Hospital bag - am I missing anything?

[Lalarosex]

I am trying not to overpack but also don’t want to miss anything important. Any advice appreciated!
here’s what I have packed

Mine

• Frida mom disposable underwear
• maternity pads
• toiletries inc spritz for bits
• peri bottle
• breast pads
• nursing bra
• 1x set long pyjamas (honestly planning on leaving in these!)
• oversized tshirt for labouring
• swimsuit top for pool
• 1x tshirt & cycling shorts
• maternity notes and birth plan
• lucozade and snacks
• flip flops
• iphone charger
• portable fan

baby

• 3 newborn vests
• 2 newborn sleepsuits
• 1 0-3 sleepsuit
• socks
• hat
• scratch mits
• 10 nappies
• muslin cloth
• wipes
• instant formula
• going home outfit
• blanket

A lipgloss. If not packed.
Car seat.

Knickers might be helpful!
Clean shirt for your dh. Ds pooed meconium all over mine in the delivery room!

I was going to say lip balm as lips get so dry in hospital & I had a hand cream as my hands get very dry from washing/ sanitiser

Ear plugs? Idk about for pregnancy but when in the ward for illness the noise drives everyone loopy!
Some decent snacks. The food there is bound to be a bit crap.
A mini fan. I used a small desk fan when I was in the ward in summer. NHS notion of Aircon doesn't seem to be the same as everyone else's?!

Take paracetemol/ibuprofen, the maternity ward was so busy they never brought me any after I asked, easier to have your own in my opinion.

A towel , the hospital ones are tiny !

Any medication you usually take

Yes underwear for you.

something to sleep in for you.
Towel for you to have a shower (hospital don’t provide them).
lip balm
I was only in just over 24 hours and DS was a sickie baby went through 6 vests and 6 sleepsuits and had to loan a sleepsuit.

baby name book if you aren’t set on a name

A second t-shirt or nightie for giving birth in as you might need to change.
Something cooler than long sleeved pyjamas to sleep in because the hospital will be so hot!

Ear buds and eye cover… you won’t sleep with all the noise! Bring paracetamol and ibuprofen… tell the nursing staff when you take pain killers. Some small snacks you like.

• flip flops
• night wear
• day clothes and socks
• Big underwear
• maternity bra and pads
• toiletries include toothpaste/brush/deodorant/pads/hair brush
• phone charger
• blanket
• baby - nappies, mitts, body suit, sleep suit… most thing the hospital have and provide like milk and a hat/blanket/towel.

good luck

Medication if you take any
More than 10 nappies I used a whole packet in the first 24 hours.

Highly reccomend an extra long charging cable!

hand held electric fan

water bottle with a straw

Underwear (incase don't like the frida) - pants socks
Change for vending machines

I've made a spare bag for the car with an extra change of clothes, nappies, wipes, extra sleepsuit, change of clothes for my other half that is there if we run out so he can grab it rather than searching through the house for stuff

@RosesAndHellebores good point with the tshirt thanks! 👍🏻

Shorter/cooler dark coloured pj’s with an option of a hoodie to throw on top was great as I was too hot in my long sleeved pj’s but then I did get really cold later on too. So the ability to layer! Also I was sick all over my clean pj’s so I was happy to have a spare pair.

Ear plugs
Flit flops

Shorty pyjamas

Take out the going home outfit (imo) and replace with a stretchy baby sling/wrap. Having my hands free was absolutely essential when my two were tiny, and in fact I ended up carrying them (occasionally!) until they were almost preschoolers. Learning to breastfeed a baby in a sling was my number one top most useful skill.

Water bottle. Snacks. Something to put dirty laundry in.

The softest toilet paper money can buy.

You can also pack a bag to leave at home in case you need to stay on ward for a while. Back up pj's, baby clothes etc.

If you don't need it, you can live out of it for a while when you get home. If you do need it, it's tiresome to try to explain to a very tired dp/dh what you want and where it is.

Cooling pads
Haemorrhoid cream/suppositories!

Own pain relief for after pains as on the ward they don't tend to remember to bring any so pack some paracetamol

Snacks
Paracetamol
Toiletries/ hair brush / bobbles
Clean boxers t shirt and deodorant for husband

Strepsils or throat sweeties. The gas and air made my throat raw! Good luck!