What was on your hospital bag checklist?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: What was on your hospital bag checklist?
Posted By: Katherine
Subject: What was on your hospital bag checklist?
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 10:01am
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We're putting together the ultimate hospital bag checklist for pregnant mums who just have no idea what to take to the hospital for labour and afterward. Besides all the usual stuff, what did you wish you'd taken along? What did you send DH home for because you forgot it? What did you wish you'd brought more of? And what did you definitely NOT need? Post your hospital checklist in here, or PM me your thoughts. There may even be a prize involved... |
Replies:
Posted By: Kicker
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 10:16am
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I didn't use anything in my hospital bag whilst in labour but found arnica drops (??sp) really good for bruising the few hours and days after birth.
A nice cold drink and a chocolate bar for after was also good. I also found brushing my teeth and washing my hair straight after was great. Just on the topic of labour bags make sure you pack them in time - there is nothing worse than running around trying to pack them whist having contractions :P] -------------  
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 10:26am
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We didn't use a lot of what I packed in the labour bag. The best things were water in a sipper bottle (had to keep sending DH out to get more) and hair ties and hair clips! Plus contact lense stuff/glasses because I changed my mind and wanted to wear my contacts. I had a long pre-labour (induction) so a book and the ipod were great. No use afterwards though!
I used the hospital gowns to labour in and for the first night, but had a couple of baggy, long night gowns which were good once I wanted to wear my own clothes. Jandals were great in the hospital for showers etc. Slippers also good. I had to send DH out to buy me a big, long dressing gown because I only had a short summer dressing gown and wasn't too keen on wearing something so short! Body wash, a nice body moisturiser, shampoo & conditioner, hair brush/comb, deoderant for afterwards to make you feel a bit more human. I liked having my own pillow too. I was pretty happy with the basic toiletries, but I don't wear make up normally, so I would say just pack what you normally have with maybe a nice body wash or something to make you feel good. Used hospital pads as much as possible, but big thick maternity pads are great, as are comfortable cotton undies in dark colours. ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 10:33am
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The best thing for me was my Mp3 player, I listened to it quite it abit during our time in the delivery suite. DH also listened to it for the news.
The only thing that I got DH to go and get me was Powerade, I drank 3 bottles of it during a 24 hr period. Once the hospital bookshop opened I also got him to go and get the newspaper and a couple of trashy mags... My labour stopped after 6hrs and the above were good for me while I waited for the drips etc to be put in to speed things up... ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 10:47am
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i didn't use most of what was in my labour bag. we had a cd player, lots of cds, lollies/muesli bars, water, glasses/contacts stuff, massage oil, facecloths, digital camera and old fashioned camera as backup...etc
the only things i used were lots of water, facecloth and we also had the cd player going which was nice. especially as when i started pushing, the song that was playing was the one i walked down the aisle too and it gave me something else to think about at the time 
i'd definately suggest lots of water, music, a chemise type nightie if you don't want to deliver naked and camera. the facecloth was nice on my forehead to cool me down too for after, cellphone to txt people when your bored, magazines/book and lots of snack foods for those late night snack attacks! ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 10:54am
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I still have my list on the computer, so sorry for the giant long post! Hospital bag: plenty of dark-coloured undies (I got the size up from my normal size... big mistake, I dunno why I thought my bum would grow so much for the event!) nursing bras a bikini to labour in in the bath! light dressing gown, clothes to leave in for me and for baby disposable breast pads sanitary pads Purelan nipple cream my usual travel toiletries (and yes, that included makeup, because if you normally feel feral without a touch of makeup, that ain't gonna change as soon as baby pops out).
water bottle lucozade - which I really should have used during labour but didn't. snacks for DH during labour, and snacks for me for hospital stay (you get really hungry!). cellphone, charger, pen & paper. I didn't use the CD player, hot water bottles, or rescue remedy that we took for labour, or the couple of magazines and arnica that I packed. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 11:11am
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One thing I loved in labour was an aroma mother face spray - so nice to just cool down your face! Also a sipper bottle of water. I took a large old t-shirt to labour in in the pool. Things I took & didn't use were CD's & massage oil. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 1:33pm
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Books to read. Our hospital has a "no visitors at all mothers resting" period, so you can catch up on sleep, or read. I managed to read a whole book while in hospital.
