Hospital bag essentials

[MRSTIGERTOES]

This will be my first baby and am starting to think about my hospital bag! Any advice?

I loved having cooling foot/leg spray.
Husband was over the moon we had loads of snacks. ( I ate about 5 chocolate covered flapjacks!)

Flapjack are on my list

Big knickers.
A fuck load of maternity pads
Comfy nighties
Those stretchy bras
Breast pads
Something to come home in, leggings or something loose
Loads of snacks. Pringles were my favourite.

Food, food and more food. I forgot and was starving. I packed loads of rubbish and didn't need any of it. I couldn't of cared less about cooling sprays or magazines or pillows once the contractions started. My expectation of giving birth was completely wrong. As long as you have toiletries, clothes for you, spare underwear, maternity pads, babies clothes and nappies and breast pads you will be fine x
And you phone charger

Comfy clothes, lip balm as you can get quite dry and clothes for baby. Check with your hospital to see if they provid3 Lucozade sport, ours do but not sure elsewhere.

Everything else, check with hospital as some things are barred

You
Maternity notes
Straws (I was too out of it the drink from a cup!!)
Lip balm
Flannel
Wash bag with everything you need to shower, toothbrush etc and shove a toothbrush in for your birth partner too you could be there a while.
Clean t-shirt/top for birth partner
Bikini top if having a water birth and some shorts for the birthing partner if they're wanting to get in the pool plus spare towel.
A dark coloured bath towel
Dark coloured pj bottoms (x2) and some loose tops for giving birth in/feeding in
Dressing gown
Flip flops
Music on your phone/speakers
Phone charger
Maternity pads
Paper knickers
Black (cheap primarni) knickers
Nursing bra and boob pads
Comfy slob clothes to go home in (unless you are Kate Middleton of course )
Snacks/drinks

Baby
Clothes for the baby, maybe 3/4 outfits and vests. (You can pack more in another bag to leave in the car in case you are kept in).
Little hats
Muslen squares
Nappies
Water wipes
Outfit to take them home in
Nice blanket/toy to take pics

Anything you might need to keep you entertained in case you are induced.

It's 5 months since I had my second baby so I've probably forgot things now. What I did was pack a bag and then packed an extra bag in the car with the stuff I didn't need right away, like the babies going home stuff, my going home clothes etc. So you don't look like you are moving in when you arrive.

Also place the outfit the baby is going to wear once born in a plastic bag on top of your bag so your birth partner can get to easily (I'm assuming it's a man) you'll be in no state/otherwise engaged to start fishing about in the bag when they say get your babies outfit ready!

Good luck hope it goes well when the time comes!

Lucozade sport

Lip balm

At least 20 thick maternity pads. More for a longer than average stay.

Baggy jogging bottom type pants. Leggings were too tight my legs as swelled a little.

EAR PLUGS!!!!!!!!!

Oh yes I'm taking an eye mask if there's a next time!

Loads more maternity pads than you'd ever think you'd need. Phone charger. A very soft cushion to sit on in the car on the way home!

@Babababababybel23 exactly what was said there, you don't need all the gimmicky rubbish people buy for there bag I had c section had loads in there and didn't use half of it x just defo pants bras for yours self comfy pjs or lounge wear baby clothes blanket nappies daily toiletries hair band/brush phone charger/headphones if u use them bit of money for If u are staying in longer and get bored an have no tv. I wouldn't bother with all the extra crap to much faffing when you bring baby home. Some lady when I had mine was next to me she had 2 bags for her self suitcase and baby stuff with all the pillows etc it was ridiculous. And she just stayed in bed and moaned the whole 5 days I was in. Did make me laugh though ha x try not to stress about it too much I over packed like a fool and regretted carrying it all when was going home. If u did need more stuff or bits taken home family/friends etc always could do it x all the best for your birth and newborn baby x good luck

Don't forget ur maternity notes and breast pads and sanitary pads defo a must x

Tena lady pull up briefs. The ones for incontinence. I kid you not, the best thing I bought. Normal maternity pads didn’t stand a chance with the stuff coming out of me

If you haven't bought a changing bag already, check out the Goodies for mummies bag. They come pre packed ready for labour, you just need to add clothes etc into another bag, but they look pretty good for £50-£60 and bags aren't too bad. I've been recommended it by a friend but haven't got round to ordering one as I'm only half way.
X

I'm clueless on these things because I went in for blood pressure monitoring with a toothbrush and pjs and came home 2 weeks later with a baby! But one thing I will be doing this time is packing an extra bag with clothes for me and the baby. It'll be useful in case you're kept in for a few days and will save your partner having to go home and rummage around for clothes.

Roll on deodorant! I stupidly packed anti-perspirant spray and only realised how ridiculous that was when I went to use it on the ward. It was so bloody hot that deodorant was definitely needed after a bath/shower and I would have felt much cleaner if I'd packed some!

Phone charger, a bottle or your own large cup - the teeny tiny plastic things at my hospital are just annoying and plenty of hair bobbles. Don't stress about it too much, if you realise you need anything whilst there someone can fetch it for you from home or the shop.