Hospital Bag Revisited

Before Princess' arrival I listed what I was planning to take to hospital for labour and 4 night's stay (the norm in Oz). Here is how I went with what we took.

Oh and... if you are anywhere near 37 weeks - pack your bag! If mine hadn't been 95% packed I'd have been useless at organising it at 1am when my waters broke at 38 weeks!

I didn't eat any sweets or snacks during labour, but I had an epidural and they served us proper meals so I didn't need them. All my mommy friends who laboured without drugs said they only felt like sweets because they were nauseous. Me? I was hungry and totally enjoyed my food!

Labour:

• Birth Plan. no - we deviated from plan from word go so there was no point!


• Ante Natal Card. yes


• Medicare Card. yes


• Lip Balm. yes


• Water bottle. yes


• Juice. yes


• Sweets. no (see above)


• Snack bars. no (see above)


• Chocolate. no (see above)


• Big t-shirt. no - I used a hospital gown - I had to for the epidural and it didn't bother me to be "dressed like a patient"


• Milord's snacks. no (see above)


• Milord's swim trunks so he can join me in the shower/bath. no - we skipped that part!


• Games. no - forgot


• Books. yes


• Camera. yes

Post Labour:

• Champagne (yeah baby!). hadn't organised this yet... *sigh* would have been nice actually


• Chocolate. no - didn't fancy it


• Bras. no - couldn't be arsed


• PJs. no - I went with yoga pants and comfy breastfeeding tops instead


• Slippers. no - I took flipflips instead


• Dressing Gown. yes


• Cheap chuckable panties. YES! I'm still in these as my usual panties don't take pads very well. I never messed, so buy a decent selection of pad-friendly panties as you'll be in them for a while.


• Maternity Pads. yes


• Breast Pads. yes, but only once my milk came in


• Nipple cream. yes


• Nipple shields (just in case). didn't need


• Toiletries. yes


• Hair Dryer. yes


• Squeezy water bottle to wash down there. didn't need


• Own pillows. YES


• Glasses. yes


• Vitamins. forgot


• Panadol. forgot, but could ask for it


• Baby nail scissors. NO! Their nails are microscopic - I use an emery board instead


• Laptop. yes


• Speakers. yes


• Internet USB stick. YES


• Headphones. no


• Camera. yes (duh)


• Phones. yes


• Phone/camera/laptop chargers. yes


• Books. yes


• Earplugs (for when Milord takes baby for a long walk). yes *shrugs*


• Vaseline. no


• Dummy (just in case). YES - this saved our sanity on night 3


• Clothes SaffaChick and Milord. yes, although I didn't change from my yoga pants and top much


• Coming home outfit and wrap - baby (2 just in case). yes

Anything missed?

Breastfeeding pillow (I have the "My Brest Friend" pillow which straps around your body so it doesn't slide away, and is a brilliant support for the baby and your arms)

Champagne! No matter what time your baby arrives, once you've done the first feed you DESERVE that glass of champers!!!