What do I really need in my hospital bag?

[Justalittlebitblondie]

Hello - am at 33w with my first - I know I need to think about packing my bag for hospital at some point soon - what did others find useful, what is a waste of time and what is a nice to have? I have found a couple of online lists but the seem to be linked to companies selling things…

Lipbalm
Wet wipes
Sweets

Soft tissues and snacks! Plus Vaseline for your nipples if breastfeeding. Actually take it anyway. My lips got very dry and sore during labour from the gas and air

Useless items:

• essential oils
• fairy lights
• newborn babygrows (get up to 1 month, I had an unexpectedly massive baby so even those didn’t fit)
• ”spritz for bits”
• breast pads (won’t need until milk comes in on day 3 ish)

Useful:

• nipple balm if planning to breastfeed
• snacks and drinks (would recommend both salty and healthy ones because I got bored of toast and biscuits)
• colostrum syringes (full if that’s not obvious, they’ll put them in the fridge for you) to give your nipples a break
• adult nappies and/or massive knickers (they’ll provide maternity pads)
• edit to add: clothes for DH (he should take his own bag tbh), our first did their first poo down him 😂

Thats off the top of my head.

I disagree re not taking newborn baby grows, I didn't buy any with my first baby but he was only 7oz 1oz so all the 0 - 1 months were huge on him (they are up to 10oz!). Had to send grandparents out to buy a load!

This time I'm taking a couple newborn and a couple up to 10lb just in case!

@mrsed1987 TBF mine were 8lb11 and 10lb9 so as I say, the up to one month didn’t fit baby number 2 and I had to send DH to the shop to buy 0-3m (our nearest hospital is an hour away from home). Too big is better than too small, you can obviously take both but I’m a light packet so would rather take one rather than doubling up.

Which reminds me: I wouldn’t bother with a pillow. I was talking to the MW about it and they legitimately had one person turn up with 8 bags. You just don’t need “stuff”. I didn’t take one either time, the hospital ones are fine.

I also disagree with newborn size clothes. They were actually too BIG for DC1 who was then wearing small baby when we got home but we hadn't taken any of that size to hospital. They were the correct size for DC1.

Pack loads of massive soft maternity pads. The huge Lil-Lets were my fave both times for the first week or two.

Magazine or book for the ward afterwards and same for your birth partner. Loads of snacks for you and birth partner.

Pack of cotton pads for cleaning baby during nappy changes. Nappies too obviously. Nappy sacks.

Toiletries for you (and birth partner if they will staying with you on the ward), take mini ones wherever possible.

Snacks
Extra long for phone charger
Insulated water bottle

Yeah it's just preference and previous experience isnt it! My DS looked absolutely drowned in his baby grows initially which is why this time I'm covering both options!

I'm having growth scans and this one looks to be about the same size, although conscious that growth scans are notoriously wrong hense covering more than one base 🤣

Can also second taking a range of sizes with baby clothes. We were expecting an 8lb-er so took clothes for roughly that size. She was actually born at 6 and a half lb so they were absolutely swimming on her.

Change of clothes, change of pants x 3, nightie, toiletries, drinks and snacks X a million.
Phone charger, earphones/ear pods, post natal sanitary towels, 3x vests and babygros. Think that's it really.

Oh lasinoh cream for your nipples if you plan to breastfeed.

We bought clothes 0-3. We didn't realise you buy newborn first. So our ds first outfit was pretty big but we got next day delivery on Amazon for some vests and babygros. We also relied on the hospital supplying some clothes since we were so badly prepared with that

Definitely take two sizes of sleepsuits because scabs even at 39 weeks can be wildly inaccurate on estimated weight (they found my dd one from the emergency clothing store as she was born small unexpectedly, having been assured by the sonographer the week before she was 2lbs heavier!

Take snacks, long lead for phone charger or better still a charged power pack.headphones are useful, big knickers, nighttime pads.

Your own paracetamol,
Noise cancelling headphones,
Long phone charging cable,

Agree with snacks and water bottle.

I wouldn’t take any nipple balm into hospital, unless you know you’ll be staying for a good few days after the baby. Avoid using any for the first day or so as it can make it harder for baby to latch.

Make up another bag to leave at home that your DP can pick up if you need to be in for longer than expected.

for you:

snacks
lip balm
water bottle
dressing gown
slippers
flip flops (for shower)
massive knickers
nightwear
clothes to go home
maternity pads
comfy pillows
towel
eye mask
wash bag with bits for shower

for baby:

ready made formula bottles with teats if not breastfeeding
babygrows
vests
going home outfit
nappies
baby wipes
hat
blankets

I definitely add a notepad and pencil in there , just in case .

Yes, we took both small baby and newborn for DC2. I had more scans with him and they said he was going to be almost identical size to DC1 who was in the small baby. But the scans were really wrong as DC2 was actually much bigger and he fitted in newborn fine.

Drinks. I took 3 big cartons each of pineapple juice and coconut water. It was like the nectar of the gods after the birth. Worth the weight/ space they took up and helped my body hydrate afterwards

For you - Food, drink, paracetamol, maternity pads, loads of knickers, phone charger, hairbrush and hairband, lip balm, a very plain shower gel (I used baby wash actually), toothbrush and paste, a massive dark towel, and comfy tops and plenty of spare PJ bottoms/tracksuit bottoms.

For baby - vests, sleep suits, nappies, water wipes, blanket.

People have put lots of good advice above, just wanted to add that the best thing I packed was my favourite chocolate bar for after giving birth!

I definitely would recommend taking maternity pads with wings and adult nappies. They were a godsend as I had an episiotomy so I wanted security but also comfort as I found the hospital ones (you had to ask for them at my trust) weren’t as absorbing.

I think depending on trust you may not need to provide your own pain relief. I didn’t and was regularly given my medication.

Lots of snacks and drinks too. I took a variety of drinks as it felt like a treat - cans of pop, orange juice, lucozade etc

I took a small handheld fan. It was SO hot on the ward and we ended up having to stay 6 days so it was amazing. Other women were asking for fans but most of them didn't work so not enough to go round so I was really glad I had taken my own.

Thank you all so much - this is all so useful!

A couple of Tiny baby vests/sleepsuits and the same for up to 1 month just in case baby is small. (DD was 5lb 15oz) (can always order more on Amazon for next day delivery if needed).

A couple of newborn vests/sleepsuits.

Nappies and wipes or cotton wool

Muslins

Phone charger

I took my kindle as was being induced and glad I did as I was in for nearly a week before baby was born.

I personally took my shower gel, deodorant, razor, skin care stuff, shampoo and conditioner and straighteners as it made me feel good about myself. I also took my own towel and flannel.

I lived in adult nappies for 3 weeks post partum with cotton wool pads soaked in "spritz for bitz" inside.

Oversized nighties with buttons for you (in case you want to breast feed) or have a C-section you won't want any pj bottoms rubbing on the cut.

Dressing gown & slippers.

Hair band/claw clip.

Couple of cellular blankets.

I took my own pillow.

Big water bottle that keeps drinks cool.

Vaseline for my lips (gas & air makes them so dry)

I didn't use any of the following that I packed:

Snacks

Comfy loose dark outfit to wear home

Forgot about flip flops for shower, I took some £1.50 primark ones and another pair in different colour to walk around the ward/out for some fresh air etc in.

Also, take your own pain relief just in case your hospital isn't on the ball. Mind was luckily.

Best thing I packed and am still using a month postpartum is heavy flow period pants! Used them at first with the huge maternity pads and they were just so helpful in catching any leaks so I felt so much cleaner!