Hospital bag sizes

[2020firsttimemum]

Hey everyone,

What sort of size hospital bag would be ideal? I'm going to take one for baby and one for me but not sure what size I will need. A lot of places say to pack dressing gown / towels etc in case I have to stay in and that makes me think I need a fairly big one! If anyone has any links to certain ones that would be helpful too :)

I took a weekend bag for my first, ended up staying longer than expected due to complications so had to get hubby to bring an extra backpack full of bits for me and baby. Planning on using the weekend bag again, but also packing another bag and leaving at home for hubby to grab just in case. There wasn't much space once on the postnatal ward for belongings so I wouldn't take more than necessary :)

I think most people take a weekend bag or small wheely case then maybe another one left in the car or near the door at home so your partner can pick it up if you end up staying longer.
Packing cubes are good to help you keep the stuff arranged inside (eg bits for during birth, bits for after, stuff for baby...)

I have a weekend bag for me and a separate one for baby and a small hand size one for hubby but he will leave his in car until after birth, also I bought extra large sandwich/freezer type bags and in each one i have put babygrow,that,best,muslin,bib, nappies and wrote on each one what size they are as i have packed newborn,upto 1 month and 0-3 so means hubby can just grab out what size and all together x

I had a flight bag for me and I changing rucksack for baby. Had to stay in a week and husband just bought extra bits in as needed (as above there isn't a massive amount of room and you m may have to move from place to place so less is better)

I'm using a hand luggage suitcase. Bags stress me out trying to find things where as in my suitcase I have one side for baby & one for me!

I used hand luggage sized case, my stuff on one side and babies on the other.

I’m taking a roll along and putting everything in it. My hospital (StGeorges London) has a Covid policy on not allowing additional items/bags in once you’re in, and asked women to take everything they will need. Additionally, I’ve heard the nurse/MW will help you to the doors when you get collected to go home / carrying more than 1 bag + a baby is plenty for me to cope with after a delivery!

I'm taking a full on suitcase and weekend bag. Might sound OTT but at my hospital it is now no visitors including the father post birth so I can't rely on my husband being able to bring things in for me and need to make sure I've got all bases covered

I took a huge weekend bag with my first three DC and a small cabin sized suitcase with DC4. I always overpacked tbh but felt it was better to be over prepared rather than underprepared. Planning on taking a couple of backpacks this time so one for me, one for baby.

I had a holdall/overnight bag because I wasnt planning to be in long. I thought if I needed more stuff my husband could just bring it along when he visited each day. It turned out fine, I was in 20 hours the first time and 6 hours the second.

however I hear that many hospitals currently arent allowing visitors to the postnatal ward, so I would go for a bigger bag with anything you might need as nobody will be able to bring you extra supplies.

One woman I saw had a full on suitcase full of stuff- her partner could hardly lift it!

I’m taking a small hand luggage sized suitcase then a separate bag for snacks /chargers/anything that’s a quick grab rather than a prepackable essential. I’ve heard women have to carry baby and bags out themselves so if I have a wheely suitcase I don’t have to worry about struggling carrying hold bags and a baby (especially as the car seat will be in the car!)

Honestly you don’t need half as much as you think, I packed 2 big bags last time with things I thought I needed, turns out I bought so much unnecessary crap that was never touched and my husband had to go and grab bits I’d forgotten! I ended up staying in 3 days last time (hoping to be discharged straight from labour ward this time)

Pads and nappies are the most important thing. Shower gel and a flannel is also important (I didn’t take any last time because I can’t shower in other people’s bathrooms, I just can’t do it, anxiety related problem) but it turns out they get you to wash your bits with a bowl nearly straight after labour (it’s a scary sight unfortunately, swelling you never knew could occur, nobody warned me) and they use your own shower gel for that and only provide hot water and basically kitchen roll if you don’t have them.

I didn’t wear a bra the entire time I was there, no point, there’s nothing to do but stay in bed and look after baby so as long as you have a button down nighty of some description you’ll be fine. And hair bobbles to bung your hair up. I took makeup last time for some bizarre reason, didn’t once leave my bag, you’ve got no mirror to put it on with anyway!

The food you get at hospital is plenty (I found it too much and actually gave a lot of my leftovers to my husband) so don’t worry about food (except for during labour)

Bring a book/kindle/charger for your phone, it’s tremendously boring in hospital, you will have a LOT of free time, especially now there’s no visitors in postnatal. Oh and if you have to stay in try and get a window bed, I went stir crazy and I could actually see outside, I dread to think what it would have been like without the sunlight/outside view.

I have packed a hand lugagge size wheely case for me, and changing bag size bag for baby. Due to current regulations dh won't be allowed back in with anything needed so I have packed more that i would have done incase.
There are some snacks in bag, plus things like nappies and pads which will get used so bags should be lighter leaving (but main bag on wheels anyway). Will get dh to take away anything dirty straight away also.
Also have packed sling into bag as will need to carry baby plus bags to door alone.

Thanks everyone for your replies, really helpful