Hospital bag essentials for yourself & baby

[Babygray2020]

Hi, what essential and important items would you say should be packed for a hospital bag? For both yourself and baby. Feel like I’m missing some things

Have you had a look at the NHS list?

I would suggest:
Pj's - easy access to breast if you plan to bf
Nursing bras
Lots of knickers
Maternity towels
An outfit to come home in (even as a backup incase your waters break while out)
Thick and warm socks

Nappies in a couple of sizes
Cotton wall
Vests in a couple of sizes
Baby grows in a couple of sizes
Muslins
Blanket
Hats
Coming home outfit (if you fancy it)

I had snacks in my bag for dh and I, but ds arrived 20 minutes after we got to the hospital so there wasn't much hanging around there.

Think that's all, I'm sure there will be things I've forgotten 😂

Phone & charger
Change for vending machine/parking
Towel
Wash stuff
Hair band & brush
Slippers or thick socks
Lots of snacks & cold drinks

I'm in now and one must have was a longer phone cable so it can charge while I sit in bed!!

I would also take some flip flops too, so you can wear them in the shower

Don't know how the hospital you'll give birth is like, but at mine it's HOT, so wouldn't take too warm stuff. I was boiling last time I gave birth and it was March. This tine I'm taking lighter stuff.

Some of those flushable toilet wipes, so much gentler on your skin post birth than hospital toilet roll.

Nightie as well as PJs if you prefer to have PJs. If you end up having a spinal/epidural/C section then they will put in a catheter and in my experience those and PJ bottoms don’t mix! I got ones that were nursing clippy type nighties from Amazon, they were fab.

Long long phone charger and a power bank as a back up.

A V shaped pillow - great for feeding and for getting comfy on hospital beds.

An old dark towel for afterwards and showering - don’t use a new one, I did and got covered in gross black fluff!

@afternoontwee any chance you have a link to those nighties? I'm a PJ person normally!

@Whatnext11 here they are!

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074VWN149?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Hope that link works. The same seller does a pack of three nursing vests that I basically live in at the moment, they were also super useful to have in the hospital.

Phone&charger. You’ll want to take photos but also you’ll be surprised how much newborns sleep, there’s not much else to do other than browse through your phone if you have an extended hospital stay. You could take books or magazines to keep yourself entertained too. Earphones as well if you fancy watching stuff.
MASSIVE granny pants. I never bothered with maternity pants or disposable pants (wasteful), just bought humongous granny knickers from primark and they work well.
Huge pads. You can buy maternity pads from Boots but honestly the night time pads by Kotex are just as good. I know some women prefer incontinence pads.
Lip balm, toothbrush and paste, shower gel, deodorant and shampoo/conditioner
A couple of rubbish nightgowns you don’t mind getting ruined. If you’re planning on breastfeeding then buy button down ones for easy access.
Soft black pyjamas. Black are best for obvious reasons...
change of clothes to go home in

Baby:
A few vests
Few sleep suits
Pack of nappies
Couple of packs of wipes
Nappy sacks
Cardigan and hat
Blanket
Car seat

Lansinoh nipple cream is fantastic if breastfeeding too and I took my Birkenstock’s so I could walk around in them, I’m not really a slipper wearer.
Also a spare pillow! They only usually provide you with one uncomfortable one so I’ve taken my own with all of my births.
Nursing pillow is useful too if you end up having a c-section.

Love a spreadsheet 🙈

(I might add I barely used ANY of this stuff.....!)

Some great suggestions from PP's!

I've also packed one of those aerosol water sprays that I usually take on holiday in case I get too hot