Phone charger Camera and battries Toiletries and a nice moisturiser Hair ties Barley sugars/chuppa chups Water bottle lots of undies and plastic bags to send them home/take them home in a pen (filling in birth cert, menus, thank you cards or even just writing on back of cards you get) going home gears and shoes WATCH! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 1:35pm
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I never had a labour bag as such - but DH did have to go out and buy me some lollies and sipper bottles of water to keep the energy up. Ended up birthing in hospital gown so didnt need to take anything for that. Hair clips would have been handy. And this time I may take my MP3 player.
I was really bored while in hospital, so magazines were great. I couldnt concentrate for long enough to read a book. Dont forget a pen so you can do the puzzles in the mags as well. And phone charger. Have your cell phone topped up with credit too. Charged batteries (and spares) for your camera. I bought a few pairs of new PJs for in hospital and it felt so nice to wear something new after months of big tshirts, and they were convenient for breastfeeding. Take some nipple cream too as its not long before they start to hurt. Nice body wash was lovely and if you wear makeup take that too. I found the hospital too hot for slippers, so jandals were great. Got DH to bring in my pillow from home. Maternity pads - as gross as the hospital ones are, they are sooooo comfy for the first day or 2 when you are sore. This time around, I will only be buying 1 or 2 packs of the actual maternity ones, then switching to just normal pads or Goodnights, cos you dont really bleed that heavily for long. And my best tip is to get a pack or 2 or cheap, big, ugly undies for those first few weeks. Then it doesnt matter if they get a bit grotty and you will probably go through quite a few if you stay in hospital for a few days. Also wish I had more snacks for afterwards, cos I was starving for those first few days. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 2:16pm
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I haven't read what others have wrote but
SNACKS I didn't pack any and got really hungrey on the second nite at the hospital and I was so glad the Jesse had left his jacket there has he had snacks in it from when I went in to labor will definitely pack some next time. And all the other usual stuff like undies, maternity pads etc ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 2:47pm
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I second (or third!) snacks, food in general! I was STARVING after giving birth!
I took books expecting a long induction but it was too quick. And I took my razor, was lovely to shave my legs in the shower after I had the gremlins after not being able to reach for so long, even tho my midwife thought it was odd! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 4:29pm
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we only used 4 things from the labour bag: lip balm to help stop dry lips, camera, DH drunk his coke, and baby wipes to wipe the smell of vomit off my hands - (i threw up on the main ward in a room with 3 other women in it, and it ended up down my front and i wasn't going to walk across the room to wash my hands.
Hospital bag - maje sure you have phone charger and credit if on prepay. A sleeping mask and earplugs are useful if sharing a room and you want sleep while they have visitors - esp good if dp/dh there 2 look after bubs. A bedside clock, pen and journal/diary - all good for making note of when baby feeds. And snacks/drinks - really good to keep energy up and if morning tea etc are not supplied wherever you are staying ------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 06 November 2007 at 7:44pm
I didn't use any of the stuff I packed because Caleb came so quick I ended up having him at home. 
We ended up sending a neighbour out for maternity pads because I didn't buy any to have at home though. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 6:31am
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The only thing I wish I had more of for at the hospital was snacks. Nothing else I really wanted, and actually found I packed way too much. I didn't wear any of my own clothes till I left, much better to dirty their stuff and have them clean it I say! Same goes for jack.
