Hospital bag must haves??

[IVFfirsttimer91]

Hi all,

Preparing for the arrival of our first baby and starting to think about what I might need in my hospital bag.

Any must haves that you can recommend? I’ve had a look online and the lists seem endless and quite overwhelming! Do I really need 3 changes of clothes??

Also advice would be appreciated on what ISNT necessary to take with me.

Planning on a natural birth so far, so hopefully won’t need to stay in hospital for too long (no idea how long I’d be kept in for this but I’m assuming one night max?).

TIA

Hello! FTM here, due in a few weeks.
I looked at many lists and here's what I decided to pack:

Baby

• 3 x vests and sleep suits 0-1m
• 3 x vests and sleep suits 0-3m
• 2 x hats
• Chunky knit cardigan (for walk to the car)
• Cellular blanket
• 3 x small muslins
• 1 x large swaddle muslin
• 20 nappies - first size
• Cotton wool / wipes
• Sudocrem
• Car seat with knitted blanket

Me

• Pack of disposable pants
• A few huge cotton pants
• Pack of maternity pads
• Breast pads
• Nightie to birth in
• Button up lounge set
• Spare tshirt and button shirt
• Basic toiletries (soap, face cream, lip balm)
• Slippers + towel

I think the concept of taking 3 outfits is just in case of nappy leaks etc - likely when doing the first nappies as we may not have perfected the technique!

Hope this helps, best of luck!

The softest toilet paper money can buy!

The online lists are generally pretty good.

I was there for 36hrs before birth and about 10hours after the birth. The things I'm glad I had:

• soft hoody to feel cosy
• extra long charger for phone
• tablet with pre downloaded sitcoms, magazines and puzzle books (hardly slept so needed entertainment)
• crisps and KitKat's
• lip balm
• a partner who bought me nice decaf coffee and hot chocolate every time he visited through the day.

The baby needs very little!

An extra long charging cable and more baby clothes than everyone says in case you end up with a puker.

I think I just turned up in my PJs

I can't remember packing or taking anything that I needed

I must have taken PJs but it's all a bit blurry

Take more muslins than you think you’ll need and a couple of spare outfits for baby incase you have poop or puke accidents. We ended up staying in for a couple of days and ran out of muslins super quickly.
Take button up pjs so you’re not having to stretch to get them on and off and if you breastfeed it’s easy to undo for baby to latch.
The disposable pants are great and those massive pads that are like nappies for you.
I also took a pillow from home so I knew I’d have something comfy and familiar whilst in hospital.
take an extra long phone charging cable.
Basically pack as if you’re going to be there for a couple of nights even if you’re hoping to only be there for one.

I definitely didn't take in anything that's been listed in great length below

My birthing plan went out of the window

I'd suggest

Socks
Hoodie
Dressing gown
PJs
Big knickers
Sweets
Chocolate

Honestly I went in, had an epidural, gave birth, went into a private room I'd booked as soon as I arrived which was £50 18 years ago, stayed one night then went home. There is nothing I would have needed from an overnight bag. I couldn't walk due to the epidural so was in my bed the whole time. I slept with DS on my chest all night. He was a dream cute snuggly baby. That's all I was interested in. I didn't change clothing the whole time I was there.

I must have taken in baby clothes pretty sure I forgot to take in any nappies

I packed two bags - one with what I needed for an overnight stay and one with extras of clothes etc in case we were in longer - that stayed in the car and DH brought it in when needed (I was in for four night so it was!)

High energy snacks, a water bottle with a straw/valve, a fan and cooling mist were all appreciated during Labour.

I recommend loose lightweight black joggers in case of leaks post-birth.

Def 3 baby grows and vests in newborn and 0-3 never know how big baby is and also they can be sick or poo explosions so need change of outfits

Honestly you want to be careful not to overpack, because you are going to end up with a massively full bag that is going to be difficult for you or someone else (partner, nurses) to navigate when you probably won't use 90% of it.

For being in labour, you need very little except maybe a light robe for some modesty (although you'll stop caring at some point) and definitely don't forget lip balm, hair ties, and a water bottle. We had a crate of coconut water in the boot of the car which is good for replenishing electrolytes etc. Snacks for you and partner.

For after - comfy button down PJs, some stuff to shower with, some clothes for baby - you don't need more than 2 outfits really (including hats). If you're in for a long time after, your partner can get more baby clothes from home... Wipes, nappies. I literally can't remember using anything other than one outfit, some nappies and wipes with my second. They always wrapped my baby in towels but I think you can bring a blanket...

