Size of your hospital bag....

[Avearage]

So I'm looking at bags.... I dont want to be wandering in like I'm moving in.... But also don't want to have multiple bags!!
What are people taking anymone willing to share pics 🤣

I took a small cabin suitcase, which fitted pretty much everything. And a small handbag with things I'd need easy access to (by which I mean snacks...and my phone...).

Weekend bag.

If you want to take a lot just put the bare essentials in a small bag and have whatever else you want extra in the boot of the car. You can turn up all easy breezy, confident light packer and no one will ever know your secret!

I had a large duffel, I think it was 60 litres . That was just my stuff too ( even stuffed a pillow in there). I ended up using absolutely everything as I was in the hospital for 5 days .

Had a wheely cabin bag. Masses of snacks, all I'd need for what I assumed would be days in labour.

Arrived, gave birth 2 hrs later, left 6 hrs after that. Still getting through the snacks now!

I have a cabin suitcase for me, a nike gym bag for my partner and the pram bag for the baby... plus an asda bag full of snacks 😂 and thats the essentials so who gives a shit you do you hun. Pack that shit 💁🏽‍♀️

I’m taking a medium wisely suitcase I think it’s 64cm tall or something.
I’m doing this because our current hospital restrictions are birth partner for active labour only. No partners or visitors on antenatal or postnatal. Pick up from WHU reception only. Maximum of one drop off to WHU reception before discharge (this is usually the baby car seat)
I am taking something on wheels as I’ll have to move it.
I’m going to have everything we need as once you are in there is no going out, none of the usually DH can nip to the car, or to ASDA or even to the on site cafe. Once you are in you’re in The delivery suite until Post - baby.
So I want to make sure I have everything.

I have a cabin size case, and a weekend bag
My dressing gown alone takes up half the bag

Yes. "Pack that shit" But make sure your birth partner is there to shift it. Dont expect the Midwife to move it all for you after your birth partner has left!

It’s an older version one of these
Very dull.
My parents got it me for my eighteenth birthday - it’s served me very well
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-melbourne-66cm-4-wheel-medium-suitcase-black/p4796066

@Joans3rddaughter 100% agree. That’s why I’ve gone larger, but on 4 wheels so I know 100% I can move it. Our MW’s have said they are happy to carry baby in arms or car seat to main reception to meet dad/partner/taxi or whatnot. But that they can’t help transporting luggage. + with all the restrictions on who’s on the ward and so on it’s seeming in my hospital at least, highly unlikely unless you’re dead lucky and discharged from the delivery suite, that your BP will be able to haul much about.

I took a wheely cabin case last time - useful because you can open it right up to get at what you need instead of digging through. I also used packing cubes inside because I like my bags to be really organised e.g one for snacks, one for labour items, one for me post labour and one for baby.
Another tip I had which I found useful last time was to pack the babies clothes as sets so a vest, sleepsuit and hat rolled up together, so when you want to change them you can just grab a whole fresh set.

I've packed mine today and put it all in a medium case and snacks in a separate bag. I've no idea how people fit it in smaller - clearly I've got a lot but want to be prepared 😂.

Someone suggested to me when the time comes, to lay all the stuff for Labour out on bed then get your partner to pack it, that way you know it's been packed and he knows where to go to when you ask him to get something. Don't know if it works in practice. They also went for couple bags, with a back up bag at home if they were stuck in longer than planned as they knew partner would bring wrong stuff in.

I'm bored with lockdown so already planning the packing and I'm only 24+4, my last baby I think I just gathered bits up in labour 😂, now how organised is two organised!!
I'm not physically packing yet as waiting to see if placenta moves.... If it doesn't guessing a section which probably means I will need a few more bits and pieces...

I’m taking my changing bag (Jem and bea Jemima so pretty big) and then getting DH to bring his own stuff plus another bag with baby’s bits in

I had a cabin bag for me, a small bag for baba and my handbag. Then I had a c-section and complications so in for a lot longer. Hubby had to buy/ bring me a lot more so when we left I'm sure it looked like we were moving house!

I have a suitcase that is very nearly full - so will have to take an extra bag for snacks / pillow etc. I was worried about taking such a big bag, but I’d rather have more than I need and to use it than end up wishing I’d taken something. As my boyfriend said, it’s a hospital, not a RyanAir check in desk so take whatever size of bag you want!

I've had to pack loads as I may be there for weeks or months (baby is gonna need surgeries). I am going to feel like a right idiot coming in with 4 small to mid-sized bags, but my hospital is not allowing hubs back in after the birth so I have to have everything with me.

I used a medium sized ellesse duffel bag with my daughter, it's just big enough for mine and babys things so I'm using it again this time, with my oldest son I used a small suitcase and wish I'd packed more because he was in hospital for 2 weeks and with my middle son I used 2 massive duffel bags and didnt need barely anything in them as we was discharged the same day. Me and my partner dont bother packing stuff for him because my labours are very quick and with the current pandemic he can only stay for 2 hours after I've given birth anyway.

I refused to back a hospital bag, even when I was 2 weeks overdue. I was in such denial 😂 In the end DP chucked everything in DD's fabric toy tote thing. Good thing too, I was in for 4 days

I found I needed a lot less with a c section as I was in the hospital for much less time - no labour and home the next day. I took a backpack for me and a backpack for the baby. Just remember big knickers, phone charger and comfy clothes to go home in plus nappies and a couple of baby grows and you're sorted.

I had a labour bag with snacks, jammies and clothes to go home in and toiletries. Was a regular back pack size. I also had a changing bag with baby's stuff.

In the boot of my car i had extra baby stuff and for me if I was in longer. (Not essential as dh could have got it but made me feel better)