Hospital bags - what did you pack?

As my best mate gets a bit closer to considering working out what to pack, what to bring, the fastest route to the hospital I have been thinking about the much debated Hospital Bag, or Labour Bag, if your reading american websites, or multiple bags if you are me.

You see this was my specialist subject as my due date grew near. Dammit I was such a preggo geek!  I had two bags - one for labour, and one for going home.  Actually I still recommend that approach despite not having worked out for me very well, but at least it kept me calmer & feeler better prepared.

Anyways here's what I packed.....
Labour Bag
I had grand dreams of getting an epidural and fantasised long hours of boredom after reading ... book so I mostly packed stuff to fend off the boredom and keep both myself & Daddy Native if not sane, then at least occupied.

• Birth plan (completely & utterly over-ruled/ignored in my case however)
• A deck of playing cards
• Bags of Snack a Jacks
• List of phone numbers and a spare phone charger
• Socks - I kept reading that your feet get really cold giving birth?!
• Lipbalm
• Tens machine - have no idea if this actually helped or not
• Straws for drinking water easily
• Hair bands
• Anti-bacterial surface wipes (which just offended the nurse! But I was lucky to have a fabulous new unit)
• Fully charged iPod with calming playlists (ahahahahahHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!) & iPod dock
• One of Daddy Native's shirts for labour (SO never happened - I ended up wearing it the following day while he picked me up clothes from home)

Hospital Bag
Being freakishly organised I packed all the basic items I thought baby and I would need to get us home.  But I was still totally unprepared and had to borrow stuff to wash both of us in!

• Front opening nightdress & dressing gown, slippers
• Overnight toiletries - didn't think to bring stuff for baby though!
• Clean clothes for me to get home comfortably
• Change for vending machines/car park/phone cards etc
• A list of all the foods I'd missed out on whilst pregnant so Daddy Native could organise a picnic for the following day - mainly featuring blue cheese & pate
• Mini bottle of champagne (never go anywhere without one of those!)
• Nursing bra
• breast pads, maternity pads & a collection of old knickers
• Arnica tablets

Baby's first outfit, taking season into consideration! (Nothing fitted, we had to phone Daddy Native's sister to bring the correct sized outfits, so I'd recommend waiting until you see how small/big your baby stork is!)

Here's what I actually used.....

• NOTHING from the labour bag - it was all happened way too fast for us. Although as I had a room to myself for the first two nights, the iPod dock was fantastic for playing music, entertaining not just me but also the nurses.
• I did use everything from the hospital bag, but really would advise that at the very least you write a list for additional clothes etc in case you end up staying longer than desired.

But don't take my word for it -
I found this pretty helpful and based my list on this list
If you can get your hands on Jules Oliver's book 'Minus 9 to 5' has a great funny list I remember
You can always rely on these guys for lists!


What did you pack?