What kind of bag to pack? (pedantry)

[Ambivalent Dreams]

What kind of bag are you taking to the hospital? The amount of stuff I plan on bringing keeps growing and growing. I think between the stuff for me, stuff for DH and stuff for the baby, I could mostly fill a carry-on luggage bag. That just seems like an awfully big bag to bring for a hospital stay.

[Friday13th]

I am a chronic over-packer and brought WAY too much to the hospital for DS1 (planned hospital birth) and much less for my HBAC transfer, it was still too much. But over-packing aside, pack a small bag with things you'll want in labor, bring that and your pillow in when you go. Leave in the car another bag with clothes for you, DH and the baby plus anything post birth you'll want and the carseat. I dragged three (huge) bags plus a pillow in with DS1 only to be sent home because I was only 2cm dialated. DH looked like a pack-mule and everyone was making, "oh, not time yet?" comments on our way out.

[Twinklefae]

: We did two bags - one for labour and one for the 'stay' afterwards. The thing about over packing is that you never know what will happen. My bff planned to stay a day or so after her birth and packed accordingly. Unfortunately, she had a horrible birth, and her child had a NICU stay and she had to send her mother to her house for more clothes - which were not the ones she'd have chosen.

I overpacked, and was fine with it. We only stayed 8 hours, but if our stay had been longer, it would have comforted me to have things that were chosen by me.