[Nut]

The revised list.

A note: This list is not to be seen as a "you must have all these items or you won't survive" type list. It is more a suggestion of things you may want to consider when packing. I recommend going through the list and just including what you feel necessary. Quantities are also just suggestions.

Many don't want aromatherapy for example, or are planning a very short stay in hospital. It's purely a guide to help with the mental strain as it's quite daunting.

Check with your hospital for a list of what is supplied. Many provide little gowns for the baby and nappies for example as well as plenty of nice warm blankets and almost everything you need to care for baby during your stay.

Paperwork:

- Ante Natal Card
- Hospital Information
- Several copies of your birth plan (if applicable)
- Private Health Insurance details (if applicable)
- Cheque for Excess (if applicable)
- Medicare Card/Details
- GP's details

For Mum during the birth:

- Lip Balm - lips can become dry and chafed during labour from heavy breathing. This may offer some relief.
- Massage/Aromatherpay oils for during labour.
- Soothing Music of your choice for during labour, and CD player if hospital does not supply.
- Something comfortable to wear – I.e. a loose T-Shirt or nightie (something you don’t mind throwing out in case it gets ruined).
- Something to put on afterward
- Extra Pillows
- Beanbag if preferred (check with your birthing hospital)
- Lollies or lollipops to suck on.
- Watch with a 2nd hand or a stop watch to time contractions
- Hand Mirror if you want to watch the head crowning and baby being born (or speak to your birthing hospital about mirror availability).
- Something to wear in the bath if you’re shy
- Heat packs, massage tools etc. to help with pain relief or other items such as a TENS machine if you’ve hired one.
- Cool pack. Can be nice on the forehead and better than wet paper towels.

For Mum after the birth:

- 2 - 3 Nightie/Pyjamas
- Slippers/Socks
- Bathrobe
- 2 - 3 Nursing Bras & Tops
- 2 Boxes Breast Pads
- 8 x Underwear - It pays to have some old ones in the bag that can be thrown away in case of staining in the days after birth.
- Maternity Pads - At least 2 packets - your partner can always bring more if needed. (Some also prefer incontinence Pants - Not good post Caeser though)
- Toiletries - such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, hair bands, make up, deodorant, Liquid Soap, Moisteriser, Lanisoh.(Nipple Cream), Hairdryer (wonderful for drying yourself completely and gently.
- Eye Glasses/Contact Lenses - if worn.
- Face Washers
- Towel
- Day clothes - bear in mind that you will be sore so loose fitting clothes are the suggestion.
- A roll or 2 of your own SOFT toilet paper - You are bound to be tender and don't want to be using something hard and scratchy! Or Some prefer Flushable Wipes.
- Water bottle with a pop top squeezy lid to clean your bits in the shower
- Breast Pump - in case there is a need to express. The hospital should have these, but some women prefer certain brands and may prefer to use their own.
- Plastic bags for dirty clothes.
- Tissues.
- Metamucil & Ural.
- Multivitamins and any other medications you may need.

For Partner:

- Snacks for during and after labour - It can be a long time between meals for Dad so pack some snacks that he can nibble on whilst you are in labour.
- Panadol - some Dad's suffer from stress and tension headaches when watching their partners in pain and often hospitals won't give medication to fathers so it can be handy to have some in your bag.
- Money for pay phone - or a charged mobile phone to make birth announcement calls.
- Swimmers in case he wants to join you in the shower or bath
- Change of clothes in case you're there a while and he wants to get cleaned up

Extra's:

- Address Book
- Video Camera, extra tapes and charger
- Normal camera with extra batteries or charger
- Snacks for when you are back on the ward.
- MP3 player or equivalent
- Journal/Notepad - to keep notes of the things you may forget in the haste of everything.
- Magazines and books - for reading when baby is sleeping (if you are not!)
- Wallet - if wanting to purchase from snack trollies, canteens, or Pay for the use of TV or telephone. Be careful about leaving money in your room when unattended, or simply make sure hubby has money with him each time he comes!
- Pen for filling out paperwork, and Thankyous if you feel up to it.
- Mobile phone and charger (if allowed)
- Your own Pillow/Doona.
- Box of Chocolates and thankyou Pressies for Midwifes.
- Sports drink for during the birth

For Baby:

- 4 stretchsuits
- 4 singlets
- 4 pairs socks/booties
- 4 cardigans (depending on season)
- 1 cellular blanket (for going home)
- Scratch mittens
- Nappies & Wipes (some hospitals provide them, discuss this with your hospital before you give birth.)
- Cotton Wool
- Going Home Outfit
- Bunny Rugs
- Toiletries - Baby Bath stuff. Baby Shampoo. Baby brush and comb. Massage Oil.
- If bottle feeding, check if you need to supply your own bottles and formula.
- Nail scissors for baby
- Warm hat

Car:
- A correctly fitted Australian Standards Approved Car Restraint

[fizzykid]

My only other suggestion is Multi-Vitamins (Elevit etc) if you plan on continuing to take them if breastfeeding.

