A good idea?

[miso]

We are planning a home birth. Would it still be a good idea to pack a hospital bag just in case? I'm not trying to be pessimistic but I don't know if that is a normal thing to do if you are planning a home birth.

[saratchka]

Honestly, I'm not planning to. Not because it's pessimistic, but because I don't want to be bothered. I figure if we have to go, it'll either be because of something like extremely stalled labor, which wouldn't preclude me (or DH) taking 15 minutes to pack a few necessities, or it'll be because of a huge emergency at which point I won't care about much of anything that could be in the bag. I will make sure that the car's gas tank doesn't dip below the halfway point from here on out, though. And I always keep my insurance card and some cash in my purse, so that should get me through any situation that could arise.

[Corri]

I'm the opposite - I figure it couldn't hurt. Just toss a few things in a bag and throw it in the trunk of your car or in your hall closet, and then you don't ever have to think about it again. It's like bringing an umbrella when you go out - as long as you have it, it'll never rain!

[mrsalf97]

I'm not packinig one.

[Marvelleaux]

I won't be. I wear the same thing every day and I'm not about to pack it! Also, should there be an emergency my husband will ask my MIL to gather things we need.

I did make sure to print out a birth plan that we keep in our prenatal binder just in case.


Just wanted to add also that I live 3 miles from the hospital. I might feel differently if I were further away...

[Jilian]

I did a thread about this in the HB forum about a month ago. I struggled with it too. I'm a planner and I feel more secure when everything is planned for. I'd be worried about not having all my stuff in the event of a transfer. So instead of packing, I just put all the important stuff in one area and told DP where it is. He knows what to pack in the event of a transfer. I didn't want the negative energy of planning for a transfer.

Maybe you could make up a list for your DH/DP ahead of time so he'll know what to pack?

[miso]

Thanks for all the input, I think all of the opinions have helped my decision for sure. I think I'm going to pack a small one just with a few things I would like that I don't mind being in a bag, along with a birthplan if things end up needing to go that route. Which, hopefully they will only need to if there is something seriously wrong, but otherwise we will be at home anyway.

[pjs]

I'm not packing one. If I need to transfer my main concern is going to be a healthy baby- DH can bring anything I might need after baby arrives safely.

[OTMomma]

My midwives ask us to pack a bag ahead of time- that way in the event of a transfer we are all prepared and no one feels the need to rush around and find things. They also have us packing homebirth bags too- I have 3 made up with the things in it they ask for- sheets in one, towels and washclothes in another, clothes for me and baby afterwards etc. So all will be easy to find for the birth too. I like being very prepared and packed.

[wombatclay]

I think having a "back up" bag is a good idea...in the event of an emergency you wont have the time/energy/desire to pack a bag. And considering that it would be an emergency, and you'd be someplace you didn't want to be (physically and in terms of the emotions/health of the birth process), it could be a real comfort to have a few familiar things with you no matter what. Just a tiny bag...maybe a pillow case to put over a hospital pillow, a birth plan or post-birth plan, some snacks you really like...things like that that could make you feel better and help you relax in the face of a major change of plans.

But then, I'm a big "planner" too and my plans usually have two or three "backup" plans behind them!

[chinaKat]

I'd make sure I had necessities like contact lenses/glasses and insurance cards all in one place in case I wanted to grab and go, but I probably wouldn't pack a huge bag up.

[willoLevin]

I'm another paranoid/planner who would pack a bag "just in case" on the grounds that, in an emergency, you might grab a ready-to-go bag, but you wouldn't have time to get individual items.

Since it is actually a BAD idea to bring your purse/handbag to the hospital (valuables and theft issue), it makes sense to have something else prepared.

If I didn't think I were going to need it, I would pack:
* my own toiletries
* a pillowcase
* slippers
* my own nightgown (or t-shirt or something comfy of my own I could rest in)
* a few little snacks/juice boxes
* a book or magazine
* and something "personal" (but not breakable) that I could stare at in a bland hospital room--for me, a travel photo frame with some family pics

Those are the things that would help me most to feel comforted in a stark hospital room, I think. Someone else could bring me a change of clothes for going home, but these are the items I would want to have immediately if I wanted them.

--willo