If you're birthing at home, are you packing a bag?

[Hezzy]

I keep meaning to bring this up with my midwife, but forgetting.

Are you packing a hospital bag in case of transfer? Or do you feel like that's self-defeating? Part of me wants to be prepared, but I also feel like that might be undermining my confidence. We are getting a carseat this weekend (we don't have a car, so other than going to the hospital, it's not something we're likely to need immediately), but I haven't thought at all about an emergency hospital bag. What are people doing?

[Kontessa]

I have a car seat and a car but as I do not plan on going any place for a long while after baby, putting it in has not been at the top of my list. Either has a hospital bag. If we have to go then I will ask doula and a friend to put one together for me and just deal with what will be at that point. Not going to pack though.... maybe I watched the "Secret" too many times but really just do not want that to be a possibility.

[LittleBrownDog]

I asked this on the homebirth forum a while back. Got a lot of good responses.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=743509

I did end up packing one, for me I felt like one of the posters on that thread said- If I didn't do one I felt like I was jinxing myself and would end up either trying to explain to DH what to bring, or having people frantically running around on the way out the door. So I have a bag with some basics, it's in the car and I can rest easy knowing it's there if I need it, but really truly feeling like I won't. Some people feel the opposite, that by packing one they are setting themselves up to need it. I guess it just depends on which kind of superstitious you are!

[maclolo]

I'm birthing at home and I don't think I will pack one... We live fairly close to a hospital, so if I wind up there, I'll just have DH come back for clothes/whatever when necessary...

[lisalulu]

I don't think I am. I feel like the things I would really want I will be using at home-so maybe if it wasn't emergent I'd throw a few things in a bag-camera, music etc. But I would definitely send dh home to get my stuff (toiletries, etc) after the baby was born-but our hospital is really close and he would have to come back to take care of the dog anyway.

[marisa]

I'm going unassisted, and won't pack a bag - but I did make a birth plan in case of transfer, and I plan on joining in on the hospitals' tour next week - never birthed in a hospital before and I want to be mentally prepared in case I were to need it.

[Isaac'sMa]

Well, I packed one last time, but probably won't this time. We're two miles away from the hospital so I will just send someone home to get what I need if we end up transferring. I have a list of things I would want (thanks to the mamas here who have posted all the useful/necessary items you'll need at the hospital ) in case of transfer so that should make it easier for dh or whoever packs the bag...If it's really an emergency I figure we'd just go, YKWIM? I think a bag of stuff is the last thing I'd be thinking about.

[AimeeandBrian]

I'm not packing one. I do have a carseat installed because my midwives want us to go to the pediatrician within 24 hours.

[renaissanceed]

We're not packing one here and didn't with DD. We are also close to the hospital and I would just send DH back for things if need be. I never really thought about it one way or another in terms of 'jinxing' myself, just was so busy working on getting the homebirth supplies ready and mentally preparing for birth that this was not a priority.

[GinaRae]

I am more worried about a birth plan/post birth info for the baby. I am not packing a bag as we live on the same street about 1-2 miles from the hospital and hubby can come get me bras, etc. Not worried about jinxing.

I just need to get the birth plan done and order a homebirth kit!!!!

[FillingMyQuiver]

As much as I HATE the thought of packing an emergency bag, I am. DH made a really good point the other night when he brought up the emergency bag to me. I had a HB w/ DD 2yrs ago and the birth went fine, but I went to the ER and was admitted 1.5 days later w/ a uterine infection from a large clot that had not passed and a UTI. I had to go under general anesthesia and had a D&C done. I wasn't able to nurse DD for 24hrs after the GA and DH had to call my parents at 5:30am (my surgery was at 7am) and ask them to bring formula and bottles to the hospital for DD. I had NO emergency bag packed and poor DH had to figure a lot out on his own w/out my help b/c I was wiped out for quite a while. Thank goodness we lived w/ my parents. My mom was REALLY helpful and my dad watched DS while DH had DD in the hospital w/ me.

So, I'm packing a bag, complete w/ bottles and formula, and I'm having DH hide it in a place I won't know. That way, I won't have the "reminder" that something could go wrong staring me in the face.

[ckberkey]

No. I am not packing a bag. We live less than 5 minutes from the hossy and I don't want to go there or give the thought any energy. :