Hospital bag - top tips

[FebruaryJuly]

I am writing down a list of what I need to pack in my bag.

With Covid, the midwives have advised that we make sure partner doesn't have to go home to collect anything again as once he leaves the hospital, he is not allowed back in (as long as he stays, he can stay as long as he likes). We can leave things in the car to collect if needed (extra bits).

I want to be extra sure that we have everything and don't run out. Obviously, we want to be out ASAP, but also want to be prepared for having to stay as with my last, we had to stay for 3 nights.

Please can you give some tips on what to pack, including quantity of each. My last baby was 5 years ago and I really can't remember!

Enough pyjamas for yourself, I say this because I bled right through mines 🤦🏽‍♀️

TENS machine (but really have it strapped on you as fast as you can once contractions start)
Snacks, snacks and more Snacks
Energy tablets. You might need them.
Straws as you can't always deal with drinks.
Arnica tablets to help reduce swelling (so bloody worth it)
Dark knickers, dark pj's, dark towels. (lots of knickers and PJ's)
Slippers
Flip flops for the bathroom
Toiletries
Bottle for putting water in when you need to wee
Pads. I loved the natracare ones as they were thick but breathable. Plastic backed ones made things smell bad fast...
Lansinoh cream and their breast pads. Best ones by far.
Kindle/books/mag if you end up in slow labour or on the ward for a while after.
More snacks.
Money for the machine that gives you the TV card
Change for the car park just in case.
Clothes for baby in plastic zip lock bags in different sizes just in case they don't fit the ones you expect.
Nappies in different sizes.
Formula in those pre-made bottles if you plan on formula feeding or if there's an issue.
Oaty biscuits (great for snacks plus help with milk production)
Drinks!

Um.... can't think of much more but I'm sure I've forgotten things.

I'd overpack the car then you'll feel prepared.

Oh! Those c-section stretch pants the NCT used to sell. Ugly but comfy.

I bought massive black granny cotton knickers at least two sizes bigger than normal to allow for pads.

Definitely arnica tablets and flip flops for the shower.

I packed a couple of extra bags for the boot of the car which had more clothes for baby, extra snacks & an extra towel in. Easier to run to the car to get than popping home. I was due in the summer though and in the middle of a heatwave & wasn't sure how long it'd last so didn't want to get caught out!

Oh and a spare phone charger really came in handy.

I wrote my list and tips in another thread last week and I can’t be arsed to copy & paste it, so here’s a link to that thread instead.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4207916-Hospital-Bag

Yes! Charger!!!

Chapstick/Vaseline.
My mouth and lips got so dry

My daughter is 11 now and our only child and I always remember that me and her dad packed everything for the hospital except one thing .
Baby mittens, little gloves .lol
The midwife came around and said she needs mittens as she has long nails and will scratch her face .lol
We put little socks on her hands till we got her home.
Good luck
Xx

Like those said above just overly pack the car! Lol extra jammies, towels, baby clothes etc. From my first birth I reeber wishing i'd brought 3 things.

Id assumed cause i was in a hospital i wouldnt need my own painkillers. I had a headache day after birth and asked for paracetemol, they were so busy and they probably thought a headache it can wait, but the 3 hour wait wasnt pleasant.

A bottle with a straw top type thing so i could hold it at any angle to drink from and let it fall about the bed without spilling.

Throat or cough sweets! Gas and air gave me really dry, itchy throat!

If hubby is allowed to stay as long as he wants without leaving a pillow and blanket would be good for him even just in the car and not packed taking up space!

Good luck

Take those incontinence pants instead of pads, saves washing, get a size bigger than you think you will need, Amazon sell the Tena Maxi ones in boxes of 40. A drinks flask with a sports top to keep drinks cold, any favourite herbal tea bags, snacks, crisps, chocolate, biscuits, cosy socks with none slip bottoms in case your feet swell too much for slippers, painkillers, headphones, lip balm, a pillow, squirty bottle to wash if you have stitches, something to read, arnica tablets, Windeze, squash, energy drink like Lucozade sport, snacks for your other half or something like cupasoups, pot noodles etc as the hospital won't feed him, spare set of clothes for you to come home in if your others get wet or marked. Do a bag for you, one for baby, one for your other half & leave spare nappies, pads or incontinence pants, clothes etc in car boot & he can also collect the car seat when it is time to go home.

The best tip I got was pack some nice shower gel / shampoo for after when you shower. Chocolate, huge pants, charger

Get your partner to pack everything so he knows (hopefully) what is in each bag to get it when you need it! I had 3 bags, one for me, one for baby and one for him. Make sure his bag is full of snacks too. You might not feel like eating but he will! 😂

And sandwich bags to separate stuff within the bags to make it easier to find.

The hospital cubicles are small and not much space. Get a window bay if you can not for the view but for the windiest ledge to store more stuff!

An extra longer charger.

My top tip is to get your birth partner to be the one to put it in the bag so he knows where it is! Nothing like screaming "The white T shirt! The white T shirt!" "Half the bloody stuff is white!" in advanced labour...!

My top tip would be to get things for yourself! Anything baby needs can be easily provided but big comfy knickers, comfy clothes, pads, breast pads etc. can’t.

Also, I had no idea on baby sizes so I took 3 lots in ziplock bags (newborn, up to 8lb and up to 10lb (he was measuring big!) x

Antibac wipes for the bathroom
Food (lots of it)

I had some frozen made up squash in the freezer ready to grab as I left. Hospital is HOT and the little jug of room temperature water just didn't cut it. Ice cold squash however was amazing

I packed in order I'd need things, so things I'd need last would be at the bottom for example (towels for shower, comfy jymas for after). From top to bottom; pre-labour, during and then post labour at the bottom. DD's things in a separate bag in the same order, I also made sure DP new where everything was so he didn't have to ask or didn't take too long finding things and having to rummage through

I'd get the babygrows that have the built in fold over mittens. They are excellent.

I suggest anyone to take in a paper hand held fan - I couldn't believe how hot the post natal ward was and that fan saved me!

Freeze bottles of either squash or water or cartons & take a cool bag with you, you could also freeze some mango or watermelon as well. Hospitals are so warm, those aerosol cans of water or cooling spray are good as well. Freeze packs of wet wipes or wet face cloths in a zip lock bag to keep you cool. Those ready done pots of jelly are nice as well. Take some food for after you have delivered because you can bet you will have just missed a meal by the time you are done or the food won't be any good.

@AngeloMysterioso

Well that is the most helpful list EVER! Thank you!

I had every intention on breastfeeding and it didn’t happen for me and I only took one small pack of the little bottles of paramilitary which go off after a few hours.. they can provide but I felt cheeky for asking so next time I will be taking lots more as I was in for 2 nights after c section.. also baby grows and vests etc little hats.. Comfy clothes and pjs for you are essential along with good underwear. I had an extensive list the first time e.g headphones, little make up bag, books bla bla bla.. they never got used. More of the essentials were what was required the rest of the time I spent sleeping and cooing over my newborn x