Hospital Bags

[LittleFox01]

How many hospital bags did you have?

At the moment I have a hold-all for me, little pull along suitcase for baby and a changing bag with nappies/wipes etc. And I have been thinking of getting a backpack for snacks etc. I just feel like that is a lot of bags?

Just wondering how many everyone else had :) x

One cabin sized suitcase with stuff ready at home if I needed to stay in.

I’ve not had a baby yet, due next month but I’m having just the one. A hold-all for me and baby.
Then I’m keeping another (smaller) bag in the car with extras in. Nappies, more clothes, pads etc.

Bag for me, bag for baby (both small hold-all)

Ended up staying in 4 nights and needed lots of extras bringing x

Thank you! Seems like I do have a lot of bags then! I am also due next month :) will try and get both our stuff into my hold-all then use his little suitcase as extra in the car:) midwife has already said I'm likely to be in for atleast 24 hours but possibly longer depending on baby's sugar levels (I have Gestational diabetes). It's so hard to know what I need and don't. Also having no idea how big the baby is going to be, I don't know what size clothes to be taking. X

I had a wheely cabin suitcase for me, a changing bag for baby and a holdall in the car with extras in case we had to stay in. DP had a small backpack and a bag of snacks (none of which I was allowed after they gave me the epidural). I also had my cosmetic bag separately as it didn't fit in the suitcase. Seemed like a lot of stuff, but we did use most of it.

Does your OH drive? I’d take a bag with what you need for labour and the first few hours of baby’s life and another bag with the rest in the car in case you have to stay

Re clothes sizes, I took 4 sets each of newborn and 0-3 months sizes. I had one set of each size ready to go in the top of my bag, and the rest in his changing bag. I bagged up the clothes sets individually in freezer bags, so each set had a vest, babygrow, mittens, a hat and a nappy, and I labelled them newborn - smaller or 0-3 months - larger, it just meant that if he needed a clothes change we weren't scrabbling around looking for the right size vest etc, and my DP could see what he was looking at straight away. My DS was 8lb 5oz and the newborn stuff was still quite loose on him, so didn't need the bigger size really. Once you pop the clothes in freezer bags and squeeze all the air out they pack down really small too.

One bag for baby and one bag for me (included snacks) but I had three back up Carrier bags for extras - one for me, one for baby and one of food (which DH said was his )

Pack an extra bag fox but leave in car or at home. Then should you be in longer your dp or family could bring it in for you and take your other used/dirty/not needed things away

Labour hold-all. Small.
Post natal hold-all. Bigger.
Baby bag (changing bag).

Thank you! I went and bought some freezer bags today to sort into sizes so DP doesn't have to look for sizes in clothes! I've always thought I'd be having a big baby so most of his clothes are 0-3 but I might go shopping tomorrow to get some new born things as he doesn't have many. Yes DP drives so will leave a bag in the car full of extras if needed :) will re pack all our bits this week :) x

I thought the same about clothes. My LO was 8lb 3oz, put on weight steadily and still was in newborn/up to 1 month clothes for the first few weeks.

Bed spaces in postnatal wards are tiny. Please think of the staff who will be attending to you (especially in the dark!) and pack sensibly!! You only need enough for labour, a shower and the first few hours of life. Anything else, DP or a visitor an bring for you as and when you need it.

I only took one wheely case for both mine and baby's stuff. I gave birth at 9pm and was discharged the following morning so didn't need or use much. I think a lot of people overpack. Unless you live miles from home and any supermarkets, your DP can go and get anything extra you may need.

RE clothes I got a lot of use out of the up to 1 month (10lbs) size, DD was 7lbs at birth and they lasted her for weeks. 0-3 would have swamped her.

Me and baby had a bag each and DP had a small bag with snacks and iPad etc