Hospital bag checklist - sense check please!

[NewMama2Be]

Started to put all my bits and pieces together and wondering if any mums to be / new mums care to sense check and let me know I've missed anything (or have too much?!)

Worked off a checklist I was given at antenatal plus a few extras:

Mama Bag

• 2 or 3 x mix of PJs / Nighties for comfort / practicality
• dressing gown
• flips flops (for showering)
• slippers (for comfort)
• 4 x pants (disposable / throwaway)
• 2 x non wired bras
• 1 pack of maternity pads
• 2 x leggings / vest tops / tshirts
• 1 cardi or hoodie
• fan / facecloth / spray water
• shower toiletries
• hair brush / band / bobble

Baby bag:

• 1 x pack of nappies ( half size 1, half size 2)
• cotton wool (or do hospital give you this?)
• 4 x vests (2 first size, 2 newborn)
• 4 x sleepsuit (2 first size, 2 newborn)
• 2 x cardigans (up to 1 month)
• 2 cotton hats
• 3 x muslins
• 2 x blankets
• going home outfit

Dads bag:

• fresh shorts and tshirt
• drinks and snacks for us both
• chargers
• cash

I dont yet know if I'll have a csection or vaginal birth so trying to prepare for all eventualities!

I would halve some of the stuff you have (nappies, changes of clothes) and leave it in the car to grab after birth as there isn't much room for luggage in the labour room and you may get moved around. But double the number of pants and maternity pads. I went through 5 pairs long before giving birth and just bought cheap big pants from Primark.

I think you’ve got too much stuff, especially for the baby. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and you’ll be in and out in less than 24 hours. You might not even need to stay one night. It depends how far from the hospital you are. Can your DP nip back to get more stuff if you need? You might want stuff to do , a book, magazine, music, crossword puzzles, etc.

I would add in a water bottle with a sports cap, it’s impossible to drink from a cup laying down and the gas and air makes you thirsty. I second leaving half of the stuff in the car.
I don’t think you’ll need a hoody or cardigan, maternity wards are hotter than the 7th circle of hell no matter what time of year! Pack the thinnest nightgown you can find.
I would also take earplugs and an extra extra long charging lead for yourself. I was in for a few days before giving birth and other people are so noisey. The sockets are also normally really high above your bed

When I say earplugs I mean earphones for your phone and download netflix

Breast pads
More maternity towels
A towel for yourself

I wouldnt take two baby blankets or cardigans. One of each will do

I’ve also packed Lip balm, face wipes and breast pads..
Good luck

That's all really useful. Think I will halve the contents and just have a back up bag somewhere DH can easily find it if its needed.
Good shout re the long charger cable and things to do 👍

Is a c section likely as it has it been discussed?

What kind of birth are you planning?

Soap and toiletries. I had to have my own soap after the birth (not supplied by the hospital and I wanted dd to get used to my scents).

More pants. Fewer jammies. Two sets, max. One outfit for you to go home in. Assume one night's stay but have another bag at home/in car with another set of jammies/ nighty.

We needed size 0 nappies for about a week/ 10 days. Had a massive meconium explosion in the middle of our first night (on the ward) because size 1 just didn't fit her well enough. It was a nightmare as I was pretty immobile from severe pgp+forceps+episiotomy and there was no help! Binned those clothes. I'd bring another set of newborn clothes (but dd was under 7 lbs).

Ear plugs
iPad or similar.
Fewer things in general
Dark coloured towel

You need Paracetamol. Don't rely on a busy postnatal ward for pain relief!

Unsure at the moment @hormonesorDHbeingadick as baby currently breech. Should have more of a definite plan in the next week or 2 but bag prepping now, just incase

Thanks @Atalune - I knew this would be a helpful post! I'd bought a black towel specifically but forgot all about it 🤦‍♀️

I would ditch the cardigan, hoody, dressing gown, leggings and t-shirts for you. Maternity wards are so hot! I’d do 2 sets of thin nightwear and an outfit to go home. I personally wouldn’t take disposable pants, if you do end up having a section you want big cotton pants that come up higher than a scar. Get a multipack from Primark or similar. Ditch the slippers, again too hot and flip flops serve the same purpose.

For the baby I’d do 2 sleepsuits, 2 vests, 2 hats, 2 muslins and 1 blanket plus a going home outfit in size newborn. I would only pack baby a cardigan for the trip home. Water wipes are handy as it’s less faffing than water and cotton wool. I’d do about 20 nappies just in size 1.

I’d have a second bag in the car with an extra couple of days outfits and extra nappies that your DH can get if you’re kept in longer than normal.

I packed energy tablets with both births of dcs. I couldn't eat much as the contractions made me throw up and those were the only things I could keep down.
Your DP will thank you for fir them too if you end up going into labour at a silly time of night.

I'd pack enough stuff for 24 hours in one bag and take that in with you including tracky bottoms and a loose tshirt to go home in. You won't need a cardigan for the LO as ward will be super hot. Leave a second bag in the car with extra stuff which DH can pop out and fetch if needed. You have very little storage space in hospital.

Maybe add in a couple of nice flapjacks or protein bars in case you can't get to meals/long labour and some bottles of lucozade sport (the non fizzy one).

YES- lots of snacks!! You may arrive in the ward having just missed a mealtime. And hospital meals are nowhere near big enough for my appetite when establishing breastfeeding...

Yes to snacks.

Take less stuff, if you're going to be in longer then dp can bring stuff in. Nothing worse than lugging stuff round hospital. I'd sack off his stuff too, he'll be going home so can change.

Snacks
Painkillers
Mittens for baby - we ended up missioning around to get some
Nip cream - seriously.
Deodorant - maternity wards are like saunas

Good luck

I had a c section and put all baby outfits etc. into separate labelled sandwich bags like ‘vests’, ‘Hospital outfit’, ‘going home outfit’ etc so that my husband could easily find things without me having to get out of bed if I couldn’t and so he didn’t stress!

I was going to say the extra bag of clothes for you will come in handy if you have a stay beforehand too, say if you're induced and it takes a while so maybe pack that separately to extra bits for baby just in case... Unless your DH is good at knowing what to bring in...

Oh and if you are being induced eat snacks before they move you to birthing suite as you may not be able to eat once on a drip. You might want to add some fruit juice cartons or squash.

More pants and maternity pads - I would go for 2 packs and 6 pairs of pants at least.

I def overpacked! Never even got my own case opened until baby was born and I was up on ward. Never got near my snacks! Was annoying having so much stuff then to sort through and take back home. Pads and pants are def important - was surprised how many I went through in such a short space of time. Normal toiletries you would take anywhere. I had a box of breast pads which were never opened. Husband never needed spare clothes. And remember to take your phone charger home! I left mine plugged in and forgot it