Oh and nice tissues. I was on oxygen, and it makes my nose run, was nice to have nice tissues to wipe my nose with! ------------- "> 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 8:48am
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yeah tissues, its a fairly emotional time and hospitals can be a bit, um, *tight*. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: jamesmum
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 11:29am
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One thing I used alot during labour was the Elizabeth Arden eight hour repair cream (I think thats what it is called). It was really good for dry lips & skin, and also because I wanted REALLY hot face-cloths on my back my back was starting to burn so DH was rubbing it on my back. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 12:04pm
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My bag contained most of the stuff mentioned here so far - but the only things that I actually would say that were useful or I ended up using were my own pillow, my rescue remedy, the snacks (we packed muesli bars), the cellphone and the camera. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 7:10pm
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the first time i didnt use anything at all!!!! this time round i was prepared i took a BIG bottle of just juice and some museli bars just FOOD i found was a definate must!! and som BOOKS / MAGAzines as staring at the ceiling after reading the only mag in the labour ward drove me mad!
and a little jar of DH's fav coffee as the hosp one was soooo gross and he is very much a creature of habbit. also soap and a face cloth was a must. ALWAYS REMEMBER A CELL CHARGER AND SPARE CAMERA BATTERYS! i learnt this the hard way lol ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 7:20pm
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oh yes, phone charger I had to have one brought to me ------------- ">
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 7:31pm
| food - my midwife and husband ate all the lollies! we didn't use much of anything in the bag but did have to send lew out for some maternity pad - i think i was given two all up! With Taine I took make up. i looked like crap in my photos with baby jake. With taine i made them wait til I showered and put some tinted moisturiser on. |
Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 8:01pm
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Thats funny lizzle. I looked horrible in my photos too. Next time I will wear nicer clothes! : )
SNACKS SNACKS and SNACKS. I was STARVING afterwards. I also loved my power aid drink. It was awesome and just what I felt like. Next time I'd take three or four. I loved having my ipod and also some evian face spray. I didn't use much of the other stuff I had taken. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 07 November 2007 at 8:16pm
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Once I'm in the hospital things don't last long, so I have given up on packing food for DH cause we either get distracted or he eats it in front of me and I don't feel like it lol
For my first baby I packed 4 whole bags of stuff haha. For baby #3 I had only one  My absolutes:
-pen -paper/journal (cause that's how I process things when I'm alone) -undies. I packed 6-8 and still had to send DH back for more. And that was for a 48 hour stay 
-comb for my hair -change of clothes to leave the hospital -cardigan in winter, especially for leaving -one change of clothes for baby (until leaving I used the hospital stuff for baby and me) -snacks (muesli bars for me). I was surprised that I didn't actually have any after Kryssi was born. And with Briona I didn't stay in the hospital. But after Hannah I was starved. It might have been a c/s or epidural thing. I don't pack pads cause the hospital has plenty and they work fine for the first few days. Same for nappies. (Once I get home I usually change to supers.) ------------- |
Posted By: thunderwolves
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 1:33pm
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the best thing i took was LUCOZADE, thirst quenching, cold and fizzy, and just put a little bit of life back into my body afterwards... ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: TaylasMum
Date Posted: 11 November 2007 at 7:09pm
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I had my birth notice wrote out prior to the having tayla, we put in the paper while still in hospital. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: misty
Date Posted: 13 November 2007 at 2:52pm
| I took my iPod with two personalised playlists loaded up: Labour Downbeat (for when the epidural went in and I was allowed a little rest) and Push Push! (lots of disco, funk and soul - Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse!) that got me going when it came time to deliver. My two midwives loved it just as much as I did - they were grooving along when I delivered my son to a disco tune! |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 13 November 2007 at 7:59pm
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Thought of another great one today - nice soft toilet paper (as many layers as possible). much nicer on sore bits for a few days, than the rough 1-ply hospital stuff! ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 14 November 2007 at 9:52am
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Far too much in the end - we sent most of it home. The best thing i took was a cd player with a couple of mp3 cd's. Not a portable one, but one we could all enjoy - we played it all day long and it started Lily off to a good start at sleeping through noise.
