Rough Guide to Preparing Your Hospital Bag! (My Version of the List)

Member Name: xjemloux

Product:	My Version of the List
Date:	22/03/09 (129 review reads)
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Preparing your hospital bag is probably just as daunting as actually having your child. No matter how many scans and check ups you have there is no guarantee that you are definitely having a boy or a girl or what size or weight your little one will be. So really when preparing your bag for your hospital stay you need to be prepared for more than one situation. But of course it is hard to be prepared, as you don't know for sure anything about your little one or even exactly when or how you are going to have them.

Here's a rough guide though ..

Firstly Your Child..

Vests and Babygrows - You need to think how big or small your child is going to be. You may have had a growth scan before hand to give you a rough idea on the size of your baby, but these are not always accurate. I had a scan just a week before having my twins and was told to expect them both to be around 5lb when in fact they were both born over 7lb. You may go into labour early, you may go overdue. All these are factors that need to come into what you take for your little one. Will you need preemie clothes, newborn or even 0-3 months? Also take more than one or two outfits as just don't know what will happen during the birth and could be in hospital longer than what you might have thought.

Nappies - Newborn nappies are usually used when a child is just born, but make sure you have enough or at least a few spare at home in case you need to stay in any longer than expected. You need to think on how long you are going to be staying in hospital for, usually 3nights if having a C-Section so obviously you would need more nappies. Oh and how many babies are you actually having, if like me you are having twins, again more nappies would be needed.

Bibs - Of course whilst feeding when just born things can get a little messy with their milk and their winding, bibs are good to keep the mess off their clothes.

Scratch Mittens - Some babies can be lethal with their nails and scratch their face terrible, these can help protect their delicate skin.

A Blanket - A nice blanket for your little one to wrap them up in, the hospital ones tend to be like rags and don't look to cosy for a baby really.

Hats - Babies lose heat through their head alot quicker than what we do and a hat can help keep the heat within them.

Cotton Wool - Now I say cotton wool as I was using baby wipes during my hospital stay to change my boys bums, until I had a grilling off the nurse and was advised to use cotton wool and water instead as it is alot gentler on a babies bottom.

Carrier Bags? - This may not be for everyone but if you are having a few day stay in hospital you are going to have some dirty washing, I found storing the clothes in carrier bags and tying the bags up kept the clean clothes away from the dirty.

Now For Yourself -

As I've said above you may stay in hospital longer than what you originally thought so it's always good to be prepared, however if having a C-Section you should expect to stay in at least 2nights anyway.

Spare Change - Not all hospitals or wards allow this as mine didn't when I was in a room myself but some have T.V's, and of course you are going to be bored whilst your baby sleeps and there is nobody to keep you company so you could buy a T.V card.

Your Mobile - Most hospitals allow to have a phone on the ward now, even if you don't use it to contact people it has all your numbers in it if you do need to ring anybody.

Pyjamas - I was so wrong in the pyjamas I took, I should have took a long nighty in for after I had my C-Section as I knew alot was going to be checked etc afterwards down below, instead I took trouser and strappy top PJ's which meant I didn't feel comfortable in what I had on at all. Also take maybe 2 sets of PJ's in case you do end up in a bit of a mess in one set.

Pants - Big Pants for after the birth, often women bleed heavily and for a good few weeks afterwards and you need to be comfortable. You can buy big pants cheap enough in places such as Primark and Peacocks, you don't want to spend alot on these as they do tend to end up ruined.

Pads - Yes your lifesaving big pants pads as I called them. As I said above you will bleed afterwards most probably so these really are a must.

Smellies - Hospital soaps are not usually the nicest smelling soaps, and you may just want to feel half normal after having your child and want a shower and use your own shower gel, shampoo, soap etc. Toothbrush and toothpaste.

Breast Pads - For when your boobs begin to leak, it can make you feel rather uneasy if someone is standing there and you have a wet patch on your clothes so to avoid any embarassment you really should use these.

Something comfortable to wear on your feet such as slippers.

Camera - To capture those first precious moments of your little ones life.

To cure boredom if you are staying for a while Magazines, maybe and ipod or something to listen to music on, puzzle books. Also drinks and snacks. Peppermints are a must if you are having a C-Section as the wind you experience afterward can feel quite painful in your tummy and these relieve it.

I hope this helps prepare somebody for their stay in hospital!

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