Help me pack my hospital bag please !x

[e5d]

Hi, I’m pregnant with my first and really need help on what to pack in my hospital bag. Any help would be amazing !

You'll find lists online and similar threads here if you search. But like with most things there will be things people tell you are essential but you'll never need and things you decide you couldn't live without that others haven't suggested.

Obviously you need some pyjamas or nightie for yourself and at least one change of clothes, a pack of newborn nappies, 3-4 bodysuits plus onesies for the baby and a hat. A phone charger with an extra long cable is helpful and I used a lightweight dressing gown a bit. Blanket for the baby for the way home.

Things others say are essential and I didn't take or did and had no use for include:
My own pillow. Was baffled by the suggestion first time and never took one the second time. It's a hospital. They have pillows. Odd
Flip-flops for the showers. I just went in bare feet. Hate wearing flip-flops anyway and wasn't bothered about the alleged dirty floors
Anything related to bottle feeding. I knew I had no interest in bottle feeding unless completely necessary in which case the hospital would provide

Bring enough for 3 days in case you're in a night beforehand, day of and usually stay a day or so afterwards.

Nightdress for labour
2 pairs of PJs
A pack of high-waisted black underwear
2 comfortable bras
2 pairs of socks for labour (feet can get cold)
2 packs of maternity pads
Hair stuff (brush, ties, hair band)
Toiletries (body & face wash, wash cloth. toothbrush & paste, deodorant, moisturiser, lip balm)
Towel
Slippers & flip flops
Light dressing gown
Rechargeable fan
Water bottle with straw
Long cord phone charger
If breastfeeding; nipple balm/compresses
Comfy loose outfit to go home
Any labour tools you think you may need (oils, labour comb, TENS + extra batteries etc.)
Snacks

Baby: 5 vests/ 5 babygrows
1 hat
1 pack nappies
Cotton wool/wipes/whatever you're using
Bum cream
Cardi for going home
1 or 2 blankets

What has been recommended above is pretty much what I’ve packed, but also;

Adult nappies
Over the bump pants/ trousers/ PJs,
A book, iPad,

My suggestion is to take the bare minimum but spend a fair bit of time organising your home wardrobe so you can ask for clothes easily.
When pregnant with DD I had an overnight stay due to gastro. I asked my partner to bring me fresh clothes to go home in when he picked me up. He brought me in a pair of illfitting exercise pants because he thought I'd want something colourful.

So I spent time making sure your wardrobe only included clothes that fitted an should work post pregnancy. Then when I needed a few extra night sin after DD was born I could just say oh it's in the second drawer etc. It made things much easier.

In terms of what I used in labour lip balm! Hospitals are very dry.
I look in fruit bliss balls. An easy to use water bottle which could be filled with ice.
Something for baby to go home in.

I second the rechargeable fan suggestion, especially for a summer birth. Also hair bobbles/bands to tie your hair back, if relevant. Things moved fast with my first and I ended up giving birth with my bags still in the car and it was the fan and hair tie that I was desperate for.

A charged up portable battery pack is good too, and I recommend some of your favourite sweets. I never ate during my labours because they were short, but got through a whole pack of fruit pastilles afterwards.

Take a few changes of your preferred comfy pyjamas. I only had one and foolishly took back my beautiful naked daughter to hold immediately after changing, when she didn’t yet have a nappy on. Immediately got weed on! I had several back up nighties which I’d bought as potential birthing clothes but they weren’t what I really wanted.

On the subject of birthing clothes, with my first I gave birth in the dress I arrived in because there was no time. With my second I had a birthing pool birth in a maternity tankini top, so if you’re thinking of a water birth, don’t forget what you might wear for that.

Also, if you’re planning to breast feed, make sure your going home outfit is suitable for feeding. I messed this up on my second and packed a comfy dress with no boob access.

Was any of this helpful @e5d ?

Yes absolutely! Thank you very much, I’m still a bit lost on how much to take but I’d rather overpack than under pack. Do you have any recommendations for car seats ? Thank you in advance x

Not really specific on what to take but my tips would be:

• Pack enough for 1 night stay but have a separate bag packed with enough for another couple of nights at home or to leave in the car that your partner or someone can pick up easily if you need to stay longer.
• Have baby things in a separate bag, I used my changing bag for baby's things. Have an outfit for baby (nappy, vest, baby grow, hat, mittens or whatever you want) in a little nappy bag labelled so it's easy for your partner or whoever to grab out for the first time dressing baby. I did a couple of these in different sizes (well labelled) so you can pick depending on babies size
• Take crocs/sandals for yourself, something easy to slide your feet into for going for a shower after the birth.
• Just think super comfortable for your clothes. Nursing tops and bra if you plan to BF

A cup with a lid and straw! Labour and postpartum make you super thirsty, and the last thing you want is to be dehydrated! My DH pretty much just followed me around and held it for me so I could drink whenever I needed to 😂

Over pack rather than under pack. Whatever you think you'll need, double it. You never know what will happen. For my first, I packed with the expectation of staying in hospital for one night and we were in for a week 😂 and it was stressful trying to remember where specific things I wanted were at home, and trying to relay the exact location of things to my husband. I went way more prepared for baby number 2 and we were discharged within 24 hours 😂 Good luck x

Hi! 👋 I remember feeling the same way, packing my hospital bag felt exciting but also a bit overwhelming.

A few essentials I wouldn’t go without:
• Maternity pads & comfy underwear
• Lip balm (it gets dry in hospital!)
• Breast pads
• Slippers/socks with grips
• Baby grows & nappies (just a few to start)

I actually put together some trial hospital bags recently and it made me realise how much easier it is when everything’s pre-packed and labelled. If you’d like, I’m happy to share a list of what I included or answer any questions 💛