Hospital bag - what to take!?!

[lau276]

Ok so I’m starting to get my hospital bag ready.....
What are your go to products? Your tried and tested ones? Those that have never let you down?
There’s so much choice about I don’t know where to start!!! So hit me with all your best suggestions of what to pack, including what brand maternity pads, breast pads, anything I’ll need!!! X

I took:

-change of clothes for myself, clothes for baby including vests, babygrow, cardigan and hat!
-Naty Size 1 Nappies (these were a bit pricey though.)
-Cotton wool from Boots (but some use water wipes)
-Tommy Tippee breast pads (Boots are ok too)
-Faith in Nature body wash (nice and gentle for first shower after birth) and a soft flannel.

I somewhat naively packed myself Always light flow period pads, as soon as I had the chance I sent DP to replace them with soft maternity pads. Cheap co-op pack worked fine for me.

Also... If you are breastfeeding, lansinoh nipple cream is a life saver!

I packed loads in my hospital bag and hardly touched any of it! The only things I used are loads of big pants and disposable pants (from Tesco), maternity pads (from boots and asda own brand are great), comfy clothes/pjs and few basic toiletries

I suggest you pack yourself 2 bags, 1 would be the typical labour bag where you assume you'll only be in, at most, over night. But then keep a 2nd bag in the car in case you have to stay in longer. I really wish I done that rather than having my DMum (as DH didn't want to leave mine or DS' side) go through all my belongings (especially as I know exactly what she would have found in our drawers )

Also suggest your birthing partner doing the same.

Oh moisturiser, pack your fav one! Or even just bio oil. I really was thankful my mum thought to bring me my bio oil up. Really helped to keep my body from drying out in the hospitals air con and helped relief my boobs' skin when my milk came in

Moist toilet paper is, erm, nice for your bits.

I'm going to try tena lady pants this time for nights rather than maternity pads (but I still have maternity pads packed).

More food than you think is necessary.

I’m in the middle of packing mine and was advised to take a towel (hospital
Ones are often small and not as soft) and some snacks including drinks. Both things I hadn’t even considered but apparently quite common things to take x

I ended up having to stay longer and wished I had packed a travel sized shampoo and conditioner and body wash. Agree with the two bags suggestion by TwittleBee.

Oh yeah certainly take a towel! You might not be able to grab someone to give you a clean one when in middle of night you really need a clean down etc. Was so grateful I packed one when this happened to me.

I too planning my hospital bag way too seriously, but in the end I was glad I did. I found as important as what goes in is how you pack it, so that everything is easy to find.

I had a bag for me for labour and immediately after delivery, a bag for the baby and a third bag which stayed in the car that had extras of everything in case we had to stay in longer than expected (which we did, so I was very glad of that). I used packaging cubes inside each bag and labelled them so DH could clearly see what everything was when I asked him to find something.

*took, not too!

I recommend Tena lady pants over maternity pads - they made me feel much more secure, at night and during the day. With pads I was leaking out the side, I even dripped onto FIL’s shoe!
Some people recommend taking a plastic jug to pour water over your bits whilst weeing, takes the sting out.
Depending how long you’re in hospital I’d strongly recommend taking something gentle, eg fybogel, to ease the first post birth poo...

I wrote a list of what I actually used to help me pack next time:

handbag-type stuff
/Purse
/Phone
/Charger & power pack
/Maternity notes

clothes
/Nighties (big)
/Socks
/Slippers
/Nursing bras
/Maternity leggings
/Coming home clothes

Toilet bag (packed separately in bag so easy to grab and shuffle to loo with)
/Lactulose
/Germoloids
/maternity Pads (2 packs)
/washlets
/big Knickers

other toiletries
/Nipple cream
/Wash bag
/Dark towel
/Eye mask
/Ear plugs
/Hair band
/Flannel

baby
/Baby bag (Nappies, cotton wool pads, wipes, clothes, blanket)

food
/sucky top water bottle
I also really needed my Lucozade sport (flat with sucky top) and found Soreens the best snack for me. I wouldn’t have wanted DH to be nipping off to get snacks.

Get your OH to unpack & repack everything so they know where everything is.

The one thing I would have added is a flannel. Wet paper towels to mop my brow during labour wasn’t quite the same...

The one thing I wouldn’t do without is the lactulose. Made my post-birth poo totally uneventful.

