What to pack in hospital bag - tips for a FTM?

[oldermama2021]

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering what I should be packing in a hospital bag for both me and the baby? How soon should I do this? Was there anything you would recommend taking? Also do you buy disposable pants, bigger pants, what maternity pads are the best etc? Any help that you can give would be really appreciated. Thank you.

I have 2 DCs 10 & 5

As with all things baby, in reality you need less than you might think. But remember this is your baby, bring what you want.

I would start packing at around 35/36 weeks just so that you have a go bag just incase you decide to pop early. You can do it whenever youre ready.

For you -

□ A nightie you'd be comfortable giving birth in, getting mucky, and that you can do skin to skin in - so something they could put baby up and under directly after their born. (I wore the same one for all of my births and now that I'm done having kids, I've made 2 quilts with it in patchwork I cleaned it before obv, I am extra though...)

□ slippers. Hospital floors are cold.

□A change of clothes to go home in

□A nursing bra if youre planning on breastfeeding

□LANOLIN if youre planning on breastfeeding!!

□underwear. A few more than you'll think is necessary. I chose netty because those were the sexiest things ive ever seen and were comfortable after both a natural labour and a csection.

□ Your normal toiletries

□ Hand sanitiser

□ 2 packs of thick maternity pads Your regular medication, if you are on any.

□Paracetemol

□ Your notes

□ Your birth plan

For Bub

☆12 nappies, size 1. Babies poo and pee a LOT and Meconium is the stuff of the devil.

☆ 4 sleep suits and 4 body suits

☆5 muslin cloths

☆2 blanket - you can't take the hospital ones

☆2 hats

☆2 Scratch mits. Babies nails are LONG when theyre born.

☆Going home outfit.

for DP - they get snacky and bored and tired (you can suggest they do their own but more often than not, they wont, so pack something for them too).

○ Chocolate coved raisins/nuts/crisps
○ Breakfast bars
○ Energy drinks
○ ipad
○ EVERYONES contact numbers

This is completely optional but

For the midwives -

CHOCOLATES/BISCUITS

You dont need to do this but both times I gave birth I was able to give gifts to the other ladies on the ward as a kind of memory thing, I'm still in touch with one of the ladies and we just had csections on the same day, but I dont know what is happening with covid.

Oh and DONT bring baby wash with you. The midwives will just give you water to top and tail.

All of the midwives ive ever known (a fair few) have all hated baby wipes in the first few days too. Cotton balls and water work perfectly fine.

More dark coloured bottoms and pants than you expect. Had a catheter in for a bit and it meant my maternity pad leaked which was annoying.

Lightweight pyjamas - most hospital wards are hot - winter weight pyjamas were not useful at all!

Nursing/button up tops.

Savoury snacks as well as sweet stuff in case your baby decides to feed all night like both mine did. It's a very long time from ward dinner (5.30 pm) to ward breakfast (7 at the earliest) if you're awake the whole time (thanks kids!). Would avoid stuff with chocolate on the outside as it gets sticky in the hot ward!

Pp lists are good but pack more than 12 nappies and try to pack at around 30 weeks. Usually mw say pack around 3 days worth of stuff. Don’t forget change and phone charger

I returned from hospital recently and took loads of stuff with me. The thing I found most useful was a large water bottle which comes with a straw. They brought around a jug of water each morning which I transfered to the bottle and made it loads easier throughout the day.

Thank you everyone - great suggestions. Some great tips - thank you.

Do you recommend pjs for afterwards rather than nighties? Also would you suggest cheap bigger sizes pants that can then be thrown away?

Are short sleeve bodysuits easier to put on than the long sleeve ones under the sleepsuits?

Sorry for all the questions. Thank you.

I bought a multi pack of plain black pants ("full briefs") from m&s in a size or two up from what I usually wear. I knew I was having a c-section and needed them to be high waisted and sit above the scar. I still have them, a good wash and they're fine. I'll dig them out for this baby at some point!
I know some people rave about the tena lady disposable pants too

A towel! I totally forgot to bring a towel and was in for days and desperately wanted a shower afterwards to feel clean.

Also I'd suggest bringing both a nightie and pjs. My waters soaked my nightie and the midwife had to put it on the radiator to dry as I didn't bring a spare.

I would also add a hand fan/flannel for during labour.
A plastic jug. Helpful for pouring warm water over tender bits when you go to the loo, afterwards

I was kept in for 6 days, after the birth. Recommend having a second bag packed, which your partner can bring in, if you are kept in.

Spare pillow or two
A warm dressing gown - my hospital was boiling in the day, freezing at night.
Bed socks - see above
Phone charger
Snacks for you
I also found I needed our baby car seat. Fab for strapping baby in to take into the bathroom whilst you have a shower/bath/poo

You may want to choose a breast pump, if you are planning on feeding - so that if feeding doesn't establish easily, your partner can grab the one you want to bring in. In which case you also need sterilising stuff/bottles/teats. No need to buy them all, but be ready for someone to grab them for you if needed.

Just remembered that my NCT teacher advised us to take in something very strange. She recommended condoms, which could be filled with water and frozen to sit on to soothe the parts other things cannot reach!

Can't say that they came out of the hospital bag.

3 separate bags. One for you, one for baby, one for birthing partner. You decide what goes into yours and baby's bags but get birthing partner to actually pack them. This is my top tip. S/he will then know exactly what's in there and where it is. When you're in the throes of labour you don't want to be asked which pocket the TENS machine is in, or whatever.

Wow! Thank you so much for all of the tips - these are great. Great to have advice from people who have been there before.

Where is the best place to buy nighties/pjs? Did you buy bigger sized ones or maternity? Also do they need to have a button front for skin to skin contact?

A long phone charger! I got a 3m one from Argos.

No need for the paper pants but get some large black ones and plenty of maternity pads.

I'd go with a nightie in case you have a catheter. I had a nursing one from mothercare but have no idea where to buy such things now!

I used tena pants for the first few days, much more comfortable than maternity pads.

I'd also pack a large mug for cups of tea, the tiny disposable ones on the ward were useless. Also an extra long phone charging cable so you don't have to crawl around under your bed to find it and you can still use your phone while it's charging.

Good lists but take food for you that's shelf stable and microwaveable ideally, I was starving after giving birth and nothing was open to buy food (thus admittedly is pre just eat but around here we still don't have Deliveroo)

Get a big water bottle with a straw built in. You don’t want to be fiddling about trying to drink from a cup when in labour (or after if you have an epidural like me and couldn’t move for a while)

Flip flops for going to the bathroom and for showering after (better than slippers if the ward is hot)

I also had a small hand held fan and some water mist, I found that really helped during labour when I was boiling hot, it helped to keep me cool

Like PP, really long charging cables for phones/iPads/kindle etc

Plenty of snacks for you

Double the amount of maternity pads you like you’ll need. Also buy some massive cheap knickers for holding said pads in place

Good luck OP!

TENs machine was a god send for me in the first stages of labour. Boots do them (as do most large pharmacies)

Agree with separate bags for you and baby. Put the essential stuff on the top so it's easy to access - I've had a spinal twice so needed the assistants to get my stuff out of my bags because you can't move. It's much easier if your pads and pants are right at the top.

Plastic carriers for putting your dirty stuff in.

This time I took a nice pack of face wipes and fancy face cream so that made me feel half way human.

A straw or bottle with straw for drinking while in contorted positions. And a bath plug for when they offer you a room with en-suite bath. But no plug. And you desperately want that bath....