Is there anything to pack for my birth partner?

[hermitzero]

I'm packing my hospital bag. I think almost everything is ready. My husband will be my birth partner. I'm wonderinf if I need to pack something for him? Will birth partner need anything?

Let him sort that out! His only responsibility is to be there for you, The. Whole. Time. He needs to make sure he's got what he needs to make that happen e.g. snacks.

What are your hospital rules for birth partners at the moment? At mine; you can only have one, they should live with you if possible; and they can’t leave and then come back - so we’re packing whatever he might need, too. Snacks etc.

That’s up to him! If he wants something he needs to bring it. You are about to birth a whole human, you don’t need to be worrying about an adult that is more than capable of packing what he needs.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well

I’ve shoved a spare T-shirt and comfortable bottoms in a bag in the car, I also bought a pack of toothbrushes from primark so there’s a spare one for him too. This is only learning from experience, he didn’t have a thing last time and was in hospital with me for three days, he probably smelt worse than I did at the end 😂

We weren't allowed off the ward once we were there and partner wasn't fed so plenty of food and few changes of clothes incase it's a long slow labour like mine!

I'd gather all the stuff for your hospital bag but leave the actual physical packing to your husband. That way he will know where everything is. This is what we did and when I was yelling at him for a drink or whatever, he could act quickly rather than getting stressed rooting through a bag of stuff.

Snacks and a change of clothes.

Maybe let him sort it out, you have enough to think about.

When I had my first my husband had a tshirt, anti antiperspirant and snacks in my labour bag - it was a long time in a hot hospital room and he was glad of a change post baby arrival.

Nescafe instant coffee pouches. hospital Coffee is not very nice. I went to the pound shops and just got us loads of snacks and drinks . They were a life saver

Food, a change of comfortable clothes, a toothbrush and a spare phone charger.

I'd suggest he has his own backpack and packs it himself though. If there's anything I didn't want to hear during or after labour it's "... do you know where my XXX is?"

If you don't want him pinching your food and magazines, pack enough for two

Just a T-shirt here. He had Ds on him whilst I was showering and Ds wa still naked with just blanket over him and pooped all down dh!

My husband had a whole bag to himself (which he packed)-
Change of clothes (plus lounge wear)
Wash stuff
Tooth brush etc
Magazines/books
Phone chargers for his own phone
Headphones
Snacks and drinks
Things like paracetamol etc
Things you don't think about like money for vending machines, car parking meters

Snacks!
They will need energy too, my partner was with me the whole 15 hours of my labour and he definitely needed some energy to keep going to keep me going :)
Sport drinks are a good one to have too (for yourself also!) and dextrose tablets
Spare change of clothes, wash bag, selfie stick, phone chargers
There wasn’t any time to relax for either of us it was get go from arriving so books and entertainment wasn’t needed.
We brought a speaker with us for music, the delivery room had a lovely star projector which really calmed me focusing on the dots, I bought one from Amazon for home after that !
Not relevant to your question but just in case, my baby was predicted to be about 7lbs and came out 10lbs so it’s worth bringing bigger clothes for little one 😳😁

DH was in hospital with me for two nights although this was pre-Covid. The first night was on delivery suite during labour then we moved to the postnatal ward around midday the next day and he was allowed to stay with me in a side room and then we went home around midday the day after.

Things he used:

• Clean change of clothes
• Toothbrush
• Phone charger
• Snacks (pack more than he thinks he will need!)
• Dry shampoo
• Antiperspirant
• PJs

Surely he can manage this himself.

Well, if partners are allowed in now, then remember he will be there as long as you, so will miss all the meals, but without the pain to put him off eating. So yes, food and drink for two makes sense.
A charger that fits both your phones or two chargers.

What would anyone normally use over 24 hours ?
Depends where he is called from too - he might rush directly to hospital from work, having already been working for 8 hrs so might well appreciate a clean t shirt and some deodorant. (as might everyone else in the room)