Labour bag:
Flannel and a fan for your dp to cool you down
Water
Straws for drinking (wouldn’t have coped without these)
Lucazade (though I packed a bottle for both of mine and didn’t have any either time)
Sweet snacks like chocolate or honey (a lifesaver for me!), or energy tablets for when you need energy or when you’re in transition
Other snacks you can eat in small doses like raisins or nuts or a cereal bar
Lip balm
Stuff to tie your hair back
Massage oil (didn’t get to use mine!)
Tens machine
Nice soft dark coloured towel for post labour shower
Some lovely shower gel and shampoo and conditioner - treat yourself to something nice as you will probably feel knackered but also like superwoman
Toothrbrush and toothpaste
Maternity pads(get lots)- I got some nice soft ones from natracare
Slippers and something to wear to postnatal ward that you can breastfeed in- like a nice soft oversized nightie or shirt with buttons
Maternity Leggings/comfy loose fitting trousers and big knickers you’ll still have a bump

Baby bag:
2/3 vests
2/3 sleepsuits with scratch mitts
Cardigan
Hat
Blanket
You might want to bring newborn and up to 1 month/0-3 months in case your baby’s a big one! My 9 pounder was straight in 0-3 sleepsuits
Nappies - the kit and kin ones are nice
Cotton wool

Overnight bag:
More knickers
Comfy maternity pjs/nightie that you can feed in
Make up if you can be bothered and have visitors coming!
Snacks, nuts etc for between meals- I was ravenous!!
Water bottle to fill
Lanisoh nipple cream if you’re breastfeeding
Ear plugs/earphones- I could handle babies crying in the ward but the woman next to me snored so loudly so I had to block her out!
Phone charger
Flip flops for the shower/toilet
Going home clothes

Also a bag for your partner with extra clothes should he need them and more snacks and drinks!

For you:
Lip balm
Sanitary towels (lots)
Big pants
Comfy, loose fitting PJs
Comfy clothes to come home in (eg leggings and a long top)
Breastfeeding vests were useful (strap clips off) you can get them from H&M
Slippers
Wash bag & towel
Dry snacks

For baby:
Nappies
Bum cream
Water wipes
All in one baby suits
Coat and hat for coming home
Car seat (if driving home)

The best things in my hospital bag were flip flops, dressing gown, comfy bottoms and knickers in dark colours that won't cut on your bikini line (in case of c section), vest tops, phone charger, hair ties, a pack of pads (superdrugs own brand were good), baby clothes in a few sizes/nappies/wipes/muslins/some pre made formula and bottles just in case, a cellular blanket for baby, snacks that won't go horrible if it's too warm or cold, small bottles of water. I had a kindle but didn't use it. I was in for 8 days and kept sending hubby home for underwear, vest tops, zip tops and maternity leggings. Pop a cushion in the car to put between your incision and the seat belt if you do have a c section.

The absolute best thing I took was a pack of these grim mesh pants
https://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/carriwell-5pack-hospital-knickers-b3856.html
Although mine came from a medical supply website rather than JoJo so were cheaper

NatureCare maternity pads are by far the best because they don't have plastic in them so don't get sweaty, and the mesh pants hold them in place and keep you cool

They can go in the washing machine, or can be binned if you need to, and they are super comfy if you have a c-section or stitches

Small note: check your hospital policy because ours is no nuts - so no nut snacks during labour!

Some great tips above.

I ended up being in six days due to baby jaundice and had to get dh to bring more stuff.

Our hospital have you use their baby grows so yours don't get lost. I did need more nappies as time went on.

Also handy, arnica tablets, lip balm, mouth wash and face wipes. Hospital issued lovely comfy big pants. I needed extra huge t shirts ( used dhs) maternity leggings and vest tops. I agree with have two bags tip!

Kindle full of books with charger.

Notepad and pen. Lists for dh and pen for charts for feeding and important info.

Extra pillow and dressing gown for comfort.

I was.only in for about 12 hours with both of ours and thinks what I used.

Me
4 pairs of cheap.big pants- prepared to throw away.
Maternity pads- big thick ones
Small wash bag- travel sized shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, tooth brush and paste, cleansing wipes, moisturiser, lip balm. Glasses, spare contacts.
Spare clothes
Comfy pyjamas and dressing gown
Towel.
Snacks
Charger
Notes.

Baby
Vest, baby gro, hat in a plastic zip lock bag. Took about 4. Was easy for DH to just pick the bag up when I was being stitched up rather than rooting through everything.
Wipes
Cotton wool
Cardigan
Blanket

Flip flops!! I ended up staying in longer than expected so needed to shower more than once. My partner brought my flip flops as I didn't like the thought of showering barefeet in people's first showers post birth. Bit of a non issue but the flip flops helped me relax!

Thankyou all!!! Your tips are most appreciated!!!!