Hospital Bag advice  
       
      Printed From: OHbaby!
        Category:  Pregnant
       Forum Name:  Pregnancy
       Forum Description:  Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
       URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2753
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      Topic: Hospital Bag advice
       
      Posted By: Two Blondinis
       Subject: Hospital Bag advice
       Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 8:47am
       
      
        
          
	
**I'm sure we've done this before but I can't find it anywheres**
 
 We just had our last antenatal class and had a visit for 3 of the 7 couples that had their babies early! *argh!!!* So that has got my butt into gear to start thinking about a hospital bag.  This is what we came up with last night, any advice is always welcome   
 
 For me:
 Underwear (x 5 at least)
 Plastic bag for dirty washing
 Long baggy t-shirt to give birth in
 Tri pillow
 Slippers
 PJs (top that opens at the front for feeding)
 Maternity bra x 2
 Change of clothes for hospital stay
 Clothes and shoes to come home in
 Tooth brush & paste
 Face cloth x 2
 Face wipes
 Moisturiser
 Make up
 Perfume
 Soap
 Shampoo and Conditioner
 Razor
 Hair brush/comb
 Breast pads
 Sanitary pads 
 
 For baby:
 Car seat
 Blanket
 Warm going home outfit
 Woollen hat
 Vest x 2
 Long sleeve sleep suit x 2
 Socks x 2
 Cloth hat x 2
 Scratch mittens
 Sleep wrap
 Pack of disposable nappies
 Wipes
 
 
 Other stuff:
 Birth Plan
 Cash and EFTPOS card
 Cellphone and charger
 Digital camera (with empty memory card!)
 Book / magazines
 Lollies
 
  -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
     
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  Replies: 
       
      Posted By: lenabeanz
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 8:52am
       
      
        
          
	
Lots of people to help take flowers / gifts down to the car!! 
 But also if you don't want to take ALL the flowers with you (you will get a few!!) I donated 2 of mine to the oncology ward (as I have a few people I know with cancer), or you can give them to the childrens ward, cardiac ward etc etc - they really appreciate them! 
 (Thats what I did)
 
 Pants to go home in - this may sound weird but PJ pants or sweat pants!! Jeans prob wont fit (and you will be too sore) and havent come across anything else that was comfy... 
 
 
  -------------  http://www.snugglepie.com">  
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      Posted By: Roksana
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 9:06am
       
      
        
          
	
Good list Toni......I think you have covered every thing.
 
 I took the same things as you minus the razor (I shaved before hand...lol)
 
 And hardly used all my underwear because I had a c section and was not allowed to wear one till 3- 4 days later. Bub was in hospital cloths but the hat and socks I took was soooo useful.
 
 Didnt take perfume because they say that bub needs to smell you.....I dont know if it is true.
 
 Oh oh Hotwater bottle ...you have to take one!! It helped me alot to stay meds free for so long!
 
 Sanity pads is a must..take two packs. Unless you wanna use the mattress they give you!! He he ha ha
 
 Hospital will give you nappies but not wipes so taking them is a good idea.
 
 OK I shut up now!!  But well done, your list looks great!
 
 
 
    
  -------------  http://lilypie.com">  
  http://lilypie.com">  
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      Posted By: daikini
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 9:28am
       
      
        
          
	
The only things I'd add would be a pen ('cause you can never find one when you want it!) and a pack of cards if you like playing solitare or that sort of thing, and spare batteries for the camera.
 
 Good list, Toni!
  ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys
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      Posted By: AlyAyde
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 9:28am
       
      
        
          
	
Hey Toni.  Great list. 
 
 I would personally take way more undies then that.
 
 I would also check with what the hospital does re san pads and nappies, wipes and clothing for baby.  As our hosp up here supplies all that while you are in hospital an all you have to worry about is the going home outfit for the baby.  I was so in for that as it means less washing lol.
 
 I wore jandals while i was in hospital instead of slippers as the toilets etc can be pretty grotty.
  ------------- 
 
 Jayde 25/12/04
 
 Alyssa 08/04/03
 
 http://Alyayde.bebo.com
 
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      Posted By: james
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 9:29am
       
      
        
          
	
man u are organinsied        lol
  ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
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      Posted By: Two Blondinis
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 10:17am
       
      
        
          
	
I'd love to be able to take all of the credit for that list - but that was all us girlies at antenatal class combining our lists.  
 I am a bit of an organised freak tho  LOL    
 
 Thanks heaps for the ideas... keep 'em coming please   
  -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
     
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      Posted By: Roksana
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 10:25am
       
      
        
          
	
I agree with Maria...phone and ask your hospital re the supply of Nappies, wipes, baby cloths etc!! And about keeping bub in hospital cloths...
 
 I had mine at middlemore and they gave me no wipes at all...thank God I took some with me. and oh yah I was not impressed with they toilet/bathroom either!
 
 Oh and socks for you...it does get kinda cold when you are in labour...I am not a sock person but ended up using my pair....
  -------------  http://lilypie.com">  
  http://lilypie.com">  
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      Posted By: Gracielou
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 10:59am
       
      
        
          
	
Food! I was starving after the birth, and Jaz was up most of the nights so I did heaps of comfort eating, hehehe.
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      Posted By: stevie_88
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 11:49am
       
      
        
          
	
Do you need lip balm? I hear it everywhere...
 