If you have a vaginal birth, then those sorbent toilet wipes would be great - you don't need them for a c section! Big underwear was the only other thing I needed that I took. Everything else could have been brought after the birth the next day, I stayed in gowns till the tubes were removed, as did Lily. -------------  
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 14 November 2007 at 10:01am
Oh, reading back, I would say definitely hair ties and if you have a fringe you might want something to hold that back too like a headband as I found anything touching me really annoying during my 3 contractions 
We didn't need snacks as they fed me really well for the 2 days I was there waiting for labour to start, and there are a couple of cfe's downstirs that we visited for top ups during the day so I wasn't hungry. If you were going to labour though you probably would want to have something in case you birth in the mmiddle of the night and can't get food. -------------
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Posted By: fairsk8
Date Posted: 14 November 2007 at 7:42pm
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Disposable breast pads for when your milk comes in. I had cloth ones but had to ring my friend and get her to bring some disposable ones as cloth ones only lasted 10mins.
I had my laptop and some dvds to watch. Button up pjs, as makes it easier to b/f, and I found I felt a little more chirpy and happy wearing my own clothes instead of the hosp gown. Cotton undies, esp if you have a c/section as they allow the wound to breath better and decrease the risk of infection (mine still got infected though). ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: littlejo
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 3:56pm
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I totally overpacked as usual! But things I did use included:
Lip balm nice loo paper shampoo & conditioner (I bought a 2-in-1 kind, which was great as by the time I'd done that and had a wash I was ready to lie down again) some "normal" clothes for afterwards a big drink bottle so you don't have to refill too often hairties phone charger camera (and won't let hubby take it home with him next time!!) Next time I think I'd take some cartons of juice to have on hand. I had a few snacks in the bag, but didn't need them - was pretty well fed by the hosp. ------------- Jo Jo http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 8:06pm
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Hair ties and water were the 2 things that I really needed during labour. Afterwards food was a big things for me, even thou the hospital had toast, toast can get very boring very fast. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 04 December 2007 at 10:43am
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Thanks for all your input, ladies! The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist is ready and will be featured in the December newsletter, which will hit your inboxes later today. Meantime, here's a sneak peek! :) http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/article.aspx?ContentID=231 - http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/article.aspx?ContentID=231 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 December 2007 at 8:11pm
That's a pretty extensive list in the end! My 2cw is that it's too much to carry in 
Who (if?) got the prize in the end, Katherine? I know.... it's a boring night! ------------- |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 15 December 2007 at 1:25pm
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You know, I actually haven't drawn the proze yet, which is why I haven't removed this thread... I'm still deciding what prize to give out! I'll draw it in time for the January newsletter and announce the name in there, as well as PMing the winner. |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 07 January 2008 at 11:34pm
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Drum roll please... And the winner is... Littoejo! Littlejo has won a copy of the Cool Kids Cookbook, plus the coool new book Eco Chic: The Savvy Shopper's Guide to Ethical Fashion. Congrats, littlejo! :) |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 12:16am
woohoo congrats littlejo!!! ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Nina
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 7:34am
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I took heaps of stuff that I totally didn't use, I was induced, so having a book and music was awesome. I used my MP3 player rather than a cd player, and found it awesome. As for food, I didn't eat any of it!!
[link=http://lilypie.com][img noborder]http://lilypie.com/pic/080108/89Nt.jpg[/img][img noborder]http://b1.lilypie.com/Jvn7p13.png[/img][/link] |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 5:36pm
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I guess the whole point of a labour checklist is to know what you *might* need. I think we all tend to overpack, because you don't actually know what you *will* need until you are in labour, and then it helps you to plan for next time. But we developed this list to give you a guide to what yuo *might* want to have with you, and to help you remember certain items that you might otherwise forget (like the phone charger and spare camera batteries). As for food, it comes in handy afterwards, especially if you have the baby late at night and there's no meal for 12 hours and you can't wait for DH to run out to Burger King! I was RAVENOUS after my labour! LOL Ate the whole box of chocolate-covered macadamias my MIL brought in about five minutes without sharing! Hee hee... |