Uk mums hospital bag

I'm 37 weeks and wanting to start packing my hospital bag but finding it hard to know what to take!

I am planning on a hospital birth at a midwife lead part of the hospital. As I have had a straight forward labour and delivery before they say I will probably be able to go home a couple of hours after I've had her.

I have packed pyjamas for after I have her but don't know whether I should bother if I'm not staying in, but I don't know how I'm going to feel.

Also was wondering if you are supposed to take your own towels? I can't remember if I took towels last time.

This hospital bag is starting to look more like a hospital suitcase! Lol

I would take a set each just in case you do end up staying and they do provide towels BUT they have no plastic backing so leak through - take some that you feel comfortable with  

They do provide towels but they're not very soft  
If it doesn't take up too much room in your hospital bag them I would take some. When you have a baby in a midwife led unit you usually go home the same day or a few hours after you've had you're baby as the midwives are usually community midwives and just turn up at the unit for the birth. There are only usually healthcare assistants but they're there from 8am-8pm, but PJ's are definitely needed as you want to be as comfortable as possible! I went home in my PJ's, got some funny looks from my neighbors but I really didn't care lol!! Plus if you end up having to go into hospital you will need PJ's and their towels are like sandpaper  

I would suggest packing 2 bags. One for the out right away scenario and one for the "just in case we have to stay longer" scenario. This saves anyone having to go and figure out what to pack for you if it is needed or can be kept in the car just in case. If you aren't sure if you will need a towel, bring one to be safe. Something that is usually helpful to pack is a couple of rolls of quarters. If you have your SO with you they may need to hit up a snack machine at some point for something to eat and it's nice to be prepared. When I was in the hospital last time, I actually packed my stuff in a few different bags. I had a small bag of travel sized soaps and toothpaste etc. that I put into my first bag, that stayed with me all three days I was in (c-section) But what I ended up doing was having a change of clothes in another bag that my husband would bring in to me before I had a shower, I would put dirty laundry in the bag and he'd take it out when he went out again. It saved us having to pack up all kinds of stuff, we were able to leave with the baby, one small bag and the gifts that were brought to us while in the hospital.

Do people in the UK pack differently than people in the US? Just curious... lol

Quoting !!Katie!!:" Do people in the UK pack differently than people in the US? Just curious... lol "

I'm not sure, I think our hospitals provide different things maybe?

Quoting !!Katie!!:" Do people in the UK pack differently than people in the US? Just curious... lol "

No, the US have better quality care and facilities because you pay for private care but we pay a small contribution every month to cover all medical needs (except cosmetic).

Believe me, my MIL is a nurse in the US and she was disgusted at my tales of birth lol.

Quoting MrsWilliams154:" No, the US have better quality care and facilities because you pay for private care but we pay a small ... [snip!] ... all medical needs (except cosmetic). Believe me, my MIL is a nurse in the US and she was disgusted at my tales of birth lol."

I think the quality of care in my local hospital is awesome and the nurses, midwives and doctors were amazing   I think it depends which area you are in and who works there.

You get certain places that give smurf care whichever country you are in.

Quoting MrsWilliams154:" No, the US have better quality care and facilities because you pay for private care but we pay a small ... [snip!] ... all medical needs (except cosmetic). Believe me, my MIL is a nurse in the US and she was disgusted at my tales of birth lol."

how are births different in the uk?

Quoting shes*almost*one!:" how are births different in the uk?"

I think the main difference is we have midwife led care and doctors are in the background and only get involved if there is an issue or you are high risk.

Quoting ßεχ™:" I think the main difference is we have midwife led care and doctors are in the background and only get involved if there is an issue or you are high risk."

there's not really a difference there.

i had a midwife as well, and delivered both children at the #1 hospital in all of America.

Quoting shes*almost*one!:" there's not really a difference there. i had a midwife as well, and delivered both children at the #1 hospital in all of America. "

I didn't know that   I thought most births were doctor led in the US, I stand corrected!

Quoting ßεχ™:" I didn't know that   I thought most births were doctor led in the US, I stand corrected!"

at my hospital. massachusetts general hospital. there is a huge midwifery service. they would much rather healthy patients see the midwives and have less interventions. also, being the #1 hospital in the country, there are a lot of extremely sick mothers and babies who come here from all over the world, so there are a lot of physicians with extensive training to care for the difficult cases. of course anyone could choose to be under the care of a doctor rather than a midwife though. is that how is is there?

Quoting shes*almost*one!:" at my hospital. massachusetts general hospital. there is a huge midwifery service. they would much rather ... [snip!] ... cases. of course anyone could choose to be under the care of a doctor rather than a midwife though. is that how is is there?"

Our maternity care is usually only midwives. You can ask to be referred to a doctor instead, but they will only usually take over your care if you are deemed high risk or have other problems. Even then it will usually be the midwife and doctor working alongside each other to provide you with maternity care.
Our midwives study for years and shadow qualified midwives at university to get their degree and are trained to deal everything, including high risk cases and some midwives even specialize in high risk care. It's all free but if you want just a doctor for the sake of it then you have to go private, which means paying for it or getting insurance to pay for it.

Quoting ßεχ™:" Our maternity care is usually only midwives. You can ask to be referred to a doctor instead, but they ... [snip!] ... just a doctor for the sake of it then you have to go private, which means paying for it or getting insurance to pay for it."

ohhh i see. sounds pretty similar.

midwifery is really taking off here in the states, with more and more women turning to a midwife for her prenatal care and delivery. i think its wonderful!

one of my close friends was attending leiscester university for her masters degree in forensic psychology and fell pregnant while over there and used your health care system and really liked it! unfortunately she lost the baby though