Hospital Bag - Quantities

[RWK29]

In the event that you had to pack a hospital bag for you and baby and nobody else was allowed back to the hospital to bring you more supplies, how many of each item would you pack?

• outfits for yourself/pyjamas/nighties
• outfits for baby

My hospital currently aren’t even allowing another bag of supplies to be brought in from the car if you’ve to stay an extra few days so trying to be prepared! FTM and have no idea what I’m likely to need? 🙈 also any other items you would definitely recommend? 😊

I've definitely over packed but I wanted to have everything in case my husband can't bring things in

I packed 3 sets of PJs and 3 Nighties (in case of section)

Then first outfit for after birth and going home outfit (Inc. a cardigan and wool hat)

And 6 x vests, 6 x babygrows

@New2020 I’d rather overpack than underpack so I’m sure I’ll be the same! What size clothes have you packed for baby? 🤔

I’ll be doing the same, would rather end up with too much than too little. Taking some newborn and some ‘up to one month’ for baby, though I don’t think he’ll be very big

@BuffaloCauliflower That’s what I’m doing too. I don’t want to commit to just one size 🙈

@RWK29 I packed newborn and 2 sets of 0-3mnths (vest and babygrow). I'm sure I won't use the bigger size but it's just in case

Don't pack 0-3 months... they are massive on newborns. Go for newborn and tiny baby, unless your baby is measuring large.

Annoyingly what you need depends on how long you are in hospital for, which you c any predict! Id a baby in December. In hindsight, I’d bring more nighties (at least 5) if you are more comfortable wearing something when in Labour - as if your waters break, they stay flowing, and you can quickly run through clothes! So not necessarily needed just for c section :-)

For baby - depending on the time of year a “home outfit” will never be seen (hospital will ask you to leave with baby in a car seat and most will be covered in a blanket). They need a hat, and a few vests and babygrows.

I wish I’d brought more tiny baby sizes (and size zero nappies) but I know some babas never fit them!

This is making feel like I’ve under packed and I’m going to have another look through my hospital bag.
I packed one nightie for labour and then 2xpairs of PJs
For baby I’ve packed 2xnewborn sleepsuits and vests and 2x the same in up to 1 month. A cardigan, blanket, hats and muslins & nappies, wipes cotton wool

I was induced, epidural, catheter, IV antibiotics and I still only stayed in one night/two days so if you pack for 3 nights you should have plenty.
Loads of pants & then some fresh socks & t shirt for each day. Couple of pairs of maternity leggings or similar comfies. Cosy hoody. Two or three nighties.
For baby I took three lots of babygrows and vest in newborn and three in first size, used most of them as those first poos are pretty special 😂 first size was too big for DD but didn't matter too much as she was only fast asleep or lying still feeding anyway. Plenty of nappies (and water wipes if you like, you'll get advised cotton wool but getting water and a pot for it could be a chore.
Don't forget snacks and things as well as you might not be able to go very far at all due to newborn tags- I'd been visiting the cafe between meals during induction but that all stopped when DD arrived, was confined to postnatal ward!

Mine are packed. I have 2 nighties 1 outside outfit for myself. This is still trackies and a jumper Haha. 3 bottles of lucozade, 1 bag of sweets for me and partner. Mini shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothpaste, toothbrush. Wet wipes, hair brush and hair bands.
3 sleep suits, 3 vests, 1 bib, 1 hat, 1 pair of scratch mittens, 1 pair of sock s for baby. 2 baby blankets, nappies, dummies, wipes, disinfecting wipes.
I am hoping this time it's going to be a but quicker than my first but plan for a long time it's better to be a few things over than under, bring a phone charger! Haha x

For what it's worth both myself and my SIL were in (separately!) for five days - both due to concerns about infection in the baby. The babies had a 5-day course of antibiotics which seems standard for those circumstances. It's impossible to guess but worst case scenario you can wear a hospital gown and baby stays in a nappy/ wrapped in a blanket I suppose? Also bear in mind the wards are hot so you don't need loads of layers or anything.

Oh and pads and like 5 pairs of primark pants! Haha

@MissingCoffeeandWine That’s the problem 🙈 it’s trying to pack for something that you have no idea about 😂 I’ve packed 2 big super lightweight nighties for birth and 2 other comfy breastfeeding friendly ones for after. They take up next to no room in my bag so that’s a plus 👍🏻 I’ve chucked in a pair of pjs and leggings/baggy T-shirt and Cardi for coming home.

