For Iz

• Nappies
• Nappy Bags
• Snuggly outfit to go home in
• Water Wipes
• Wet Wipes
• Her stoma kit
• Pot for water
• Dry Wipes
• Barrier Wipes
• Stoma Powder
• No-Sting Adhesive Remover
• Calamine Lotion
• Stoma Bags
• Gauze and Tape (she had a granuloma on her belly button at the time, so we had to tape it back to stop rubbing)
• Stoma Scissors
• Toys
• Teddies – At one point, it was so noisy on the ward that we had one by each of her ears so she could sleep.
• Light-up toys
• A sparkly night light
• A play therapist came around and provided an in-cot play gym, which was so useful, and we attached some additional toys to this.
• Rockit (the hospital had these too, but we brought our own)
• Rockit space man
• A playlist on my phone of relaxing music
• Large Muslin Cloth or 2 – Post-PSARP Op, Iz was most comfortable on a pillow, and we wrapped this around her so she didn’t slip off the side. This was a lifesaver for being able to manoeuvre her easily too for feeding, etc.
• A hospital gown in her size – Often, hospitals don’t have these in the right size. We got ours from an amazing charity called Pyjama Fairies. They also make PJs.
• Her feeding supplies
  • Bibs
  • Bottles
  • Sterilizer (our hospital had amazing ziplock bags for this)
  • Breast Pump, etc. (again, our hospital would have provided this if we hadn’t had our own)
  • Dummies

For Us

• A pillow – There was a pull-out single camp bed for us, and we shared this for the time we were there. A pillow was provided, but as there were two of us, we needed a second.
• PJs
• Eye mask
• Ear plugs, if, like me, you are overstimulated by noise
• Shower supplies, including towels
• Hand cream for the mass handwashing
• Breast pads, if feeding or expressing
• A cover for expressing if, like me, this is your feeding method. I had many conversations with consultants while being a human cow, and I just felt more comfortable with a proper cover. This may be different if you’re actually breastfeeding—it’s personal preference, and there’s no judgment here. Fed is best!
• Packs of clothes, maybe a few days at a time if it’s easy for someone to bring extras in. I say packs because it’s just easier to grab a bag with your outfit for the day, go shower, and have everything easily accessible.
• Chargers – I took an extension lead to plug all my stuff in (might need testing by the hospital)
• Flip flops or slippers for easy on and off
• Snacks
• A water bottle
• Paracetamol and Ibuprofen because, at some point, if you are on the ward, you will likely get a headache
• Toothpaste and brushes, etc.
• A small cross body bag for keeping valuables in

For the Reversal: I have on my list also:

• Barrier Creams – For the Reversal Op, I have packed a number of barrier creams in prep for a very sore bottom once Iz uses her new bum. It’s a common theme when reading up on the reversal that there will be very sore skin, and the stoma nurse also advised possibly using the barrier wipes we use for the stoma around the anal opening too for this reason, so I packed extras.
• Iz’s dilators and lubrication, in case we are required to continue this
• A bottle for washing poop off of Iz’s bottom if it gets very sore
• Cotton wool for the same reason
• Dry wipes for patting dry
• Puppy pads to put on the bed for nappy changes (our hospital does provide these also)

On Op Day, I usually have a small bag for the unit before we are taken down to surgery with bits we need, and then a large bag in the car with the ward stuff from the list above. We have been really lucky that so far, Iz has handled being nil by mouth well, but I go prepared as we’ve had an op cancelled just before being due to go to surgery, so having milk available is a must.

Small Bag

• Milk – Just in case the op is cancelled
• Dummies
• Toys
• Express kit, as I still needed to do this while Iz would have been in surgery
• Snacks
• Drinks
• Normal change bag
• Purse
• Pen
• Change of clothes or two for Iz

We also had the pushchair so Iz could sleep and to cart the stuff around