Hospital Birth Bag - first time mum?

Question

Hi,

I am a first time mum and was wondering if I can get some advise on what I need to take with me to hospital and the first 2-3 weeks to survive before we are ready to go out as a new family?

Answer 1

first of all 2/3 weeks?...it will be days hun,trust me!.your gonna feel fine and you are going to want to go outside after your time is hospital.
but as for the bag,this is what im taking tomorrow as i am in having mine

pads
paper pants
one nighty to give birth in
3 pairs pjs
bras/nursing
towel
toiletries
nappies
wipes
clothes,vests for baby
blanket for baby
magazines
dilute pop,sweets
dressing gown and slippers
socks for labour
mp3 player

hope that helps,but dont take baby bath as they have it in hospital and towels too.
good luck!

Answer 2

first of all DO NOT forget to take camera and video - make sure both are charged and have film if they are not digital.

FOR YOU:

you'll need something to wear during labour - old nightie, t-shirt cos it will get dirty

toiletry bag with toothbrush, hairbrush, etc that you would normally have in to go away

change of clothes for after the birth - so you can look nice for the first photos

nightie/pj's for staying at the hospital

sanitary pads - you'll need about 4 packs for the hospital

button up shirts to make the breastfeeding a little easier - loose t-shirts are also okay

books, letter writing gear, diary, to keep you occupied while in hospital while baby is sleeping

underclothes (pack at least 3/day in hospital, maternity bra's (pack some breast pads also - I found Pigeon brand the best)

anything else you can think of later, send hubby/boyfriend home for

FOR BABY:

a small blanket to wrap baby as he/she arrives (some people suggest you sleeping with the blanket in the weeks before delivery so your smell will be on it - makes it familiar for baby.)

nappies/diapers unless hospital provides this service

wipes for changing baby - there is often many changes a day so I suggest packing for about 2 days (20 nappies) and once again getting your partner to bring more as you need them

all-in-ones for the baby - 2 or 3 a day just in case baby dirties them

singlets

2 or 3 nice outfits for the hospital (if you have room)

a going home outfit

THE FIRST 2 OR 3 WEEKS

your mum or good friend to help you with housekeeping because your energy will be put toward baby - do not say no to any offers of help

House can come second to baby's needs as it is important for you to be able to settle into a pattern first.

Just an idea - cook some meals before going to hospital that can be frozen and reheated to make things a little easier when you are first home. We often cook a large meal - pasta or vegetable stew that will last 2 or 3 nights.

have the phone near you while feeding, just in case it rings. Nothing worse than having to disturb a feeding baby for the phone.

Be prepared for the teary times - it is a stressful job for any new mum - once again have the phone ready to call someone to talk to when you need advice or just a shoulder to cry on

Contact your Breastfeeding Association or La Leche League prior to the birth - they are a tremendous support for the times that breastfeeding seems too hard and other times as well.

Talk to your partner about what your roles are to be - sharing house chores, changing nappies, support with crying baby etc.

Talk to your family also about the possibility of having someone stay with you for the first week or two, to help with the household chores, cooking, someone to talk to, etc. This is a great way for you to learn to relax more into the mothering role. As you become more confident, do a few more things in the home.

Be prepared for lots of advice from everyone (even those who haven't had kids!) Listen but you do what you feel is the best for you and baby. If you need to, let them know you are grateful for the advice and will consider it, but in the end it is your decision to make.

All the best and congratulations! Enjoy the adventure cos it goes so fast. Try not to push your baby to do things too quickly - once baby moves into the next stage, the previous stages are just a memory. Treasure the time and memories and have fun!

Answer 3

Hospitals are HOT so take some cooling wipes, they really freshen you up.

I doubt you will wait 2-3 weeks before going out, you get bored and desperate to get out of the house and see other humans that can talk and dont vomit over your back when you pick them up.

back to the hospital bag though.....

plenty of pads - you bleed quite a bit afterwards, a book - you never know, you may find time to read, I did. Take some drinks as its a pain having to get your other half to go get some out of the machine. Especially in the middle of labour when you want a drink, but dont want him to leave you.

A couple of nighties - you will probably get blood on them so buy a couple of cheap ones. Knickers - again same thing - they may get bloody so take a few pairs.

stuff for the baby - nappies, babygro's, etc. maternity bra/feeding bra.

Take a look on www.babycentre.co.uk they have some good ideas.

At the end of the day, no matter how much you prepare, theres always something you wish you had taken, but you will probably only be in for a couple of days, and anything else you need can either be bought at the hospital or bought in from home by the other half.

One piece of advice - you will end up getting swamped with visitors when you get home. Its very tiring and can get quite frustrating. You just get rid of one lot, go to have some quiet time with baby, and another bunch of people drop by.

If people ring and ask if its ok to pop over, make sure you set aside time for yourself as well. Dont have visitors coming by one after another. Keep a few hours in between for yourself, as you need to bond with baby and get some kind of normality going, where you know you have time for a bath, feeding, washing clothes etc.

it can all be a bit overwhelming, so be firm with pople and make sure they know they are welcome, but that you are very tired and would like to keep visits to a short time if possible.

