I had my first child by emergency section, my second child’s complicated pregnancy meant an elective section, so it came as no surprise to me that with this baby (baby number 3) the only safe option for us was to go with a caesarean section delivery instead.
It’s a delivery option I am happy with and if I can get a delivery like the one I had with Joshua I will be more than happy in fact I would be ecstatic.
What 2 previous sections have given me is the knowledge that packing a bag for hospital really is something that you don’t have to panic about, in fact third time round I am probably only taking half as much stuff as I took with the other two hospital stay as after all I will have a husband who will be visiting each day and can bring in anything else I might need or will need replenishing.
For my hospital stay I will be given a bed on the ward and this is where I will go on the morning of surgery so this is the bed I will come back to after surgery and coming from the recovery room so I can settle my things in here.
However to make things less completed and to stop me having to stress about where stuff is I pack 2 separate bags/cases for my stay.
The first bag is a smaller bag and it will contain things I need for waiting round for the day for hubs and I as if an emergency section is needed for someone else then my elective section will be held back and we could be waiting the best part of a day.
It also contains snacks for hubs and also the things I will need directly after the birth as after surgery I will be taken to the recovery room and we will be in there for a while before heading back to the ward so this bag tends to be a rucksack that is easily transportable.
The second bag is obviously much bigger as this is the one that will contain all the essentials baby and I will need for the stay.
So here is what will be in my hospital bags:
First Bag (Waiting & Delivery Bag)
My pregnancy notes
Change for the car park & snack machine or trolley (for hubs)
Phone & phone charger
Magazines
Snacks
Fluffy socks (for the operation)
Baby wipes ( I get sticky and sweaty after having surgery)
Nappies x 3
Newborn vest x 1
Newborn sleep suit (with built-in mittens x 1
Cardigan x 1
Camera & charger
Slippers (to walk down to the theatre)
Second Bag (Hospital Stay)
Nightshirts/Nighties x 2
Dressing gown x 1
Maternity Pads
Breast Pads
Very big pants – I hate paper pants but after surgery I like pants that won’t roll into my wound)
Fluffy Socks x 1
Nursing Bra
Newborn vests x 4
Newborn sleepsuits x 4
Carseat (although hubs leaves this in the car till we are ready to come home)
Baby blanket (can be used in the car seat for the journey home)
Baby wipes
Nappies
Baby Swaddling
Bibs x 2
Towel for showering
Nursing pillow (helps to get a better feeding angle without hurting my wound, I am using my baby bundle nursing pillow)
Toiletries ( I use miniatures where I can)
Hair bobble
Hair brush
Deodorant
Moisturiser
Toothbrush & Paste
Nipple cream
Shower gel/soap
I have a few more things to gather up this week and then there are a couple of bits I can’t pack till the morning of surgery like my pillow as I am using it everyday, however I am starting to get super excited that in a few weeks we will finally get to meet our new little boy.
Is there anything you think I have missed from our bags?
I really would bring piles of Muslins forc-section baby sick which could start in force by the evening! Must dash x
Have you got Arnica to aid healing and maybe vaseline to put on babies bum to make changes easier?
Not long now x
oh no I will have to order some of this!
Eek! So exciting….I know when I went in for my planned c-sections I took far too much. lol
Big pants are a must! hehehe
Big pants all packed and ready to go lol
I am just so excited for you – wait until you have that baby! New baby smell, the scrunched up ness! x
i am craving that new baby smell so badly right now! .. 18 days and counting
Packing the hospital bag time is so exciting. It’s kind of sad to think I won’t be doing that anymore… but not – I don’t think I could handle any more kids.
lol this is my last time! … here is hoping i remember everything!
Ahh takes me back to packing my bags ready to have Mia! If we ever decided to have another baby, I would definitely pack less things as we took everything when I went into labour with Mia and used nothing! Something you don’t know until you have done it once. A really helpful post for those pregnant with their 1st child or about to have their 1st C-section. Congratulations! I hope everything goes well 🙂
#magicmoments
aww thanks Becca … my first baby i think the staff thought i was moving in for a month lol … i am defo travelling lighter this time ;-0
Wow you are organised. I am sure I forgot loads. It’s so exciting. Cant wait to hear all about it. Lots of love honey x
aww thanks Susan .. i can’t believe its nearly time! eek! it doesnt seem 2 mins since we sat having tea and i told you!
Useful post 🙂 I overpacked by an insane amount when i had my daughter (although it wasn’t a c-sec) I think i pretty much took everything I owned. I barely touched a thing in those bags, it was just a hassle carrying it hear and there during my stay. #MagicMoments
Aw Jaime, this brings back memories of totally over packing for our planned section (which turned out to be emergency…). Wishing you all the best 🙂
Aw Jaime, this brings back memories of totally over packing for our planned section (which turned out to be emergency…). Wishing you all the best 🙂
I had to send my Mum out for big pants after my emergency section in August. I had taken big ones but I wanted even bigger.
It sounds like you have most things covered! 🙂
Eek.
lol i have MASSIVE pants packed .. in Bridgette Jones would be proud of these bad boys! lol … hope you’re healing well?
flannel so you can have a little bed bath the night after your section? I get hot and sticky too! Best of luck, it’s very exciting!!