Hospital bag - what do I actually need?

[WombatStewForTea]

I'm 36+3 and really should be a bit more prepared and back my hospital bag/s as baby is engaged and I guess could come any time now.

There are so many different lists online with endless items on them that I can't possibly need! I'm already the worst over packer for holidays so trying to curtail myself!

I'm planning on packing a bag for labour and immediately afterwards and then one for afterwards with enough stuff a few days should I need to stay in that long.

What did you pack that you actually found useful?

In terms of baby clothes I know I need to pack a few different sizes but how many vests? Short or long sleeve? How many baby grows? Hats etc?

Do I need an outfit for straight after birth packed in my labour bag? If so just a vest? Or full outfit?
How many nappies? Maternity pads? Knickers?

I don't want to pack a million of each if I'm not going to need them all. I'm quite happy to pack a separate bag of extras that can stay in the boot of the car.

I’d only take newborn clothes. A few sleepsuits and vests. If you need to stay longer your partner can always go home for more! Some little hats and an outfit to go home in. Plenty of nappies.

Big knickers. Pads. A vest top and comfy pjs/nightie (buttoned). Hair ties. Comfy clothes to go home in.

Three vests 0-3 months
Three babygros
(Hospitals are boiling)
Clean dark nightie
Wet wipes
Overnight bag
Clean knickers x 4
12 nappies
Water wipes
Slippers
20 maternity pads
Clean shirt for your partner
Cleaning sponge, bathroom spray, dettol wipes - to clean hospital bogs and baths (they are filthy).
Charger
Phone
Tenner's worth of change
Lucozade
Cool box with sandwiches

Take Paracetamol. Postnatal wards can be very busy ( so you could really wait a long time for meds) and after pains can really hurt.

Mine is packed (pretty much). I've got one bag for me and one for baby.

I've got
Tens machine
Nightie (for labour)
Clean nursing pjs and socks
Flip flops
1 pack maternity pads
3 tena pants
Flannel
Wash bag with shower gel, contact lenses etc and toothbrush
Brush and hair bands
Face wipes
Water bottle
Charger
Snacks and squash shot
Outfit for leaving hospital (joggers, vest and jumper)
3pairs black knickers
Antibac Milton wipes
Small travel towel
Bag for dirty laundry

For baby
3 long sleeved vests
3 baby gros in newborn
2 hats
2 cardigans
Small pack of nappies
Water wipes (can't deal with cotton wool this time)
Swaddle blanket
Cosy blanket
Cuddly comforter toy
Present for DS when he comes to visit us for the first time (from baby)

Spare outfit for me and going home stuff/outfit for baby will go in the car boot. DH can bring in anything else we need.

Definitely flip flops not slippers. Can use in shower too.

I know bottle feeding is devisive and I don’t presume to know what you’re planning but I’ll just share what happened to me. I was planning on breastfeeding. Didn’t even occur to me to think about alternatives. As it happened dd struggled to feed after she was born and I had a weird moment where I just knew that actually i didn’t want to breastfeed at all. I had no bottle feeding equipment and the hospital said they only had resources to give us a couple of pre made feeds. Queue hubby dashing off to mothercare for the whole shebang.
It was v stressful. So I would suggest packing a sterilised bottle or two and some ready made formula. That way you don’t have to commit to buying a lot of stuff but it’s there as a back up in case.

Ask your midwife how big she predicts your baby to be. Mine told me not to buy new born clothes. She was right.

@Spoonsmum I'm planning on breastfeeding if all goes to plan. I think Amazon prime/24 hour supermarkets will be my friend if needs be.

@Selfsettling3 had a growth scan this week with baby currently around 6lb6oz and estimated 8lb something if I go to term so was thinking of packing some newborn and some up to 1 month stuff?

Take a jug or a squirty water bottle. Fill it with warm water. Use it when you pee. Just trust me on this one....

Bring those Andrex bottom wipes. You will need something cool and soft that doesn't disintegrate ...

Oh and pack a multipack of your absolute favourite snacks/sweets/chocolates - you will deserve them and probably devour them in the middle of the night

Lip balm and phone charger!

Take Paracetamol (a fancy extra strength fast acting one!). My birth unit was so busy and the midwives were rushed off their feet. If I hadn't have taken my own paracetamol I'd have been waiting ages. I found the after pains really painful.

