pads. The ones the hospital provided were thick pads without adhesive backing or wings and did not absorb enough - far too messy and uncomfy.

LilMissEmmylou wrote: »

cluuuuur im sure i was told not to use always because of the gels - the can make ur bits feel sore and more sensitive

Never noticed this myself - and I had stitches.

geekgirl

I took a water sprayer to mist my face during labour it was heaven, and some lip balm as I didn't drink enough during labour as it made me feel a bit sick.
Some massage oil for my OH to rub my lower back as this helped the pain.
You don't need fancy massage oils or lip balm, you may already have these around use those.
Nice big knickers to keep wayward pads in place.

frannyann

Cheap big knickers, and cheap night time pads both from tesco's did me. And a big towel as the one (gurdgingly) given to me was a tiny hand towel!!

redflame705

I'm in the process of packing my hospital bag too (well 2 one for me & one for bub).

OP hasn't mentioned whether she is going to breastfeed or bottle feed (or if she has I may have missed it) but if you're going to breastfeed you'll need to pack 1 or 2 nursing bra's.

I've bought a couple of packs thick maternity pads from Boots (pack of 10 for £1, can use points if you have an advantage cards). Mothercare also sell them in packs of 48 for £4.49 which makes them a little cheaper than buying them in the packs of 10 and plus you won't have to keep going out and buying them when you run out (although this being my first time I'm really not sure how many you'll need).

I've got a pack of cotton wool in the bubs bag for nappy changing and I'll probably take a pack of newborn nappies rather than just a few.

And I've packed pretty much everything else you have except for a light cardigan for me to wear in the hospital if sitting up in bed and need to cover my shoulders and don't want to put on my dressing gown.

Good Luck!!

NBirdy

Sainsbury's do maternity pads with wings, around £1 per pack, definitely recommend them for the first couple of weeks. I used cheap Tesco cotton pants as 'disposable' as they're much comfier than the paper or net proper 'maternity disposable pants' you can buy and around the same price. It's generally VERY hot in the hospital but a dressing gown is useful for when you're out in the corridors or communal areas!

squashy

A good tip I got was to pack baby's first outfit (inlcluding cotton hat and nappy) in a bright coloured carrier bag at the top of your holdall, for dad/midwife to locate easily while you go for your shower after the birth!

Also a big old mans tshirt is probably the comfiest thing for the childbirth, with some proper nighties for after. I took some baggy pj bottoms too as I liked to sit on top of the bedclothes but wanted to stay demure for my visitors!

SammyD_2

Do you have someone who can bring you more things in after the birth? First baby I had way too much stuff, but second I just took a spare nightie and pants, towel, maternity towels and baby things. Also take some food - both times the ward had no food by the time I got down there and I was starving! Amazing how quickly you can scoff a packed of Nice biscuits. I also took energy drinks for afterwards.

I found the "extras" like massage oil, tens machine, music, books to be a total waste of space, but I had fairly brutal births both times...

JoJoB

Just to say Wilkos maternity towels are about 70p - I got these cos someone on the boards said they were good.

wobblebottom

You probably laugh at this but the best thing I took in was an Inflatable Rubber Ring.. and boy did I need it. It was a godsend.

Stitches in uncomfortable places, hard hospital beds- need I say more.

It will take up no room in your bag... you may not need it.. but pack one anyway save your poor partner running round all the shops and 24 hr supermarkets looking for one.

Hope everything goes well for you .