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 only thing I used from my labour was a bobble for my hair and some bottled water. I wasn't allowed to eat and was rather pre occupied to be caring about the stuff I had with me 😂 = way too much!

You also won't need 0-3 months clothes unless ur baby is like 10lb plus. My girl was 8lb and was still able to wear first size/newborn clothes for a week then into 0-1 months. She didn't go into 0-3 until she was about 6/7 weeks old.

If you have a straight forward birth ul be out next day or same day depending on time u give birth so u won't need load of baby outfits, 5 babygrows is more than enough, maybe 1 cardi and 1 hat. You can keep a bag at home or the car with extra clothes for u and baby if u need to stay in longer, I was in 6 days and was so glad I had stuff ready at home, DH wld have been clueless 😂

Stuff to add to ur list:
Baby vests
Socks (baby sometimes get quite cold, I wasn't going to bother with socks but she ended up in a heated cot bed as temp was too low, so I was glad I had some)

Maybe I shld start putting some stuff in my bag, seeing as she'll be here in 5 weeks 😮

Wow thank you for all the replies! Some really helpful tips!

I’ve always been an overpacker so will probably keep a lot of the unnecessary things but maybe in a seperate bag to be left in the car.

Will go through and edit my list this evening so I can start packing!

One question, what should baby be wearing between hospital and car when we come home? I was thinking vest, baby grow, cardigan and pram suit then remove the pram suit when we get to car? Is that wrong?

I think that's a great list.

For those saying it is way too much, I'd rather over pack than under pack as I get really stressed with things like that, and even though we live close to the hospital, parking is always a nightmare etc so sending OH back and forth to collect things I may have forgotten or not bought enough of is a no-no. Id just keep the extra stuff in the boot to save you lugging it to your room and back etc.

The only thing I'd maybe change would be take out a pair of pyjamas and swap for more "lounge wear" so it feels a bit more like you're wearing clothes rather than pyjamas as I always feel a bit more put together in lounge wear when people unexpectedly "drop in" for a visit on a lazy Sunday.

And make sure your towels are dark.... lol. X

Bring car seat inside and vest/babygro/hat/socks/blanket to get to the car.

With my first (also born in December) ended up buying a morrck car seat blanket which was a godsend for the whole time she was using the infant car seat. Plonk her in and wrap up, she couldn't kick it off, and unwrap in the car/outside/when it got warm.

That's great you've got newborn and 0-3 but if I were you I'd chuck a few bits in size 'tiny baby' in there too as you never know.

Ooh and get your birth partner to physically pack the bag so he / she knows where everything is and can pass you whatever you need without having to empty the contents of the bag onto the floor!

Good luck

Forgot to add - paracetamol (for you and potentially birth partner).

If you haven't bought maternity pads yet I found the boots own ones to be the best ones, nice and soft.

Empty plastic sports cap bottle for post partum weeing. Fill with luke warm water and pour on your bits as you wee to ease the sting. This saved my life for first ten days! You can always buy a bottle of lucazade for this purpose and drink the lucazade during labour.

Oh yea dark towel for sure! But either invest in a good one or check beforehand that it’s fit for purpose before you pack it. I got a cheapy black one from Primark, washed it but didn’t test it out. It left black fluff all over me when I used it for my first shower which was gross and made me feel even worse than I did before the shower tbh!

@SilentAlarm They will want you to bring car seat inside the hospital so they can check over its suitable before you leave so make sure when your partner comes for you both he brings the seat up too.

I think I had vest, outfit, thick cardigan, hat, mittens and a fleecy blanket over DS when we left. My dad picked us up though and was right outside the door (in a warmish June).

How about a camera so you can take precious photos of your newborn and you as a family if you want to?

Definitely agree with having half most of that in a spare bag in the car- you may not even need to stay in! I took a similar amount of stuff for dc1 and didn't even open the bag. Dh then brought in what I needed for my week in hospital after the birth. dc2 again I hardly used anything but went home a couple of hours after so didn't need it!

Bring the car seat in from the car (partner can do this when you're being discharged) put baby in with vest, babygro, hat, cardy and blanket.

Best of luck!

I wouldn't bother with the pram suit, it'll be a hassle to take off outside in the cold.

Yes to everything else (make sure feet and head and hands are covered too if it's cold) then blankets. then get your partner to bring the car to the hospital door, you may not want to walking around the car park anyway.

Hospital didn't check my car seat so don't assume they will but if you can bring it in that would be easier

That’s a lot of stuff! You wont need half of that and your partner won’t need change of clothes or a book.

Wards are generally hot and cramped so just take enough for an overnight stay. No perfume or deodorant.

One piece of advice; pack a nappy, vest, babygro, cardi and hat in a sandwich bag. If you have an emergency birth your partner can grab the pack and give it to midwife, that way when you meet your baby, they will be wearing what you chose not hospital stuff. This was invaluable advice for me as I didn’t meet my baby until over an hour after birth.

When I had my first I wished I’d taken a change mat, I was given nothing to change baby on and she weed all over the bed as I did (I stayed over night). Did anyone else find this?!

@Cazzy86

That’s such a good point about the change mat. The cubicles are tiny and there’s nowhere to change the baby other than the bed or cot. And when the poo/wee inevitably gets on the sheets in the middle of the night it’s such a pain (the midwives weren’t very impressed when it happened to me )