Re: when??
Asked by dannii17

Question:
 

Hi, I was just wondering by what stage of pregnancy should you have your hospital bag packed?? Also Im in australia and i know you stay in for a few days so how much stuff do

i have to bring and what?? Do the hospital give me a list of what to pack??

Thanks, Dannii xxo

My Advice:

The sooner you have your bag packed the better, however this is not always practical when you still need to use stuff like your trusty toothbrush or your favourite pillow!  I would suggest preparing a comprehensive list that you keep on top of your suitcase  that is half packed, that way when you are in labour you can get your partner, friend or relative to finish the packing for you if necessary.  Just make sure you run through the list with them about 4 weeks beforehand.  Some hospitals may give you a list of what to bring, but they are not always very comprehensive or helpful.  Best to ask them what they do and don't provide.  I found I didn't need most of the stuff I packed but then I was one of those rare mothers who only stays in overnight (I couldn't get any sleep in a shared ward).

However I have attached a copy of my list which you can then condense and make it your own.  Note that I have put DISPOSABLE in bold as this will not only be most useful when unable to laundry but also because you will be amazed how much you may bleed (including massive clots) and newborn babies do a lot of black poo, and even once it changes colour, they poo A LOT.  SO if you are going to go for cloth nappies, perhaps wait until the frequency of changes has settled down and you feel you can manage doing laundry.  Also milk can be heavy in the early months although it will take around 3 days for your milk to come in.

Labour bag

Large T-shirt (your husbands perhaps)

a comfortable black crop top (in case the T-shirt gets to hot and black is a good colour if you want to save some of your dignity- keep in mind white becomes transparent when wet)

Socks

Slippers (hospital floors can get pretty cold)

Dressing gown (probably only if its in winter, ask your hospital if the labour rooms are heated)

Bendable straws (you will need to keep up your intake of water)

Gaviscon (I packed this but didn't use it, the vomit was coming up whether I liked it or not - but it may help if feeling mildly nauseas)

Nasal spray (I had been suffering from a blocked nose during my pregnancy), 

If trying for a natural vaginal delivery:

Face washers

Towels (sometimes the hospital does run out and you may need them for all sorts of things)

Cold Packs

Hot Packs (not always supplied- i dont remember using the cold pack but we did use some heat pillows at home - try socks filled with uncooked rice, but we couldn't get access to a mircrowave at the hospital without being sneaky) 

A picture to focus on (I didn't actually end up using this in the hospital as I was in a dark ensuite for most of it but it was great for labouring at home)

Balls/Massagers (once again these were more useful at home, as were combs - for gripping and stress balls) 

Natural sponge

Water spray (didn't end up using these as I was directly under the shower) 

Lip balm for dry lips

aromatherapy oils - LAVENDER WAS BRILLIANT - like a drug!

You will have to find out if the hospital has an electric oil burner though or if you can bring your own (they usually need to get it checked first by their electrician and tagged)

relaxing music (i mainly used this at home)

TENS machine - useful for the car trip to the hospital

A notebook with encouraging words or bible scriptures for support people to remind you of

snacks and drinks- more useful at home (the hospital did bring me lunch which i tried to eat but then regretted as it all came back up)

gastrolyte (could be added to fluids, to keep you hydrated, though i think my support people forgot I had it)

my doula (birth assistant) brought electric candles so we could dim the lights in the ensuite though a torch might suffice, and she also brought some traditional cloth nappies to use as warm compresses on my back and perenium both at home and at the hospital.

Stuff for Father/ Support People

deodourant

toothpaste

nail brush

swimmers

gumboots for when in hot shower with you

socks

jumper

book / newspaper

toothbrush

$ for tolls and meals

camera

camera charger and/ or spare batteries

Mother's handbag and valuables

Mother's ph charger

spare phone charger forself

watch with second hand

towel

announcement letters

pillow

snacks and drinks (energy drinks may be useful)

chewing gum / mouth refreshments

Post natal for Mum

Fresh night dress

Nursing bras

Disposable Breast pads

Disposable briefs

Sanitary pads

snacks and drinks

Books on prenatal care

favourite pillows

quilt

underlay (if you want to be comfortable)

book of phone numbers

casual day clothes

soap

towel

underwear

hairbrush

make-up

hair clips and bands

large box of tissues

toothbrush

toothpaste

mouthwash

deodourant

shampoo

conditioner

hair net

pen and paper

coins for phone

stuff to do if bored easily

comfy shoes

tweezers and small mirror - if you can't usually leave home without these

jumper

cardigan

thongs for shower

lanolin for nipples

For baby 

Pack clothes for baby depending on the weather - but keep in mind (both for yourself and your baby) that hospitals can be cold with airconditioning on all the time.  I found that most of the clothes I had for my son didn't fit him when he was born as they were too short, so pack that cute 00000 or smallish all in one jumpsuit but be prepared with some suits baby can grow into in case he/she happens to be longer or larger than you were expecting!

• clothes: jump suits/rompers - two size 00000, three 0000, two 000 singlets (small babies can always be put in the next size up until someone can run down to the shops/ home for you to get more clothes if needed),
• Mittens - to prevent baby scratching his/her face, a beanie to keep him warm the moment he's born (they lose temperature very quickly from their bald head),
• 3 Muslin Wraps,
• 2 Blankets, 
• bag for carrying extra stuff home, 
• Disposable nappies (even if you plan on using cloth, disposables are much easier in the early days when babies poo frequently, the poo is black, & you are still adjusting, esp. while in hospital),
• baby wipes (once again disposable for those early days, then you can use Johnson's washable nappy liners later, & then as baby is older & is doing a poo only once a day you can progress to face washers),  
• nappy sacks,  
• Sling for mum & one for dad too
• pure lanolin for nappy rash -should you need it, although if you change the nappy frequently this shouldn't be an issue. Be mindful of the skincare products you use on a newborn baby as they have thin delicate skin & cannot tell you if something is irritating. Avoid products with essential oils until the baby is at least 3-4 months old.  Aromababy have excellent products especially for newborns, although water is usually all that is needed.  I certainly didn't need anything in hospital as I didn't plan on bathing him until I got home - let him absorb all that lovely smelling amniotic fluid that is so good for bonding and establishing breastfeeding.   
• Breastfeeding Support Hotline (in Australia- ABA: 0738448166 or 0738448977), ABA has a great handbook on breastfeeding,
• breastfeeding pillow, 
• breastpump unnecessary but can be handy if you plan on expressing or you develop mastitis & find hand expressing too tedious
• breastfeeding wrap if you are conscious of feeding in public or whilst having visitors, although usually you can close the curtains around your bed if in a shared ward. 
• If you feel you do not wish to try breastfeeding or there is a concern that you will not be able to breastfeed, you will also need to take formula & feeding equipment. 

 

I would not recommend taking dummies with you to the hospital, but learn to answer your babies cries.  If you can learn to get along without a dummy all the better.  If you wish to introduce them, wait a few weeks, once breastfeeding has been well established so as to avoid nipple confusion & to prevent a habit forming. 

Hope this helps...if anyone has anything to add please let me know!

P.S. I suggest you go through this comprehensive list and write your own in bullet form (the one with the little check boxes) that you can leave with someone to check through before you go to the hospital.  I tried packing & repacking my bag when labour first started and it was a distraction, ended up slowing labour down in all the panic.