For baby I’ve packed some newborn and some up to 1 month sizes. Baby looking likely to be around the 8lb mark so Newborn might be too small 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also not bothering with a “going home” outfit as such because as you’ve said, it’s barely seen plus I just think little babygrows are so cute and comfy lol. I haven’t bought any actual outfits as such!

Thanks @Heyha 😊 I started packing based on 3 nights then any extra space I’ve filled with a few more bits and pieces lol. 🤣🤣 I had a feeling that might be the case for baby! Lots of lists that I’ve seen have said “pack one outfit as baby’s first outfit and one for going home, plus an extra vest” 🤔 was pretty sure that wasn’t going to be enough 😂 I think I have 4 vests and 4 babygrows in newborn and same in up to 1 month. Have also popped in a couple of wee hats, bibs, muslins, mits & socks (although all the babygrows have inbuilt ones - you just never know 🙈😂) and a wee cardi for coming home.

I was in for 3 days, I knew in advanced that I would so I had an idea of how much we might need. We used 6 vests and sleepsuits all asda first size (upto 9lb) she was 6lb 13 and they were big on her but adequate. We considered buying tiny baby but most were upto 7lb and we decided against it.
Sainsburys upto 1month is up 10lb which might be a good bet if your are expecting a bigger baby.
I had a nursing nightie and bed shirt to sleep in and 3 sets of leggings and t shirts for the day buy had to get my oh to bring in vest tops as the t-shirt were too warm (August birth)- the vest tops were easier to breastfeed in too as I would wear the strapless and pull them down I had 2 nursing bras.
I used 6 disposables pads and 14 cloth, about 25-30 nappies.
My ward provided towels but I had packed one just in case.
Sweets/snacks/fruit juice... I had all my labour food with me as I didn't have time to eat any. Wine gums were particularly helpful for the early morning feeds and to bridge the gap between waking and breakfast!
We had a sling to take the baby out of the hospital in as our car seat can't be removed from the car and didn't bother with going home outfits /photos.
Long charging cables for phones and tablets and a set of headphones.
I had a sport bottle (some use spritz for bits) that I could use to pour in me if the early wees and poos were uncomfortable but I didn't need them others from my antenatal class did though.
Remember any routine medications, they come around periodically to ask if you need any pain relief but you might want your own as a backup.

Thanks @Superscientist 😊 I’ve packed newborn and up to 1 month for baby as I know growth scans can be very inaccurate 🤔 Great tips on everything else - I’ll pop some pain relief in my bag 😊

Just don't forget to tell them if you take anything from your med stash, I took a ranitidine from my own supply while I was on the antenatal ward and when they came to give me one before going to delivery (incase of later c section), got a bit of a tiny telling off

Sounds like you've a good supply of clothing for all eventualities too! Don't forget to slip in some little foodie treats for you though, hospital food is ok as fuel but that's about it!

Following as I am planning on packing this weekend

It's a while off for me but when I had my first baby, he was a whisker off 9lb and first size stuff fit him fine in the hospital.

Take your own pain killers, a six foot charger lead and a quick charge plug. Earphones and something downloaded to watch on a tablet.

How many maternity pads are people taking?

@aToadOnTheWhole That’s good to know!! We’re forecast to be about 8-8.5lbs and I was convinced the first size stuff would be far too small 😊

@GhostWorld I’ve just chucked a couple of full packs in my bag. I’m sure hospital will have plenty if you run out but I had a bit extra space so thought I might as well take what I could 😊

I had one packet in my bag plus 12 reuseable cloth pads.

One thing I didn't think about was having to wear them in labour. My waters went at midnight and the only thing i had at hand as a pathetic panty liner. They gave me a maternity pad when I went in to be checked then I dug at more when I got home for the leaky waters and muscusy discharge (apologies if tmi!)

Clean shirt for your dh. They gave ds to him for a hold and we what all over him, quite literally.

Wear their hospital nighties as much as poss; save your own stuff. Bras, big knickers and twice as many pads as you think. Lots of drinks change, chargers, head phones.