I second what @CroccyWoccy says, pack yourself a second bag incase you have go stay longer. DH was sent home for supplies, but only found about half of the things I actually wanted.

Also, agree with the long charger and extra socks. Id add a thermal cup for keeping your tea warm.

Def lots of maternity pads. At least one pack more than you think you will need. With DD1, my waters broke before contractions started, i was admitted for monitoring and so i was leaking waters for 12hrs whilst waiting in hospital. I went through about two packs in that time alone.

I had a vaginal birth but developed a UTI afterwards and was kept in for 5 days, so went through about another 2 packs in that time as well. 🙈I would have been discharged the morning after the birth were it not for the infection. This time I've been told it will be probably a 48hr stay min as this baby might need some extra monitoring.

DD1 was poorly and in hospital for two weeks so what we took for her was pretty irrelevant as she was in an incubator in just her nappy, but i heard from friends that a couple of different size babygrows are helpful in case baby is surprisingly big or small. Does your trust offer a 36w scan? Ours does one as standard so we had a bit of warning that we might need "tiny baby" size when she was measuring very small.

You will be given surgical stocks to wear even after a vaginal birth, so a pair of sliders to wear to and from the shower might be better than slippers. The showers in our hospital were like wet room style so slippers would have got instantly sodden.

I don't think 3 changes of clothes for you is necessary. 1 change should be fine for hospital but then you might want layers for going home if it'll be cold. Definitely a nightie or old tshirt for the birth.
The few things I'm glad I took in for me are lip balm, pregnancy pillow and a packet of biscuits!

I forgot my toothbrush and toothpaste both times, I was in during COVID with my second and I couldn't brush my teeth for 3 DAYS! Don't be an idiot like me, no chewing gum either so also take that!

I second sliders, even though it was snowing when I gave birth my feet were massive. 😑 Having sliders was great for getting about the ward/toilet etc. I was kept in an extra few days due to blood loss.
Lip balm was a must.

I also packed my bag in two distinct sections- one part me one part baby. It made it much easier.

Oh yes, to what @Jigglypufff said about two parts to the bag. I used those packing cubes you can get from Amazon. A big one for my clean stuff. A small one for baby clean clothes, one for "sundries" and one with a drawstring to chuck all the dirty stuff in. Really annoyed me when DH couldnt find my hairband when i was at about 9cm dilated and hair stuck to my forehead. 😅

Drinks and snacks! Both of mine were born late at night/early morning so the canteen was shut, the vending machine was broken and all they could give me was room temperature water 🤢

In hospital at the moment. I think you think abou your needs first as the baby's needs are easier to manage e.g. extra baby grows. Long chargers are an excellent idea, as is a quick acting charging point to speed up each charge. Good luck!

I would just take newborn or 0-1 month size baby clothes. Even my huge 9lb baby didn’t wear 0-3 months straight away. 0-3 is roughly 14lb baby, so unless you are a expecting a 11/12lb baby they can stay home

Loads of food. Just spent a week in hospital again with now toddler, and food is still terrible. So pack assuming you will hate all good provided, but you’re super hungry after birth.

In terms of PJs/nightwear for after I would pack a nightie or pair of shorts in case you end up needing a catheter (ie section or spinal for whatever reason). Also recommend dark coloured PJs in case of leaks

I also didn't need breast pads until my milk came in day 3, so needn't have packed them. But did go through plenty of maternity pads!

I was transferred in post homebirth and DH forgot to bring my shoes and a coat, so coming home late at night in winter I was bloody freezing!!

Agree you will likely use less than you imagine.

All the snacks and more snacks!

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I really appreciate it all!

Number one tip: even if you decide what goes in, get your birth partner to actually pack the bags. So s/he knows where things are when you need them and you're off your face on drugs or just concentrating on breathing.

Sweets. Your favourites. I ate two whole bags of mine after DD. Also anything else you might fancy to eat after the birth (I took eat natural bars) and your own tea bags/coffee if you drink anything other than standard builders tea or coffee. Giant knickers just in case you end up with a C-section. I had an EMCS with DS and ended up coming home in my maternity leggings with no pants because mine all sat on the scar. Enough changes of clothes for you and DC in case you end up staying a couple of nights. I stayed a night with DS and DH had to bring extra clothes for DS but got them
out of the wrong drawer (it had been a
long labour!) so tiny newborn DS was swamped in a 3 month sleepsuits 😂 Also cash - while I was on the ward a couple of other parents offered to go to the shop to buy me things but I didn’t have any cash so they couldn’t. And shoes/sliders/slippers you can get on if your feet are bloated - I left the ward in socks! Good luck and enjoy your beautiful LO xx