What to pack in hospital bag

[jadebryce]

Important essential and just what to pack in general, FTM

Hi!
Obvs all the basics I.e clothes, toiletries. If it is for labour also...
A few extras I took were

-paracetamol
-as many pads as you can fit (those mattress looking ones will be a god send)

• snacks!
• plug in fan
• nursing pillow
• extra pyjamas ( I leaked through mine )
• extra baby sleep suits in case you get a mucousy baby that throws up after every feed!
• lip chap (vaseline)
• headphones ( noisy ward)
• couple of bottles of drink.
• magazine or puzzlebook for non visiting times and baby asleep.

Hope that helps! X

I've mentioned this before on a similar thread but the one thing I didn't take that I really needed was a hair bobble. My hair was irritating me like mad during labour and I couldn't get it away from my face. The midwife eventually found me some string!

Snacks for your partner, who will be starving even if you're in too much pain to feel hungry. Lucozade to keep you going even if you're not hungry. Extra snacks for afterwards in case labour finishes late at night after the canteen closes.

Nightdresses - you think you'll be wearing pyjamas but they'll be too tight on your sore bits and you can't wear bottoms if you're sitting on a huge pile of pads bleeding like crazy.

Tops for easy breastfeeding if you're planning to do that. And big knickers - 3 or 4 sizes too big and up to your tummy. And loose comfy leggings because they'll probably make you wear compression stockings under your clothes afterwards.

A big soft towel - hospital towels suck.

A baby hat - hospitals like babies to wear hats.

A selfie light for taking baby photos in a poorly lit hospital. Don't forget your phone charger!

Also frozen bottles of water which will defrost and remain cool over a number of hours.

Glucose tablets. You're not usually allowed food unless you're in a birth centre but glucose tablets are great for giving you a bit of energy towards the end.

Paracetamol, it took ages to get any as the midwives were busy.

Cash - for taxis, parking, vending machines, TV tokens. The cafe may not open at night so your partner will be relying on machines.

Flannel and cheap towel. You literally get no toiletries to shower with afterwards.

Way more maternity pads than you think, even if you're only in overnight.

Newborn and 0-3m clothes, in case your baby is big.

Earplugs. Earplugs. Earplugs.