Hospital/Labour Bag...What to Pack

So, what are suggestions on what to pack (and what NOT to bother packing) when it comes to yourself when you go to give birth in the hospital? I have a diaper bag as well for the bab, but I'm unsure how many vests/sleepsuits, etc. is necessary.

Suggestions?

Congratulations! You're getting so close! 

I don't have many suggestions for what to bring for yourself, because I've completely blocked both labors and their aftermaths out.    But I DO remember being so glad that I had my cozy comfy slippers. And I never even ended up wearing the nice new nightgown that my mom bought - total waste. 

I also remember being told that my first baby was going to be an absolute whopper, and so I stupidly only brought clothes suitable for a 10 lb. baby. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but my baby was 6.5 lbs. and I had no clothes for him! DH and I still have a good laugh over that one, almost seven years later. 

Does your hospital have a checklist? Might be worth seeing what they suggest as well.

Try websites like BabyCentre, Emma's Diary, etc.  They're full of lists.

I can post my later - I'm at work right now (last week!!!!)

I used the lists my midwife gave me and from babycentre, but my advice is to not worry too much.  I had WAY more than I needed and the midwives joked about my number of bags.  I had only brought stuff on the lists.

Remember that you will likely get moved around some, and each of the bags has to go with you from place to place--not fun to move around when you are in heavy labour.  Many of the things aren't really necessary.  For instance, some lists say to bring things like baby shampoo and wash, but my hospital brought that stuff in for the first bath.  I had multiple changes of everything for a possible three day stay, like they recommended, but keep in mind that your DH can bring things from home if you need more.

My main advice is to keep it light and just worry about making yourself comfortable.  Best of luck!

I've never had a baby in the UK so I can't say how it differs from the US...but some of the things I enjoyed having were:

Nice comfy pajamas (I breastfed so I got pants and a shirt that buttoned down the front so it was easy to maneuver when baby was hungry)...I didn't buy anything new for this; I just brought my fav pjs from home to make me feel more comfortable.  The only other clothes I packed where clothes to leave in.  I stayed in my pjs the entire 7 days I was in the hospital (is that gross? lol).  Like sevans said, nice comfy slippers are a plus too.  I also brought some common sense personal items (hair brush, ponytail holder, toothbrush, etc).  I brought some lavender candles and lavender oil and just sniffed them a lot (obviously I couldn't burn them) and it helped me stay relaxed.  Might seem strange but I brought a washcloth from home and used this to put cold water on and place on my forehead.  The smell of my own laundry detergent and fabric softener was more comforting than the bleachy chemical smell of the hospital clothes.  I also brought my own pillow.  Chap stick - I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything for a 2 days (yes, DAYS!) and as I got more dehydrated, my lips got really dried out which aggravated me to no end while in labor.

Besides common sense items for the baby, bring mittens if they aren't provided for by the hospital.  Some babies scratch their faces really badly if they aren't covered.

Don't skimp on the maternity pads! You will need them, lots of them!!! Get twice as many as you think you might need...you will go through them. Also, get some nice cotton granny pants from M&S, you might need them too!!!

In terms of clothes for yourself, pajamas especially. The ward I was on was extremely boiling hot, so I wound up wearing a tank top for most of my hospital stay. Everyday I was there (I was in for 5 days with my son) my husband took my pajamas home and washed them for me and brought them back clean. Also, everyday he brought me a two liter bottle of frozen water, that was a LIFESAVER!!!  You can shower and move around the ward if you need to, so bring slippers or flipflops or whatever you are comfy in. If you are breastfeeding, bring a boppy or bf'ing pillow if you have one. I always bring my own pillows from home as I find they help me sleep. The hospital I was in had bath towels, but this time I think I will probably bring my own. Food...bring some food with you. When I had my son my parents were here and my mother cooked for me each day...but OMG do I love NHS puddings. Yummy!

Lets see, clothes for baby...bring a whole bunch of them, I never used scratch mittens, so its up to you whether or not you want to get some. Bring your usualy toiletries, they will make you feel better, hair dryer if you want to.  I say bring whatever makes you feel comfy, it could be a long stay (might not, but could be) and you will want to have everything that you need. Oh, and mobile phone and charger, I plan on texting and photo messaging throughout my labour!

Good luck!!

i second the bring-your-own-water idea. lots and lots of water.

bring nibbles for yourself as well. if your hospital is anything like mine was, they may forget to feed you. 

Yes, have you been a tour of your hospital?  Mine is MEGA MEGA HOT, so bring light clothing, water bottles and they even suggest a small, handheld fan.

Another suggestion is to pack the bag for yourself & bag for baby, but then pack a bag of spare things (like spare maternity pads, spare babygros, spare nappies) to leave in the car.  That way if you NEED the extra stuff, hubby won't have to muddle around at home, but you also don't have to lug it around the hospital.

For me, during labor, all I wanted were those glucose tablets! I felt like I had no energy (I did a water birth, so all natural) once I got to the ward, all I wanted to do was go home, and I did, in the late afternoon, so I'm no help with what to have in hospital.
Best of luck!!!

I was in for 9 days with my first and 5 with my second.

DH brought me food to eat once I was able to (though I did eat breakfasts on the NHS - the rest was too dreadful). I was ok with water - they left me with pitchers of it. I had pjs but had so much oedema I ended up wearing the dreadful NHS gowns most of the time as nothing of mine fit.

Really, just bring what you think will make you happy and put your DH on alert to possibly bring other stuff in.

Take a hat for the baby! Newborns need to have their heads covered.

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Another suggestion is to pack the bag for yourself & bag for baby, but then pack a bag of spare things (like spare maternity pads, spare babygros, spare nappies) to leave in the car.  That way if you NEED the extra stuff, hubby won't have to muddle around at home, but you also don't have to lug it around the hospital.

This is a great idea!  I was only in for about 24 hours and I had stupidly only packed for 24 hours.  I was lucky.  Had I sent hubby home with a list, that would have been awful for both of us! 

I had to bring my own towel and my own maxipads.  Food was another big thing I was glad I had packed at the last minute.  You might not be ready for a meal when it is offered, but a few hours later you will be hungry.

Take a hat for the baby! Newborns need to have their heads covered.

You sound like my mother!  She gets really annoyed when she sees tiny little babies without hats on.

Take a hat for the baby! Newborns need to have their heads covered.

Our hospital provided them - I think many do. Usually knit hats from local knitting clubs, WIs, etc!

After my first experience giving birth here, I took everything but the kitchen sink.  ERI at the time provided nothing for mum or baby.

Second time round, I went home 6 hours later.

Third time, at Paisley, wasn't any better.  A nurse came round to ask why I hadn't gotten up to go down the corridor and get my lunch.  I explained that it was because I still couldn't feel my left leg (had had epidural and ventouse delivery of very large baby with cord wrapped round his neck).