What to pack in a hospital bag?!

[Catlovermumof1]

Hello, my baby is due just after Christmas so I want to be as prepared as possible. I want to start getting things together for my hospital bag but I have no clue what to pack, everywhere I look it says something different?

Also what sort of bag is best to take, just a little suitcase and bag for baby??

Please help!! 😭

I took one bag for me and one for baby. For baby I took a few outfits, hat, blanket, nappies, wipes. For me clothes, snacks, slippers, drinks, lip balm, pads, toiletries, nipple cream. I definitely took too much but I was only in one night!

I took a medium wheeled suitcase, and used backing cubes inside for me and baby.

For baby, I took:
Pre made formula
3 sleepsuits (first size, from next)
3 vests (first size, from next)
A pack of nappies
A pack of water wipes
A cellular blanket

For me:
A pair of pyjamas
A pair of shorts (post natal wards are hotter than the sun!)
2 vests/2 t shirts
A pair of socks
A water spray (from boots)
Toiletry bag (2 in 1 shampoo & conditioner, travel shower gel, good moisturiser, toothbrush & toothpaste & deodorant)
Big comfy knickers
Maternity pads (double the amount you think you'll need)
Phone charger

I also had a bag of snacks. Although I didn't eat during labour, once dd was born, all I wanted to do was eat!
I had:
Dried fruit
Cereal bars
Small concentrates robinsons juice
Ready salted crisps
Chocolate
(And I also sent DH to subway!)

Less than you think you will need… it’s hard enough getting used to the boiling ward and the baby without having to rummage to find the one thing you need at the bottom of your bag :) I took one holdall with:
Me:

• loose black pjs which doubled up as day wear
• shorts and vest pj set
• rubber flip flops (you wont want to bother with slippers - imagine the germs!!!)
• pair of nice socks, you will be freezing after birth
• mat pads
• massive black kickers x 4 (some I just chucked too as got stained (TMI sorry)

-vest with clips for attempting Brest feeding and another BF bra

• toiletries - the hospital won’t even have soap, and you will want to scrub yourself after birth (blood, poo, everything inbetween everywhere ) so pack a lovely soap, plus nice spray deo and moisturizer so you can at lest feel kind of fresh inbetween bleeding everywhere
• snack bars
• phone charger wirh long cable
• eye mask and ear plugs- the ward is never dark or quiet. From experience the baby will sleep most it’s first night so take advantage and give yourself the best chance for some rest!!
• very important- ibuprofen!! As meds are distributed on a rota / often not received when asked for, just take your own. I had horrible cramping post birth so was great to just have pain relief when I needed it. They only give you ibu or paracetamol unless you have had a c section so easier to just have your own

Baby

• 2 sets of first size vest and onsie and 2 sets of newborn vest and onsie. First baby was 7lb and second 8,5 so both times good to have a variety
• ready made aptimil. We got though one box in our day and a half stay. Sooo much easier than powder/liquid formula as they come in little bottles already sterile, so one less thing to faff about
• muslin
• blanket (they provide them too at hospital but nice to have our own)
• one pack wipes, sandwhich bag of nappies. Prob no need for nappy rash creams etc, keep it simple

Other useful thoughts

• snacks; mine were mainly sweet, wish I had some more savoury!
• got husband to bring lots of water - the stuff in the jugs is always lukewarm and you must hydrate on the ward / to start repairing your body.
• I put the baby outfits in sandwich bags according to size and included hats, gloves for ease
• I took an iPad but if you are in for a short stay prob not needed. Wifi is pretty poo in the hospital I was in too so would need to come loaded already
• the hospital will provide towels, don’t weigh yourself down with them. Same for pillows, I see people say to bring one but honestly prob more effort than worth.
• as you can see, I took the less is more approach. The first time around having multiple bags was such a bother in the small space you have, just keep it simple,l. If worried you can always pack a back up bag for your partner to bring if your stay ends up being longer, but you will need less then you’d think.

Lastly, if you have a straightforward birth, push for your discharge as soon as you can, otherwise it’s easy to miss the next round of baby testing which you need to have done (hearing check, NIPE etc) and end up staying longer then needed. The staff are great but with shift changes / other priority cases it’s easy to be forgotten when you just want to go home so don’t be afraid to repeat to everyone who comes by that you want to be discharged ASAP and when will your tests be- sadly pester power seemed to be the way to get home!

Good luck OP x

Everyone says the wards are hot but I was freezing! And I gave birth in an August heatwave! Maybe they had issues with the aircon 😂. I'm pregnant with my 2nd and will def pack a cosy hoody just in case!