Emergency hospital bag for home birth?

RaspberryK · Jun 7th, 2011, 08:06 AM

As the title says really... I am planning a home birth, would you/did you pack a bag to take to hospital in case of an emergency?
What did it contain?
Thank you
x

Thegirl · Jun 7th, 2011, 08:37 AM

I packed way too much I remember that!

It depends how you want to use it. My midwife suggested packing the bag with a little of everything I might need so that even if you don't transfer to hospital it's easy for them to be able to grab you a pair of undies and a pad for example without disturbing you, Dad and baby or rumaging through drawers finding all sorts instead of underwear!

All you need in the bag is what you think you'll need leading up to and for 12 hours after birth. Plus spare pants. Anything else can be bought in by your partner or visitors if you are still in there.

I packed a book. A book. Like at any stage up to birth you are thinking what I need now is a novel. And like you can look at anything else once your little one arrives!

Mervs Mum · Jun 7th, 2011, 08:38 AM

Yes and no.

I always tell clients (and I did this myself) to pair together a birth box or birth bag. All the same things you would grab to go in to hospital are the same things you would want to hand at your home birth. So store everything in a box or a bag so your birth partner/s and mws can easily reach things for you

RaspberryK · Jun 7th, 2011, 09:11 AM

Good idea ladies, thank you ... I feel sooo clueless I am glad to have you all on hand! There are some things I can't really ask anyone at home about, none of my friends have had babies (and are all horrified at the thought of me giving birth at home with no epidural) as is my mother in law (closest person to a mum that I have) who keeps saying things like, Oh you'll want this or that for when you're in hospital. I was in Matalan the other day with her and it took all my strength not to scream " I AM NOT GOING INTO EFFING HOSPITAL!"
Oooops, bit of a rant there - sorry ladies.

x

NaturalMomma · Jun 7th, 2011, 10:11 AM

I didn't pack one. I had a hospital birth with ds1 and didn't use anything from my bag, so I found it a waste of time and space (in the hospital). If you do want to pack one I would get a small bag and put in those travel sized brushes, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. A change of clothes for yourself and baby.

Celesse · Jun 7th, 2011, 10:18 AM

I had one with baby outfit, pads, knickers, nightdress, toiletries in it. My OH get panicky very easily and I knew it would be too much for him to have to grab things in an emergency, even if he only had to take them from a box and put them in a bag. I did transfer and was in for 3 days. There was no where near enough stuff with me, but that was ok as visitors got me stuff that I asked for and OH did manage to get extra things for me.

lozzy21 · Jun 7th, 2011, 10:22 AM

Id have a change of clothes, a nighty, lots of pants and maternity pads and your toiletrys in a bag with some nappys, vests and babygrows just incase. It took OH 6 attempts to pack my toiletry bag let along anything else.

RaspberryK · Jun 7th, 2011, 16:34 PM

Thanks, I will get something together, DH can't even pack his own bag for holiday so it'd be silly of me to leave it to him.

x

Greta Chick · Jun 8th, 2011, 16:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaspberryK

Thanks, I will get something together, DH can't even pack his own bag for holiday so it'd be silly of me to leave it to him.

x

I always pack our holiday bags too lol

I had planned a birth centre birth so had packed a bag. It wasn't until about 39 weeks that it looked likely I'd be definitely having a home birth (got the midwife kit at 37 weeks) so I had a bag packed in case I had to be transferred.

In my bag I had a pair of pjs, slippers, warm socks, pack of disposable knickers, pack of maternity towels, nursing bra, day clothes, toiletries, nappies and wipes for baby, 2 x vests and sleepsuits for baby and a going home outfit for baby.

hth

xx

RaspberryK · Jun 9th, 2011, 03:57 AM

Thank you! I have bought some pairs of disposable knickers and pads, breast pads - trying to be well prepared so I get something ever week when I'm in Tesco.
Did you all get maternity/nursing PJ's nighties or just something in a big size? I never wear PJ's unless I am lounging around the house and then it's a vest top and DH's batman PJ trousers

x

Jun 7th, 2011, 08:06 AM	#1
RaspberryK Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northamptonshire, England Posts: 4,629	Emergency hospital bag for home birth? As the title says really... I am planning a home birth, would you/did you pack a bag to take to hospital in case of an emergency? What did it contain? Thank you x

Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 08:37 AM	#2
Thegirl Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 418	I packed way too much I remember that! It depends how you want to use it. My midwife suggested packing the bag with a little of everything I might need so that even if you don't transfer to hospital it's easy for them to be able to grab you a pair of undies and a pad for example without disturbing you, Dad and baby or rumaging through drawers finding all sorts instead of underwear! All you need in the bag is what you think you'll need leading up to and for 12 hours after birth. Plus spare pants. Anything else can be bought in by your partner or visitors if you are still in there. I packed a book. A book. Like at any stage up to birth you are thinking what I need now is a novel. And like you can look at anything else once your little one arrives!

Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 08:38 AM	#3
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,579	Yes and no. I always tell clients (and I did this myself) to pair together a birth box or birth bag. All the same things you would grab to go in to hospital are the same things you would want to hand at your home birth. So store everything in a box or a bag so your birth partner/s and mws can easily reach things for you
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 09:11 AM	#4
RaspberryK Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northamptonshire, England Posts: 4,629	Good idea ladies, thank you ... I feel sooo clueless I am glad to have you all on hand! There are some things I can't really ask anyone at home about, none of my friends have had babies (and are all horrified at the thought of me giving birth at home with no epidural) as is my mother in law (closest person to a mum that I have) who keeps saying things like, Oh you'll want this or that for when you're in hospital. I was in Matalan the other day with her and it took all my strength not to scream " I AM NOT GOING INTO EFFING HOSPITAL!" Oooops, bit of a rant there - sorry ladies. x

Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 10:11 AM	#5
NaturalMomma Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,591	I didn't pack one. I had a hospital birth with ds1 and didn't use anything from my bag, so I found it a waste of time and space (in the hospital). If you do want to pack one I would get a small bag and put in those travel sized brushes, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. A change of clothes for yourself and baby.

Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 10:18 AM	#6
Celesse Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 6,717	I had one with baby outfit, pads, knickers, nightdress, toiletries in it. My OH get panicky very easily and I knew it would be too much for him to have to grab things in an emergency, even if he only had to take them from a box and put them in a bag. I did transfer and was in for 3 days. There was no where near enough stuff with me, but that was ok as visitors got me stuff that I asked for and OH did manage to get extra things for me.

Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 10:22 AM	#7
lozzy21 Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Teesside, Posts: 23,583	Id have a change of clothes, a nighty, lots of pants and maternity pads and your toiletrys in a bag with some nappys, vests and babygrows just incase. It took OH 6 attempts to pack my toiletry bag let along anything else.

Status: Offline

Jun 7th, 2011, 16:34 PM	#8
RaspberryK Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northamptonshire, England Posts: 4,629	Thanks, I will get something together, DH can't even pack his own bag for holiday so it'd be silly of me to leave it to him. x

Status: Offline

Jun 9th, 2011, 03:57 AM	#10
RaspberryK Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northamptonshire, England Posts: 4,629	Thank you! I have bought some pairs of disposable knickers and pads, breast pads - trying to be well prepared so I get something ever week when I'm in Tesco. Did you all get maternity/nursing PJ's nighties or just something in a big size? I never wear PJ's unless I am lounging around the house and then it's a vest top and DH's batman PJ trousers x

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password