Hospital Bag - What am I missing/what don't I need?!

[SilentAlarm]

Due our first baby in December and starting to think about my hospital bag... I've come up with the below after a million Google searches but wondering if I'm missing anything or if I'm packing anything completely ridiculous? Opinions welcome!

I'm thinking of having one small bag (maybe even just my normal handbag!) for the easy access stuff, and then a small suitcase for the rest of it (aside from the birth partner stuff which they can sort out themselves!)

For Labour/Easy Access
Maternity notes
Birth plan
Nighty for labour
Phone
Earphones
Lens wipes for glasses
Hand held fan
Water spray
Wash bag: Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, hairbrush, shower gel, deodorant, face wipes, body wipes, flannel, shampoo, conditioner and hair ties

For Mum
Maternity pads
Large knickers x 5
Towel x 2
Dressing gown
Slippers
Flip flops (in case of shower)
Nipple cream
Nursing bra x 2
Breast pads
Nursing pyjamas/nighty x 3
Plastic bag for dirty clothes
Make up bag/perfume
Comfy leaving hospital outfit

For Baby
Babygrows (5 x newborn, 5 x 0-3m)
Hat x 2
Nappies (10 x size 1, 10 x size 2)
Nappy bags
Cotton wool balls
Baby wipes
Blanket x 3
Muslins x 5
Cardigan x 2
Pramsuit x 1

Birth Partner
Snacks
Drinks
Cash
Change for vending machine/parking meter
Change of clothes
Wash bag: Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, wipes
Book
iPad
iPad charger
Phone
Phone charger

The softest toilet paper money can buy!

I don't think you need that many pyjamas. One nightie to give birth in and some fresh pjs for after. Then joggers and a hoody. I found it made me feel much better post birth if I was in clothes not pyjamas. Massive pants from Sainsbury's are the best I found and boots maternity pads are super thick and comfy. I'd also recommend spritz for bits it's amazing.

Looks like a great list... shamelessly stealing for baby number 2 as was missing half that stuff the first time round 🤣. Better to overpack than be missing something you really want

That’s way too much. You don’t need 3x baby blankets. One will be fine. I’d leave out the slippers and dressing gown. Wear flip flops and get a pair of bed socks.

When I was in labour I forgot everything that was in my bag. I had some jelly sweets and that was all. I laboured in a birth pool and they gave me a gown at some point as I was off my head on gas and air and couldn’t bear to wear clothes.

Take some snacks like cereal bars, I was really hungry after I’d given birth and no meals were available.

iPad isn’t necessary. Also I wouldn’t take stuff to hospital that you’d be upset if it walked off....

I wouldn’t think you’d need 4x nighties. I wore joggers and a top afterwards. You feel more covered up. Hospitals don’t have loads of room for bags. I had to keep mine on the floor and they were in the way.

Sorry to be clear I didn’t forget my bag, I forgot it was so important and didn’t open it, I was too preoccupied with what was happening to me to worry over the stuff in my bag.

I take 1 bag for the labour ward and then everything else in a suit see in the car that DH brings up once I've been settled into the postnatal ward. So I would put an extra nightie or PJ's in your labour bag and some knickers too. Also baby's first outfit/nappy. And snacks! Both for your labour bag (though they may not let you eat them) and your suitcase. And water.

Oh and a sports cap bottle of water as if you are sore after the birth, it can help to 'spray' yourself down while weeing (makes it less painful/stingy if you have stitches).

Scratch mitts for baby?
Also last time around our hospital insisted we had two layers on baby at all times, so you may want to have some vests/bodysuits for going under the babygrows?

Otherwise looks pretty comprehensive to me.

Oh and also socks for in labour as weirdly, your feet can get cold.

And for the baby, some vests. And not as many 0-3m babygros as they will probably be too big unless the baby is 9lb+

I second he recommendation for spritz for bitz and found toilet wipes to be much kinder to my downstairs!

I also got a 'portable bidet sprayer' from amazon - not to take to the hospital, but for use at home - it really helped with that dreaded first bowel movement!

Pram suits can’t be worn in car seats. If it’s for use in the car seat get a star wrap.

Cotton wool balls are awful especially for the first few poos. They just end up with a fluff pooy bum. Use cotton wool pads instead. Think about getting a packet of water wipes for ease in hospital.

Bottle of water with a straw inside. It’s important to stay hydrated in labour and you won’t want to tip your head back.

I think you've got too much there re quantities for baby. You don't need 2 hats.