Slippers you don't need any hands to put on/take off. Whilst the air in wards is warm, the floors can be freezing.

Make up. Not drag queen amounts, but I did feel a bit better with a slight covering after several days awake.

I would just pack up to one month. My first was 9lb and was only in up to one month vests for a week before she was ready for the next size.

Put newborn in the car incase you have an early arrival.

Here's what I'm taking, separated into 'categories.' It seems like a HUGE amount but I've no idea what I'm doing so I'm mostly going off Youtube videos!

Hypnobirthing/labour:
Patchouli Oil (personal preference, my favourite scent)
Handheld fan
Headphones
Battery powered tea lights (I highly doubt I'll use them but just in case)
Sleep mask
Water bottle with straw

Toiletries:
Paracetamol
Mini shower gel
Mini shampoo
Mini conditioner
Mini dry shampoo
Deodorant
Migraine strips (those cooling strips that you stick on your head)
Hairbrush
Bobbles
Flannels
CARMEX lip balm
Ear plugs (don't even know why I'm taking these but hey)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Towel

After birth bag:
Spritz for Bits
Maternity pads (I've got 10 in my bag)
TENA lady (adult nappies, been very highly recommended)
Nipple cream
Nipple pads

Clothes:
Nightie
Comfy bra for labour
Socks
Dressing gown
Maternity leggings
PJs
Nursing bra
Slippers
Flip flops
MASSIVE knickers (pack of 5)
2x black loose t shirts
Hoodie

Baby bag:
Swaddle blanket
Muslin cloths
2x hats
3x up to 9lbs vest
1x up to 10lbs vest
1x up to 7.5lbs vest
2x up to 9lbs sleepsuit
2x up to 10lbs sleepsuit
Cotton wool
Water wipes (I know they don't like you using wipes but a lot of people have said those first poos are impossible to clean so taking just in case)
Nappies (10 in size 1, 10 in the size up)
Blanket
Car seat

Partners bag:
Tablet
Power bank
Phone chargers
Spare headphones
Snacks
T shirt
Toothbrush
Toothpaste

I also have a bag in the car of spare bits we may not need:
Spare blanket
Full change of clothes for DP
More maternity pads
More TENA lady

I have one of those mini cabin luggage suitcases packed for me, and the changing bag for baby.

In my bag I have:
Black nightie (for labouring in)
2 pairs clean PJs (for after)
Towel
Flip flops (for shower and ward)
Pack of big black pants
Full pack of maternity pads (20)
Breast pads (10)
Lanolin nipple cream
Spritz for bits
Arnica tablets
Couple of stretchy crop top bras
Phone charger
Mini toiletries
Tens machine
Vaseline
Going home outfit
Maternity notes.

For baby I have:
2 x newborn outfits (sleepsuit, short sleeve vest, hat)
2 x up to 1 month outfits
Nappies (25), 1 pack water wipes, handful of nappy sacks
Muslins x 3
Baby blanket
Cardigan (to go home)

Oh and snacks for me - nutrigrain bars, chocolate and lucozade. Breastfeeding left me ravenous last time!

Thanks all a few more bits to add to my list! I'd never heard about spritz for bits! Will deffo be investing in that!

Possibly a stupid question but assuming I need a couple of nappies in my labour bag for as soon as baby is born along with the outfit? Or is this not necessary because they don't poo for a while?

Definitely will need nappies fairly soon but my dd was just naked on my chest for while doing skin to skin contact and then the first try to feed.

DD1 pooed before birth and DD2 pooed on me on the way out.

Hi,

We made a video about this which may be of help. You may not need all the items, but it might give you a few ideas.

Take as little as possible and leave a bag at home for a longer stay would be my advice. You don't want to be lugging loads of unnecessary stuff round the hospital.

Planned section I took
2 nighties
Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant)
Flip flops
Breastfeeding bra and pads
Maternity pads
Painkillers
Phone charger
Snacks
Water bottle
Outfit for you to go home in (something loose fitting)

3 newborn sleep suits
3 newborn vests
Pack of nappies
Wipes
Hat
Cardigan
Blanket

Couple of bodysuits, couple of sleepsuits, blanket, nightwear (for after giving birth, use a hospital gown before!) going home clothes, towel, nighttime absorbency sanitary towels, wash kit, nappies. You really don't need much else - someone can fetch extra if a longer stay is needed