Hospital bag essentials?

[Lafoosa]

Hi all, I'm currently 28+1 and I wanted to start thinking about what I should put in my hospital bag. I'm actually planning a home birth and have had 2 previous home births. I can't remember what I need or what I used though.
My first was born at 40 weeks and my second at 39, so if that's anything to go by I'll probably be a little early again.

So what would you put in a home birth bag? I imagine if I needed to go to the hospital for any reason anything extra I need could just be grabbed by someone else after. So I'm more thinking of having a bag of easy to grab bits for while I'm in labour and for that first couple of days after giving birth. My labours are usually short so I'm not going to need heaps of entertainment, I've never gone over 4 hours from first twinge to baby out.

You'd think after 2 babies I'd remember, but I don't 😂
Thanks.

DS2 is 6 days old and had aimed for a home birth but needed to go in. I packed for a 24 hour stay.

For me - clothes to go home, PJ's, underwear and nursing bras, maternity pads, breast pads and nipple cream, essential toiletries. Snacks and entertainment, charger.
For baby - 3 changes of clothes, newborn nappies and cotton wool. Outdoor suit for going home. Hat.

We ended up staying overnight and I felt I had the right amount of stuff. I also had a second bag packed to leave at home in case we ended up in longer to save DH the stress. Wasn't needed.

There are loads of lists on the Internet you can find. 3 things that aren't on all the lists but I found incredibly useful: 1. Tena pants. My waters broke in hospital and these were a million times better than pads. I actually put a pad inside one at one point. Amazing. Easier after birth as well. 2. Energy drinks. Need a bit of energy fast - does the trick. And you can have it with epidural etc if you end up having one (realise not your plan). 3. A hot water bottle. Basic pain relief at its best. Really helped me after everything started not going to plan and I was stuck in hospital with a failed induction...

Just normal stuff really...change of clothes, underwear...wouldnt care about bras personaly... flip flops for bath... some soap/gel... towel...lady towels... thick zip hoodie or something in case is cold there... hair tie..charger...your fav drink, they've got tea coffee...
For baby again normal stuff.... clothes nappies wipes

I forget dummies and I needed them with my second as she was quite unsettled overnight . I would also say a nice fleece blanket from home and even one of your pillows just for some home comfort . A tens machine was really useful for me for labour but I guess if you have a home-birth unlikely you would need to bring that should you be admitted .

@SaraKitty we're definitely not doing dummies this time, did them with my second and it's way more hassle than its worth. It's so stressful trying to find one when they're screaming and they've managed to lose all of them 😅

I'm planning on a water birth at home so a tens machine would electrocute me haha, not ideal. But my mum swore by one for her home births.