 Our hospital supplies clothes, nappies and everything for the baby until you leave the hospital since its a small country town they get maybe 1 baby every 8 days if they're lucky so they like to provide everything to comfort the bub and mum while there. All we need to organise are ourselves, partners and the babys going home clothes and nappies and the car seat.
  -------------  http://lilypie.com">   
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      Posted By: Andie
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 11:55am
       
      
        
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 and a magazine or good book for any quiet times, disposable camera in case the digital wasn't last left in your luggage, and phone numbers for the people you want to ring (or want your partner to ring) to announce the baby's arrival.  I really do like your list and might just go and poach some of it to add to mine... great thread to start, thanks!   
  ------------- Andie 
 
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      Posted By: Guests
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 12:05pm
       
      
        
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ohh and i have been told a list of people you want to call or text once baby is born with the numbers and also on the list who you want to come to visit at the hospital.
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      Posted By: Two Blondinis
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 1:15pm
       
      
        
          
	
yup - got my text/phone call list all sorted, and just added lip balm   
  -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
     
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      Posted By: fairsk8
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 2:01pm
       
      
        
          
	
Some muesli bars or little snack items like that as it is a long wait inbetween meals and lollies don't always cut it. You might want to use disposable breast pads when your milk comes in, as I found cloth ones only lasted ten minutes and then milk was leaking through my clothes.
 And lip balm is a great idea for when you in labour as your lips get dry.  Also maybe some powerade for when in labour as the electrolytes help replenish your energy sources. I had the powder form of powerade and made some ice cubes out of it as I found it easier to suck on crushed ice than drink.
  -------------  http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/">  
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      Posted By: Anna
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 2:52pm
       
      
        
          
	
And some food for hubby, after Quinn was born they gave me a big meal but Andy got nothing.  Put something in there for him too!
  ------------- Anna 
  http://lilypie.com">  
  http://lilypie.com">  
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      Posted By: bekkie
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 3:11pm
       
      
        
          
	
  good idea for this thread im going to write my list down now! I know here at the birthing centres they provide babys nappies and the maternity pads and the food for me but not for hubby, they also have matresses for your hubby to stay with you. My MW also suggested that instead of wet wipes to use nappy liners cos babys skin is so sensitive, those things that look like chux cloths?? They can be dipped in warm water and even washed and reused.Sounded good to me. Also she said to have babys first set of clothes ready in a separate plastic bag so that before baby is ready she will tell my hubby to get them out and put them in the cradle to warm up with the hottie. My babys not due til august which will be quite cold then but the idea for an outfit was: 1x woollen singlet, 1x cotton singlet, 1x booties, 1x woollen hat and a warm romper suit or something. Oh and a hat that we would'nt mind getting mucky for when hes first born. Well thats all i can add!  
  -------------  httpw.snu://wwgglepie.com">  
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      Posted By: my2angels
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 7:03pm
       
      
        
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great list, only thing I would suggest is a wheatpack and also depending on your birth plan and hospital a wee fan. Ive got one of those mini fans in my bag (which is still half empty) but I found I got really hot during labour and also if you labour in the water Ive heard you can get really hot and uncomfortable. I didnt like being in my pjs while in hospital so made sure i had heaps of baggie t shirts and loose dark coloured trackies to wear and some slip on shoes especially if baby has to go to neonatal cos you have to wear something on your feet in there.
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      Posted By: fattartsrock
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 7:09pm
       
      
        
          
	
I'm with Angel in regards to the undies thing, also pen pen pen, books and snackfood.  Also tissues.  3 day blues mean tears at the smallest thing, and the hospitals my give you sanitary pads nappies etc, but man are they tight with tissues!
  ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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      Posted By: nikkitheknitter
       
      Date Posted: 08 June 2006 at 8:52pm
       
      
        
          
	
Good list and additions everyone!
 Just wanted to say that Bekkie is right on with the wipes thing IMO... I had Johnson's wipes which Han developed a nasty rash with. Using flannels helped clear it up fast. Now I use wet nappy liners - brilliant!
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      Posted By: my2angels
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 12:17am
       
      
        
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when we were in the neonatal they provided nappies and also wipes which were more a thick tissue that you wet rather than using the general ones which are to harsh
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      Posted By: lizzle
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 7:07am
       
      
        
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My midwife at the hosptial (not my regular one) was fanatical about wool.  Everything had to be woollen and when I didn't have a woollen hat for taine she looked at me as if I had suggesting sacrificing him to the devil or something.  I ignored her, but for a first time mum it can make you cry!
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      Posted By: Roksana
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 9:05am
       
      
        
          
	
I have used both Johnsons and huggies wipes...I like them both. I think huggies is better! Zaara does not care!!  
  -------------  http://lilypie.com">  
  http://lilypie.com">  
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      Posted By: aimeejoy
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 9:27am
       
      
        
          
	
Our hospital supplied everything for baby - cloth nappies, little gown and little muslins for wipes. Great list Toni!
  ------------- Aimee
 
 Hannah 22/10/05
 Greer 11/02/08
 
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      Posted By: Two Blondinis
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 9:32am
       
      
        
          
	
Went shopping last night for all the little bits for my bag.  Loving the idea about the mini fan (It was really hot on our tour of the ward) but where the hey will I get one in June??!?!   
 Even the Red Shed piked on me when it came to cheap jandals for the shower - I'll just have to dig out some old ones.
 
 Thanks heaps for all of your help ladies, most appreciated!    
  -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
     
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      Posted By: jax
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 12:02pm
       
      
        
          
	
I've got some jandals you could have if you're keen, they're just plain black. A bit old, but I could sterilise them for you if you want   
  ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater
 
  
 
 Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~
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      Posted By: Two Blondinis
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 12:05pm
       
      
        
          
	
*wonders if Jax is being serious or not.... adopts the "I'm gonna fasi (aka smack) you with a jandle" pose, just in case*    
  -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
     
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      Posted By: jax
       
      Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 12:18pm
       
      
        
          
	
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag   *sitting here cackling madly to self at work*
 
 Oh wait, did I say that... ? I mean, at ... at... home? Um yeah !
 
 Anyway, I am entirely serious.
  ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater
 
  
 
 Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~
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