If you feel like you want the extra stuff pack a 'just in case' bag for all the extras and leave it in the car (if you'll be taking one) or easily accessible at home for someone to grab. You'll only have to tell pack it all after.

Take more snacks than you think you need.

Have to re pack!

Definitely vests for the baby, as well as babygros as they might be cold in December. Snacks for on the postnatal ward - I found the food provided pretty poor and not enough of it so was glad I packed some cereal bars and crisps for extra snacks. Also isotonic drinks and squash as you're only given water.

Sounds like you’ve got a lot of stuff in that bag. Sometimes you’re going to need to grab something quickly, without trawling though everything. Also they might make you move rooms/bed etc and you won’t want to be carting around all of that.
You won’t need size 2 nappies. Wouldn’t bother with breast pads or nipple cream unless you’re kept in for several days. Do you really need to condition your hair? Could you skip the mouthwash? Your partner won’t need a book and an iPad/phone.

One or two baby grows, 1 blanket, size 1 or newborn nappies (you won't need size 2 for ages), 1/2 Muslins, 1/2 hats, cardigan & pramsuit and cotton wool from your list, I'd also add 2 vests and some scratch mittens for baby.

Way too many pajamas for you, I'd take 1 set as you'll most likely be home pretty quickly and your dh can always bring fresh if you need to. Definitely take a few pairs of knickers and a stash of maternity pads!
I personally wouldn't bother with make up bag and perfume, after dc1 it was the last thing on my mind.

Remember you have to cart all this with you while in labour. Keep it simple and anything else you need can be brought in later.

@orangejuicer I disagree about the hats! They shoved my favourite hat on her when she was born (husbands error) so it was covered in birth gunk and needed changing after a while!

My DS arrived two weeks early, I’d ‘sort of’ packed my bag but wasn’t that organised - we managed though sounds like you’ve got everything you need - definitely hair ties! I lost my one and couldn’t put my hair back up after the birth, I remember it really annoying me. I would unpack the perfume though - the baby will want to smell you properly.

You don't need perfume, babies do better when they can smell your skin and it helps promote breastfeeding. Leave the perfume for a few weeks after birth

I’d pack a bag on the thought you’ll stay in for one night and a second, just in case bag your other half can grab from home & bring the next day if needed. Saves on space as there really isn’t much once you get onto a ward! I ended up staying in for 3 nights and so did need a fair bit bringing from home, so I was glad of my emergency bag packing! The day after I gave birth, I managed to wee myself quite badly after I thought I had normal bladder control but actually I def did not post catheter so I needed my spare pair of joggers! My mum whipped the other pair home to wash, dry & brought them back! So def worth packing two lots of clothes for yourself! My hospital provided towels.. and I wouldn’t bother with a dressing gown. Bit bulky to pack! The ward I was on was pretty warm, I just wore a hoody!

Don’t sweat over too much or two little though, everyone is different. I overpack for every occasion. It’s just me. I like to be over prepared! No-one is going to tell you off if you bring too much!

Instead of knickers and pads go for the tena incontinence pants you can just throw the whole lot away then your not going to want to keep the knickers afterwards. I've only packed 1 pair of pjs to wear after and some slippers they give you a gown to birth in while your there and you won't want to keep the nightie after either.
For my baby ive packed 2 of each size sleepsuit and a vest and he has a few muslins 1 blanket and his pram suit to come home in anything for a longer stay can be brought in after if needed you don't need to go overboard on outfits

Echo that you shouldn’t wear perfume, and won’t need size 2 nappies or that many nighties etc for you. I didn’t take slippers or dressing gown, had flip flops and a hoody (which I wore home too).

Add some lucozade sport and snacks for you too. Your birth partner shouldn’t need a book or iPad?

Sounds like a good list, however most maternity wards are BOILING HOT so I would be surprised if you need a dressing gown.
Maybe pack some sort of baggy harem pants type things and a T-shirt, I honestly think you’ll find the temperature on the ward excessively warm.

Tena pants instead of knickers and pads. More nappies. Fewer clothes for both of you.

Hospital usually provide towels - much better to bleed all over theirs. Ditto blankets.

What are you going to use a pramsuit for? Most pointless baby item ever. Can’t use in car seat anyway.

Also does anyone actually use cotton wool balls in real life? Just pack some wet wipes (water wipes if you must).

Watching with interest. I'm 30 weeks so feel like I have allllll the time but know this will be very useful when that time starts getting less and less