Hospital bag help!

[AshBluex]

Hi, I am due my first little one on the 1st November and have no idea when to pack or what to put in my hospital bag. I was going to pack myself one and baby, and my partner was going to take another with bits in we might need. I have to go in as soon as my waters go for antibiotics so I could be in a while.

Any suggestions or lists would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance😊xxx

In addition to the standard list of toiletries and baby stuff I would take some comfortable clothes, I found my mental health benefitted from being able to get dressed during the day towards the end of my hospital stay.

Do you know how you are planning to feed the baby?

snuggybuggy I am hoping to breastfeed, as long as I am able to. Thanks so much for your advice xx

If you are hoping to breastfeed then for the love of God bring a tube of lanolin! I had to be admitted unexpectedly and we couldn't find ours! A largeish water bottle wouldn't be a bad idea for your bedside.

Comfy nightshirts to give birth in x 3 or 4 as they get dirty quickly - primark did some this summer that buttoned open completely they were really handy
Nursing bra x 2
Big big knickers! I chose full brief style and am so happy as ended up with a c section and they covered the cut and held two maternity pads for bleeding
Snacks! - Pringles, biscuits, fruits, energy drinks and coconut water
Closed cup with straw so you can be fed liquids by birth partner
Paracetamol - so you can self administer and not bother midwives and wait on meds
Lip balm!!!!
Shampoo conditioner shower gel face wash
Toothpaste and toothbrush and deo
Flannels so you can freshen up / cool down
Flip flops or slippers
Dressing gown if November - I didn't bother as I gave birth in August but could be handy to walk about in if it's cooler
Your own large towel - dark colour as you may be bleeding
Maternity pads x 20 for the hospital and up to 60 for the week after too / breast pads
Lanolin for sore boobs for feeding
Phone charger / speakers
Your going home outfit - something comfy that covers your bum as you will feel like you're wearing a nappy with the maternity pads! (Leggings and long top)
I took an eye mask to help distract me during labour
Hairbrush / hairband / make up for pics?!

Nappies x 20
Hat x 4
Vest x 6
Onesies x 6
Socks / scratch mits
'Going home outfit'
Seems lots of baby clothes but we stayed in unexpected and so glad o had it all in the bag
Nappy bags
Wipes

I had a bag completely for me and then a baby bag - my fiancé had his own bag. Having my own bag helped me direct him to bits I needed and made it simple when baby was here

Oh and your own pillows in a distinctive pillow case! I took 4 and glad I did as my birth partner was allowed to stay but hospital policy no pillows or blankets for him?!

Also bear in mind hospital food can be a bit stodgy and you can get somewhat constipated so maybe something high fibre.

Snacks and drinks... I didn’t touch them during labour but was so grateful for them after birth; DD appeared at 1am and there was nothing open in/around the hospital at that time.

Moist toilet tissue!

Also (again TMI....sorry!) I was quite incontinent after having a catheter removed and a found the Tena PANTS rather than PADS a lifesaver! I felt much more confident in them!

Just a quick note on breastpads; get a washable pair or two if you can. I turned out to be hugely sensitive to the disposable ones, which was hellishly itchy and uncomfortable. I didn’t even twig what it was for ages either as don’t usually have overly sensitive skin.

I would buy a really cheap pillow to take with you and then leave there for a bit of extra comfort. Also a bag of dates, apparently they help things along. And decent tea bags!!

Bobbles - loads of them

I'll second the moist loo roll! I've given it to all mums-to-be at their baby showers / before the birth. You will be glad of it!

Yes also to granny pants or 'full briefs' I swear by them now. Buy 1 or 2 really cheap 5packs of Black ones (Tesco & Sainsbury's do good ones). Probably cheaper than paper ones and far far comfier.

We took DH's laptop after having DS. They kept us in for 24hrs after. I ate doninos, breastfed and watched an entire series of bake off. Although iPad or similar might be easier these days. DS is 5.5 now. Don't forget chargers!

Bendy straws!

I second the Tena pants they were brilliant, I found that even with big granny knickers and TWO maternity pads on I would leak, the Tena pants were bombproof.

I had to stay in for 5 days and stuff that just made me feel human was nice: razor to shave my armpits, a little towel to use as a towel turban as well as my big body towel, slippers.

Take lip balm for sure, or a face moisturiser. For some reason my skin felt dry on my face and lips so those were good.

I packed snacks but it turned out that our hospital was brilliant at feeding me: I had toast at 11pm, again at 1am, they even had ice lollies for me to eat during later stages of labour as it was very hot and I couldn't eat actual food. Was at Worcester.

Good luck and congrats! You'll be great!!

You need breastpads as you will leak like mad,
Bottles incase baby doesn't take to breast straight away (entirely normal latching can be hard at first)
Size 1 nappies
Cotton wool balls or baby wipes but I prefer cotton wool balls as more gentle at first
4 babygrows I only took two & my first born did a meconium poo everywhere (black sticky tar like)
Baby vests
A all in one snow suit type thing to take baby home
Car seat
A hat for baby's head
Blanket for baby
A dummy just incase I always took one with mine

For you I'd say
A nightie as it's more comfy
Flannel
Shower gel
Bridget jokes knickers
Maternity towels
A towel!
A book incase it's a whilst to get going
Your phone charger
Snacks
Slippers
Some comfy clothes

Ah I just saw that other members have given you great lists ignore mine and good luck my son was born November the 18th it's a great month and very Christmassy almost is magical lol

I've been told to take:

• Anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down any hospital surfaces
• Plastic/carrier bags or at least a black bin bag for dirty clothes.
• Baby blanket

And not to take wet wipes for the baby but to use cotton wool due to the residue from wet wipes possibly causing skin irritation.

In addition while ChipsnCurrySaucemmm list seems quite long what you are suppose to do is divide the items into two bags for stays of 2-3 days each. The second bag should be kept in the car unless you live very close walking distance hospital like I do where you can easily sent your OH home to get it.

Also make sure your partner knows what is in each bag using lists, post its or whatever he needs to remind him.

I've heard stories of partners being sent home to collect things, being headless and coming back with wrong/inappropriate things.

Plus it is worth your partner knowing where the nearest large 24 hour supermarket is or other shops in case you run out of things, and you know you don't have them at home.

Wow thank you all so much that has helped me more than you will all ever know!! Thanks so so much xx

Take two towels in dark colours. I only took one and it got dirty during the birth so I didn't have another later on. The ones hospital provided were like tea towels!
Take snacks like cereal bars, dried fruit for energy. Slippers and flip flops dressing gown (possibly a light cotton one as maternity wards are hot). Take an eye mask and ear plugs in case you're on a noisy ward before your baby comes.

Bendy straw so you can drink water during labour .

And a hair tie if you need one. My friend forgot one and was desperate.

Hi,

We made a video for this very topic!

You probably won't need everything in the video, but it might be a good starting point.

Hope it helps.