Hospital bag?

[Gabbslou]

Hi everyone! This is my first pregnancy and I'm starting to think about my hospital bag and getting it ready. I have a rough idea of what I need such as a few baby outfits, a couple of comfy pjs for me and an outfit for going home, nappies and wipes, car seat, breast pads and nipple cream. Have I missed anything major or have I covered the basics? Any tips or things you wish you knew or had while in hospital? Thank you!

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Hello, this thread is a little old; for up-to-date recommendations, take a look at our hospital bag checklist.

[Nikki2ol6]

Nappies!

[Nikki2ol6]

Oh sorry you have that lol. Vests and possibly a few as baby's first poops can be yuck and spill out

[OohhThatsMe]

Vichy Water Spray is really lovely when you're in labour.

[JosephineMaynard]

Maternity pads are essential.
Dressing gown if you have one, plus a wash bag with toiletries.

[Misspilly88]

Tbh I hardly touched my hospital bag but definitely goodies...lucozade, chocolate biccies, sweets, crisps. My labour was 76hours start to finish and my hubby was very glad to have the snacks (they were meant to be for me, but I was out of it)

[Ayisha29]

Me personally i wish i took a breast pump cos my daughter wouldn't latch on. Thats if u want to breastfeed. Some toiletries for urself, lost of underwear, a few leggings, abit of make up to make urself feel good after.

[afterthis]

Big underwear for you. Biggest you can find. Granny style, very high waisted. Think about where your section wound would be if you needed one. I didn't think about this & had to send DH out to buy me enormous pants! Also nighties better than PJs with trousers if you need to be examined. Good luck!

[PotteringAlong]

Nighty not just pj's - you need something you can wear with a catheter in if needed. And moist toilet tissue. Dry toilet paper when you've just had a baby is not good

[ThinkPinkStink]

Never under estimate how many knickers/bottoms you might get through.

The first couple of days of lochia can be brutal and I (as a late 30s person who has successfully not bled on my knickers for decades) got through at least two pairs a day for the first couple of days!

In good news, it calmed down pretty quickly.

[Janubub]

I've just packed mine. I have three .

I have a bag for labour (old tshirt, straws to make drinking easier, big bottle of water, some snacks, my notes, slip on shoes, warm socks, spare pants, and a few other bits like a book for DH!).

I have another bag for afterward with several pairs of (HUGE) pjs, giant pants, socks, toiletries, maternity pads, breast pads, nursing bras, towel, going home clothes for me etc. This is by far the biggest bag.

Finally I have a small bag for baby with some clothing, blankets, nappies and wipes in it.

[Hellmouth]

Just in case, if you're open to it, take some formula and one use bottles with you. There was a woman on my ward who was breastfeeding, but her baby (her 4th one) seemed to be constantly hungry so she was doing formula top ups from the very first night. My son had tongue tie so we ended up going with formula as well. My hospital would only provide it one off as an emergency, so it's good to be prepared.

Take music, magazines /books as you might need entertainment /distractions :)

[Heatherbell1978]

I used hardly anything in mine but was out after one night so I guess it depends how long you're in for (which you can't predict). Top tips would be maternity pads and lots of them as you'll change them a lot and big pants to hold them in. I brought a bikini but gave birth naked in the pool and then changed into PJs after that I wore overnight . So did don't use the pile of 'labouring T-shirts that I brought. Also water wipes for baby which as so much better than cotton wool. I used them for first 3 months or so.

[Beewhisperer]

Lots of sugary drinks and water. Jelly babies. They were the only thing that I bothered with throughout my three day induction.
An eye mask if you have one. It is never dark and really hard to sleep.
I sent DH to but ear plugs after the first night in.
We kept a purse with £30 in change for parking etc in my labour bag so we didn't need to worry about it when the time came.
Pillows. There are not enough on the beds and they are flat. I took a horse shoe shaped one that I could sleep on and also helped with feeding.

[Beewhisperer]

Good luck

[Blueberryblueberry]

A couple of flannels/facecloths. I had a section first time so couldn't get out of bed for ages. It was quite nice to be able to have a quick wipe down/freshen up (well as freshened as you can be ) when I was unable to shower. I also used them when I was hot during labour. Good luck!

[Blueberryblueberry]

And definitely plan for having an emergency section- big pants, comfy clothes, nighty so you can have a catheter in etc. Hopefully you don't need one but if you do better to be prepared

[Gabbslou]

Thank you everyone I've wrote a list that has now doubled in size and I have everything that has been mentioned wrote down. I shall start getting it all together this week. Another question and I feel stupid for asking but would you recommend separate bags for labour/ my stuff and then babies or just put it all into one suitcase? Sorry for asking but I just want things to be as easy as possible when the time is here and be as prepared as I can be.

[PotteringAlong]

I've always just bunged it in one bag - remember you will have to carry them from car to assessment to delivery to post natal ward. You won't to so if your DH / DP can't carry all the stuff you've got then there's an issue.

[Ayisha29]

I had two bags one for baby and one for me which worked out better cos i didnt have to go looking for things. Was alot easier for me good luck x

[AyeAmarok]

Bendy straws.

Maternity pads. I had to wear two at a time at first (my uterus had to be manually contracted which I think means more bleeding).

A nightie rather than pyjamas as you might have a catheter in.

And I second the big pants. Big, cotton, high-waisted pants. In black. Cannot tell you how much you need these! I'm two weeks post-partum and still in mine. They were definitely the best thing I bought. I bought a pack of 5.

[AyeAmarok]

Oh and baby wipes (for you!). Very handy.

[MrPoppersPenguins]

Freeze a bottle of water and put that in your bag on your way out of the door to hospital, will mean you have a cold drink in labour. Lip balm as gas and air is really drying. Warm socks - my feet were freezing! Pillow- I had to use a rolled up dressing gown at one point. Big pants, dark coloured PJs! Shower stuff. I was only in overnight with baby so didn't need many baby clothes but lots of cotton wool as meconium is sticky!!!

[HVB79]

I agree with drinks and snacks. Also a good idea for your OH to know (roughly) where everything js in case you aren't able to reach the bag yourself...

[AyeAmarok]

Be careful about anything valuable, avoid bringing it if you can. My bags all got left in the labour ward when I was rushed off overnight and I didn't see them for about 10 hours. Not that anyone would take things (hopefully), but I might have been worrying about them if there was anything valuable in them.

[Janubub]

Probably stupid question but...
If you are on the postnatal ward and your partner isn't there, what do you do with your baby if you have to pee?!? (or shower - but I think I'm dreaming there )