All the best, I hope thing go well, just remember that labour is the one chance youve got to really really let some vented up emotion out - thats what your partner is there for. I swore my head off at my husband all the way through, i squeezed the life force out of his hands, shouted at him and generally treated him appalingly. It was lots of fun and the only chance you will get where he cant stomp off in a huff or argue back, so go for it girl!

xxx

Answer 4

well take a labour bag and then a seperate baby and overnight bag.In your labour bag pack some old knickers for yourself for after the birth 3-4 packs of maternity pads as the bleeding can be quite alot 3 nightshirts for yourself socks as my feet were like ice cubes during labour slippers,all the usual wash bag items and it never hurts to take a rubber ring to sit on after the birth you may laugh but all the pushing of childbirth can gives you very painful piles im not jokig and having a rubber ring to sit on eases sitting immensly.A couple of vests baby grows and a coat depending on the season for baby a dummy if that's your choice plenty of change for the phone for sharing your baby's birth muslin squares for your shoulders to stop the spilling of baby sick on your shoulder.I recommend cooking and freezing a couple of meals for you and your partner for when you first come home as it's surprising how much time you wont have and having a meal to put in the microwave for the first couple of days sure does help alot

Answer 5

Books? Magazines? What are you going to do in the time of 'down' time - is gazing television adequate? i does no longer even problem approximately contacts in case you have glasses - heck i does no longer even take the makeup. i does no longer even use any 'infant toiletries' at this factor. Why could the child choose cleansing soap? purely water would be large. Their epidermis is uber gentle. Why are you taking a towel? %. much less, you would be taking two times the quantity residing house from travelers. shop your bag very gentle!

Answer 6

I wont repeat all th advice already given but don't buy dipsosable knickers a they are smaller than you'd like, uncomfartable and relativley expensive. Buy cheaper cottin ones from the supermarket you can bin. You wont want them tight so buy a size up.
Also another tip, especially if you are worried about not going out until you gain confidence, each time you cook make extra. Eg, if you do a blognaise cook twice the amount and freeze half. You wont feel like doing it the first few days when home.

Answer 7

newborn nappies, sanitry towels, dummy, baby grows about 3 of them, clothes for going home including coat and hat (for baby) book or a few magazines, change for coffee machine or hospital phone or shop, baby vests x3, bathing stuff for you, make up if you like, brush or comb, camera.

2-3 weeks before you go out as a family, why so long ? Its just a baby, he-she wont break.

Answer 8

take about 2bed time clothes and also clothes 2 go home with and about 3 or 4 pairs of underwear, a few heavy period towels they do provide towels but i prepared using my usual towels also take something 2 entertain u such as a book or that,some of ur toiletries also baby stuff a few off them like 4outfits cause u might be in for aday or 2.
(reason of that many pants incase u might have 2 get stitches and if u do its really heavy bleeding can seep thro ur towel)

Answer 9

For the actual birth, you need to wear clothes that are easily removed, because you get HOT! I had a t-shirt and a skirt on. My daughter's godfather was my second support person, and I didn't care for him to see me naked any sooner than necessary. Of course, there came a time when I couldn't have cared less who saw me doing what :) Also, take a packet of barley sugars. Many hospitals won't let you eat, but the barley sugars will keep your blood sugar levels up.

For the hospital stay:
-3 packets of maternity sanitary pads
-A pair of pajamas for each day you'll be there. Make these dark coloured in case you leak a bit, and make them pretty enough that you won't mind entertaining visitors in them!
-A full outfit to dress your baby in when first born. Don't make it anything too flash, because it'll get blood on it. They only give them a quick wash before they dress them. Make sure you have a hat, cardigan and booties. Even if it's the middle of summer.
-More clothing for the baby, a few spare hats.
-Lanolin cream for you
-Some light entertainment. My hubby brought in his laptop and a dvd. I think we only managed to watch half of it, but it was nice to feel like we were doing a normal couple thing. Even if we were propped up in bed with a baby sleeping next to us! (We were lucky enough to get a birthing suite so he could stay.)
*Not a bag related point, but only let two visitors in at at time. You'll be happy to have them, but not too many at once, because they tire you out way too much. Let the midwives know this, and they'll make sure any visitors will wait outside until you're ready.

After you get home:
-A large drink next to your bed. You get soooo thirsty during night feeds.
-Easily accessed food. You will feel like you are starving to death at all hours of the night. I ate a dozen party sized sausage rolls one night. In one sitting! Muffins are good, whatever.
-Buy one packet of the organic nightfeeding breastpads. They can be bought online, but are expensive. One packet will be enough. They are huge, which stops you leaking everywhere!
Good luck!

Answer 10

an outfit for mommy. something that fits loosely before the baby is born..you will be very swollen and tender.
toothbrush/toothpaste
deodorant
shampoo/condition
outfit for baby
baby blanket
wipes(some hospitals provide them, mine didn't)


for at home you're going to need
diapers/wipes
clothing for baby
recieving blankets(great for swaddling and as burp cloth)
cotton balls/rubbing alcohol for umbelical stump
if breastfeeding a hand pump is nice if you get engorged which does happen until your body gets on the baby's feeding schedule

doesn't hurt to have a bit of formula/bottles on hand to get through the first few days until your milk comes in. it won't come in until 3 to 5 days after birth and with my son he was screaming he was so hungry. Put baby to breast first and then let him have a bottle with a few ounces to get him through until milk comes in
If it is a boy and you have him circumcized you will need some petroleum jelly and some gauze to keep the incision from sticking to the diaper