For One Baby
From WikiMum
You're nearly there, the due date is fast approaching and everyone keeps asking... "Is your hospital bag ready yet???"
The big question is what to put in the bag? You don't want to take too much, you aren't going on holiday, but you don't want to forget anything important...
Here's a few pointers ;
- Pads - My waters broke (some don't) and I went through an awful lot of pads - get the large ones, you'll be surprised how much water there can be! Even if your waters don't break you may need them after the birth if its a natural birth
- Snacks and drinks - for Daddy even if you don't feel like any! The hospital shop was shut because we were there in the early hours of the morning, my other half was hungry so we were glad we took some food for him!
- Tens Machine - if you have one for back pains
- Camera - check the batteries are new, there will be plenty of photo's taken!
- Phone and telephone numbers - to let people now when baby has arrived - you may need to turn the phone off if you have a long labour, ours never stopped with everyone so excited to find out what was happening
- Dressing gown and slippers
- Socks - for some reason your feet get cold
- A little fan - its really hot in the labour wards
- Cosmetics - I was too tired to put on any make up for the first photos, but the next day was grateful for a little concealer - helped hide the tiredness a little
- Blanket for the cot and a little teddy (cellular blanket is advised)
- Nappies, cotton wool, towel - they frowned on nappy wipes in our hospital but we took some and used them. The first few are fun, Daddy can do those
- Magazine/book to while away the labour but again I didn't use the quiz book I took in despite a 23 hour labour but you could put one in just in case!
- Nightwear - I took two nighties one may get bit messy from the birth and its nice to get changed. If you are planning on breast feeding a button down the front one is best... they are ever so attractive!
- Milk - I breast fed so if you are planning to bottle feed check with the hospital that they provide milk powder/bottles of milk
- Car seat - make sure you know how to adjust the straps! We didn't and on the day we were leaving had great fun trying to work out how to adjust them!!!!
- Clothes for baby - baby grows, mittens for hands to stop scratching! and don't forget the important "going home outfit"...
- Clothes for you - sadly your tummy will still be wobbly after the birth so I left in my maternity clothes... just have comfy knickers! I ran out as we were in longer than expected, asked the other half to bring some more and he brought in my tummy sucking in pants - far too tight to wear! My mum was my saviour and bought me some sloggys! You'll maybe want some loose fitting ones rather than a thong!
Am sure there are other things ladies will come on and suggest so you just have to pick and choose, I had very little for me and tonnes for the baby!
