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!

**aptamil

Hi there, sorry of some of this is repeated from previous posters. This is just my list, copy/pasted and a few identifiers removed. Sounds like you already have an older child who will also need an overnight bag packed for him/her (unless your child carer is staying at your house? you don't mention)

Once labour starts
1 - Make DC1 any fresh snacks. In my case, making a sandwich, packing fruit, as we were planning on having DC1 stay with an relative, I had to pack sandwich ingredients - on my list, I was very specific about which ingredients and fruit!)
2 - Pack DC1 my tablet device
3 - Pack for me - pack towel, slippers, Robe, bananas, deodorant
4 - Pack for DC1 his pillow, blanket and mattress
5 Pack for me - Camera, tripod
6 Pack for DC1 a few choice favourite toys/books. On my list, I was very specific about which ones!

REMEMBER: Car Seat, Maternity notes

2 bags, 1 straight away, and then 2nd in car boot
Separate toiletry (shower) bag

Food:

• first note, I remembered that my hospital did offer toast in the night
• little champagne, cups
• dark chocolate, Granola bar
• Midwife gift, chocolates

Clothes:

• Old small-ish towel, Slippers, Robe
• maternity night gown with easy boob access, underwear, blood clot socks. An old maternity dress that has easy boob access.
• coming home outfit (also easy boob access)- specifically named dress and cardigan
• Fold up bag for dirty clothes (thinking if there was bloody underwear (wanting this separate from regular clothes)
• DH just brought 2 changes of shirts and fresh underwear. He was wearing jeans I think...
• second bag for DH to take things home in x2

Bag for baby

• 3 onesies short arms, 3 onesies long arms
• x2 hats plus warm hat, - x4 scratch mits
• Blanket, muslin squares
• 15 nappies, water wipes
• cotton wool balls, Olive oil for merconium poo

Toiletries:

• Oat shower wash (found this very gentle on vagina post natal the first time), Shampoo
• Tooth brushes his / hers, toothpaste
• mouthwash
• deodorant his hers
• biooil, Aveeno Hand lotion, chapstick (I read that some ladies lips get chapped in labour - mine didn't either time though!)
• Maternity Pads, Toilet Paper
• Hair brush, hair bands

Gadgets:

• Camera (make sure it is charged, tripod)
• Speaker, Phone playlist, Phone charger (NOTE: second labour was about 2 hours so didn't even have time to make it to a proper delivery room, they had to cart everything to me!)

Bit of a strange one but the second time I also took two wrapped boxes of chocolates for the midwives and two blank tags and a pen. The first time by dh went and got them some chocs and brought them back and took them to the labour ward but second time I wanted to be more organised and give them myself at the time/make sure they actually received them.