FertilityZone

To save you trawling through the site or other threads here is a list of things which you MAY want to include in your hospital bag. I appreciate that it's pretty long and you may need several suitcases to fit it all in so do remember that you don't have to take ALL of this stuff if you don't think you'll need it..... As more suggestions come up I'll edit this initial list so that it's always easy to read/print off.

For You
Nightie for labouring (cheap and cheerful, likely to be blood/wee/poo/amniotic fluid covered - Matalan £3 night shirts are ideal)Nice Nighties (pref with buttons for feeding)
Dressing gownSlippersWarm socks (in case your feet get cold during labour)
1 or 2 x packs of Always Nightime (these are extra long pads)
1x pack of breastpads
2 x packs of disposable knickers (you either love 'em or hate 'em! but I liked to go to the loo, wash and chuck the knickers and pad in the bin)
12 x Normal knickers (if that's your preference)
Flannel (cold for cooling sweaty brows during labour or hot to lay over achey backs/tums )
Straws for drinking between contractions
Lip Balm Moisturiser
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body wash
Sponge/Body Mop/Flannel
ToothbrushToothpaste
RazorBrush/Comb
Make up (not essential but nice for pictures after birth )Bobbles/clips/headbands
Flip Flops for showers (not essential)
Lansinoh Nipple cream (quite expensive at £10 per tube so maybe take your hubby to Boots and show him where it is in case you need any of it)

Magicool spray (godsend for Chilli!)

1 x Large Towel (dark colour for showering, may get blood on it)
1x Small Towel (for your hands/face/hair)
Plastic jug (to pour tepid water over yourself during or after every wee, keeps the area nice and clean, takes the sting out of weeing after a tear or graze)
Kitchen Roll (to pat yourself dry after washing yourself as above. easier, more hygenic and less messy than using a towel)

For Baby
Cotton Wool Pleat or large discs (balls are too small when wiping massive sticky poos)
Baby Bath/Wash (not essential, can make some babies spotty/rashy)
Talc (not essential, matter of choice)
6 x All in one suits
6 x VestsScratch mits (unless you have the sleepsuits with hands in from Matalan)
Cardi
Blanket
Pack Newborn Nappies Pack Nappy Sacks (not essential)
Baby Wipes (not essential, can give some babies spotty botties and encourage rashes)
Dummies (not essential)
Teddy (ahhhhh )
Outfit to come home in
Hat to come home in

For DH/DP
Does DH know the way to hospital? If not entirely familiar then a map of the area in case of roadworks, diversions or other unforseen circumstances. Also handy if DH isn't the one taking you to the hospital in the end .
Money (might as well get him used to being a Dad eh? )
Magazine or bookWater/Juice/Pop
Something to eat that's not chocolate, a savoury snack to keep his energy levels up.
Mobile PhoneCamera
Ipod (to drown out your screams.... kidding!!! )
A few toiletries if he's planning on staying for the long haul.
Clean tshirt/boxers/socksA list of your important numbers to phone after the birth.

Extras
Wet Wipes
Antibacterial Hand Gel
Antibac wipes (for loo seats)
Disposable Camera (just in case you leave your digi cam at home or your batteries conk)
NotepadPhone numbers
£5 in change
Pen
Crisps/carbo/salty snacks
Mars Bar
Polos
Boiled Sweets
Pack Tissues
Bottled Water
Announcement cards/stamps
Address Book
Magazine (no time to get into a book between contractions/feeds)
Salt and Pepper Sachets, Ketchup or anything you can't live without.
Carrier bags for dirty washing
Travel Clock
Mobile Phone
Phone Numbers
Bottles/Milk/Bibs if that's your chosen method.

Car seat at the ready

mmmmmm Could do if we were that way inclined

Yes the list is a bit *ahem* comprehensive but if you're like me who worries that they will forget something then it's good to have all bases covered.

In the very last stages of labour at home I was asking my sister to make sure my warm socks were in my hospital bag 'just in case' I ended up going there. 8-9-10 centimetres and I was going on about socks and hospital bags.

It's cool being a control freak

Lists are good. Lists stop you from worrying that you might forget something and with a memory like mine that's got to be a good thing!

Yes, I'm free.... do you have room for a husband, kids, cat, fish and a pony?

She also went into a private hospital in London for an elective section. I doubt she was on an understaffed ward in a six bed bay with a payphone at the end of the corridor which she would have to shuffle to if she forgot or needed something

Csam, Rivka's right. In fact I think I'll edit my original post to include some things for DHs and DPs to have ready.

Shaz, you really cannot leave the dog in the hospital car park while you're in labour. It will likely be reported to the hospital by other concerned car park users and even if not it's very unfair to lock a dog in a car for this length of time. Besides that, what if you have a traumatic labour, meaning that you need the support of your husband while he's out with the dog OR what if your DH misses the birth because he's outside? It's far from ideal, I do hope you will reconsider for everyone's sake.

I wonder if it varies from place to place. My hospital didn't provide towels but then that was yonks ago so maybe it's changed since.

Elmo, I've only just seen your post you're welcome!

There are good recipies for homemade babywipes on the net. I remember someone using a camomile infusion and jaycloths for washable ones but I don't see why kitchen roll wouldn't work just as well.

Kitchen roll is the most underestimated of all baby 'must haves'. It's great for drying your own bits after labour, for putting under baby's bot on cold changing mats, for catching puke, stemming the flow of a squirty nipple and probably a hundred other things.

Quoted

Originally posted by Michelle

Can i still wear a nighty.....don't have to be naked do i?
Sorry

You CAN do whatever you want and you don't HAVE to do anything you don't want to. You're only going into hospital because you have chosen to. It's not school or work, there are no teachers, managers or bosses, you're in charge of your visit, nobody else. If you choose to wear a duffel coat you can but I warn you, they do get heavy when they're wet.