[MickeyBoo]

The only thing I would add is a warm Hat for baby, our hospital is quite strict on a hat being on babies head at all times as that is where most of their heat escapes from, and the air con in there gets quite cold.

Also, as an 'optional' thing, some baby nail scissors, both my kids had long nails, and hated the mittens, they would lose them and end up covered in scratches till I could get home to trim their nails. It would have been easier to be able to trim their nails right from the start.

Mic

This post has been edited by MickeyBoo: 24/12/2007, 09:14 AM

[LadyBeetle.]

One thing I also always pack (which I see is on the "for labour" list but it should be in the general list too)

A watch or bedside clock. I know where I have my babies, they like you to chart all feeds, wet and dirty nappies. yet the rooms never seem to have a clock. Makes it much easier to track all that if you have a small clock or watch beside your bed. I know mobile phones have the time but some hospitals/midwifes are strict on the No mobile phone policy.

[Trilogy]

I am just doing up my hospital bag list now and getting a little teary here are some other things I have on mine:

Socks in case feet get cold in labour
Aqium hand gel
Hand cream
Breastfeeding naturally book
Snappis for cloth nappies as the pins at the hospital are blunt
Present from #2 to DS

[lbj39]

Next time I'll take Gagorage or one of the sports drinks for Labor as I was exhausted. And a squeeze bottle so if you have stiches you can use water for when you need to go to the toilet.

[jayz~mel]

OMG I'm gunna need about 3 suitcases to fit all of that in!! I hope there is enough room in my hospital room to fit me, jay, the baby and all that stuff!!

That seems like an awful lot of stuff for the 3 or so days that you're in there.

xx Mel

[Trilogy]

You don't have to take everything on the list, just pick out what you think you will need.

Eg. I won't be taking any clothes for baby as the ones I took last time just got spewed on and created washing for me when I got home. They are generally wrapped anyway so nice baby clothes go to waste. Just take a going home outfit.

I won't be taking any toilet paper (hospital stuff was fine) but will definitely take my own pads! The ones they supply were used in the dinosaur age I'm sure! (Thick gauze like rectangle with no sticky stuff on the back)

I'm not taking my own towel as I don't want my towels getting stained, and I probably won't worry about something to wear to labour in - the clothes I took didn't make it out of the bag, I was in a T shirt and then the hospital gown the whole time.

[LadyBeetle.]

Jayz Mel. Just to give you an idea. This is an example of what I would probably take from that list. Plus added a couple more.

Paperwork:
Won't need any of it as it will all be on file there.

For Mum during the birth

Nothing from that list
But will take a pack of pads for after birth, some undies and a set of clothes to put on after birth. Also my toiletries bag from my hospital bag.
Along with a set of clothes for my DH as he may get wet as I like to be in the shower for pain relief (hot water)

For Mum
2-3 Pyjamas
Digital camera
2-3 Nursing Bras
2 Boxes Breast Pads
8 x Underwear - old ones as some will probably end up thrown away.
Maternity Pads - I will take 3-4 packs as I am a heavy bleeder
Toiletries - such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, hair bands, make up, deodorant, Liquid Soap. (also use post birth before returning to ward)
Day clothes .
A roll of soft toilet paper
Plastic bags for dirty clothes. (couple of these)
Tissues.

For Dad:

Money for pay phone - or a charged mobile phone to make birth announcement calls.
Also the change of clothes mentioned in my birth bag.

Extra's

Magazines and books
Pen
own Pillow.
Watch or small clock for feeding, nappy change records

For baby
6 stretch suits
6 singlets
6 pairs socks/booties
3 bonnets/warm hats
3 cardigans -winter baby
2 Scratch mittens
Nappies & Wipes � Cotton Wool
Going Home Outfit
Bunny Rugs for going home


Car:
� A correctly fitted Australian Standards Approved Car Restraint

Most other things are either irrelevant to me or the hospital supplies them.

[Guest_dixiebelle_*]

http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....hl=hospital+bag

My Hospital Bag
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....hl=hospital+bag

Please have a look at my hospital bag!
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....hl=hospital+bag

What's the difference between packing a hospital bag and a labour bag?
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....hl=hospital+bag

Hospital bag
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....hl=hospital+bag

Hospital bag or suitcase??
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....opic=411096&hl=

More about Hospital Bags..(Might have been done????)
http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index....opic=411291&hl=


This is my list, BTW... I found I had way too much stuff last time!

HOSPITAL NEEDS

Suitcase
Yellow card/ medicare card
pen + notepad
mobile phone/ PDA (and charger)
Coins
CAMERA

Me
2 to 3 pyjamas/nighties/ shelf singlets
T-shirts/ singlet/ shorts
Maternity Bra's
Bottle of water
Chocolate/ snacks
Ear plugs/ eye mask
Underwear
Dressing gown
Nursing pads
Maternity pads
Slippers/ thongs
Bag for dirty clothes

Breast pump case
Nipple shields

Toiletries
Lip balm
Lansinoh
Rennie/ Panadol
Body wash (small)
Face wash (small)
Shampoo & Conditioner
Moisturiser
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Deodorant

Baby
Take home outfit and nappy
Dummies
Wrap