What to pack in Labour Bag?

Sarahsaver

Agutka wrote: »

That's not fair, we all have different experiences and support from home. I packed my whole house up and a good thing too, as I had to stay there for two weeks. And hubby has absolutely no clue where his own clothes are, let alone mine or baby's. My mum thankfully was around to take care of J's clothes rotation, they were promptly washed and ironed and returned to be sicked on :rolleyes:.

The only thing I did notice was I needed absolutely nothing for my two day 'labour'. None of the energy drinks, sprays, tens, books, pens, snacks.

Didn't mean to offend you. it would take me 5 minutes to pack a bag that's all!
Giving birth is one of the times where you at least KNOW you are going to be in hospital.

Janepig

Ah, just do what I did - leave it until your waters go and then dash around the house trying to find everything to shove in your bag!!!! Well, in fairness, DS was five weeks early and it was 3am on Christmas morning!! That's my excuse anyway.

Jxx

PS: My only tip is to buy the cheapest, biggest knickers you can - you can still throw them away like disposables but they're much more comfy!

Sarahsaver

I used my OH's pants, mens briefs have a much wider gusset so they hold the HUGE sanitary towels perfectly. i would not bother with expensive STs. no point in spending a lot on something that will be thrown away. and if you are new to all this it is nothing like a period, do not expect things to be neatly contained :eek:
Re. toiletries I would use the bare minimum cos it is good for the baby to get to know your smell, and you theirs.

RoxieW

Arnica tablets were the only thing I'd recommend - they really helped with bruising. I bought a tube from Boots (the homeopathic section). All the other bumph - tens, books, sprays etc - well, you had a better labour than me if you had the inclination! I did take a twirl and a can of fanta - but sicked them straight back up!

RoxieW

keelykat wrote: »

Do they really send you home so soon after birth? I need to start looking into these kind of things, the whole hospital thing worries me (bit of a phobia of the place to be honest) but id hate to be sent home too quickly.

keely.

Hi Keely - I went home a day after ds1 and he was a difficult birth and was born not breathing. With Ds2 I went home after 4 hours. If all is well with you and baby they will encourage you to go home as maternity wards are well crowded as it is (unfortunately). However, you will prob find that you want to go home asap anyway (I did). Much better then to be in your own bed then in a thin, hard, scratchy covered bed on a ward where the other babies wake yours up and visa versa.
Good luck - my best friend is due around the same time as you.

Agutka

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Didn't mean to offend you. it would take me 5 minutes to pack a bag that's all!
Giving birth is one of the times where you at least KNOW you are going to be in hospital.

Goodness you didn't offend me, just wanted to get my 2p worth in before someone didn't bother packing a bag. I would have been even more down without all my stuff (even though I didn't use most of it).

5 mins to pack a bag eh? Can I call on you when I'm next off somewhere?

Anyway this thread is about what to pack... so if you didn't already have all these items in your house...

keelykat

RoxieW wrote: »

Hi Keely - I went home a day after ds1 and he was a difficult birth and was born not breathing. With Ds2 I went home after 4 hours. If all is well with you and baby they will encourage you to go home as maternity wards are well crowded as it is (unfortunately). However, you will prob find that you want to go home asap anyway (I did). Much better then to be in your own bed then in a thin, hard, scratchy covered bed on a ward where the other babies wake yours up and visa versa.
Good luck - my best friend is due around the same time as you.

Thanks im hoping all will go well and i dont have to stay in long, i really dont like hospitals. I guess ill just have to wait and see!

keely.

cluuuuur

Round here they allow you out after about 6 hours if everything looks to be well, but the midwife-led unit (where I hope to go) lets you stay in as long as you like. At first I'd thought about staying in a few days to help with feeding, etc - but only if I managed to snag a private room. Now I'm thinking more about coming home earlier. Hope I make a decision by the time I've actually given birth!

RoxieW

In theory I always think - great, stay in ages - get some peace from my other kids, meals made etc! In reality I didnt find it a nice experience at all and next time am hoping for a home birth - bypass the hospital all together!

fitzmum

I'm enjoying this thread, reminiscing etc - my two are 7 & 5 now and not planning any more so no more packing a bag for me

Still, it reminded me of my husband on my first baby, I TOTALLY underestimated the amount of knickers I would need and asked him to bring me more when he visited later in the day.

He duly turned up with ONE pair of thongs screwed up in the palm of his hand!!

I could have strangled him with them!!

Plenty of big, comfy knickers are needed that can be thrown away afterwards....