What's in your hospital bag?

[emmajane90]

Thought this might be an interesting / useful thread! What are you packing in your hospital bag and if you've had previous pregnancies what are your must-haves?? 😁

Watching with interest

I'm in the middle of packing my hospital bag at the moment so I'll share a few things that friends have recommended I pack in addition to the usual things...

Change for juice / snack machines

Empty canvas bag/ laundry bag for all dirty clothes - that way you're not putting dirty washing back in with your clean clothes and also means dp can take washing away and return it clean if you stay in longer than expected

Pack of paracetamol / ibuprofen to save waiting for midwives if needed

Water bottle you'll find it easy to drink from or take straws and a few frozen bottles of lucozade sport

Plenty high energy snacks (small bags of nuts / fruit / choc / boiled sweets etc)

Change of top / underwear for dad

Tena pants rather than just pads - apparently quicker / easier / more absorbent. Also full brief black pants in a size far too big so that if you end up with a section they sit high above your wound

Long phone charger

The only advice I've been given about the baby's bag is to pack vests / sleep suits / bibs/ muslins into separate little labelled bags so that your partner or midwife isn't rummaging through the suitcase to find what you need. I actually bought the 25p canvas drawstring reusable fruit and veg bags from Aldi for this as they're the perfect size. I've also packed the baby's first outfit into one of these along with a nappy so it's all together ready just to put on baby!

There are so many threads on this, do a search and you'll find some very good ones. Good luck.

Can I just say I had my baby on the last day of my honeymoon 10 weeks early and I didn't even have any clean clothes so had to go shopping the next day. I managed for a day so don't panic if you forget anything

Ok so 35+3 weeks pregnant over here and bags are already in the boot of the car 😂

I’m having a planned section but may be able to help a little:

My Bag:

2/3 dark button down nighties with short sleeves (for cannulas etc)
Lightweight dressing gown
Thong slippers
Flip flops for shower/loo/to wear home
Nursing bars/sports bras
Over belly dark Knickers (size up)
Going home outfit (dark leggings, loose top and cardi)
Wash bag with toiletries of your choice (deodorant, toothbrush and paste, wipes, body cream, shower gel, shampoo/cond, tweezers, face cream, lip balm, hairbrush, bobbles, spritz for bitz)
Maternity pads
Sanitary towels (few difference sizes for flow)
Disposable pants
Arnica Tablets
Peppermint capsules and Mint Tea
Breast pads
Nipple cream
Bum wipes
Long lead phone charger
Little hand mirror
£10 tucked away (coffee, car park)
Formula if you decide

Baby’s Bag:

3 x short sleeve vests
3 x long sleeve vests
3 x sleepsuits
1 x knitted cardigan
1 x Going home outfit
Scratch mits
Socks
Booties
Hats
Lightweight cellular blanket/swaddle blanket
Nappies
Nappie bags
Water wipes
Bum cream
Muslins
Tiny burp bibs
Dummies
Antibac hand gel
Lightweight changing mat (goes in bag anyway)
Soft toy/teddy ( I’ve popped one in that my daughter has been sleeping with as she wanted them to have it)

Car Seat and Base

Little bag of Snacks, favourite drinks, magazines, IPad, book, phone

Carrier bag for dirty clothes

Bag for birth partner

Hope this helps slightly and good luck xx

So useful, thank you @Nurselife2020

Incontinence adult diapers!!!! Soooooo much better than pads!!! Sooo much more comfortable!!!! Can't sing enough praises

Baby changing pouch, to use for the next 3 years useful to have everything together. Mine was slightly bigger than A5 to fit diapers, half pack big circle cotton makeup remover (better than cotton balls), old hotel shampoo bottle (or smallish container) with water, hand sanitizer, roll of dog poop bags

Coconut water is great during labour to keep you hydrated and give minerals

Eye cover, ear buds, if you have to stay to be induced, you need to sleep!!

CHARGER!!!! Make a list!!

Chocolate

Btw I never took any pjs or wtv. Always asked to hospital gown but put it back to front (like a coat)

And you don't want trousers to leave the hospital........ skirt/dress of some kind

I found it useful to have my fire tablet and a long cable for phone and kindle, as plugs. This came into its own when I had emergency c section and couldn't get out of bed. Late night feeds also converted me to wireless headphones which I would have in my essential kit.

@Nurselife2020 no teddy!!!!! it's dangerous!! Unless it's just for photographs

Sitting wide awake as I'm getting induced at 10am

I have packed the following:

For myself:

2x pairs of thick maternity leggings
1x pair of black maternity joggers
1 oversized shirt for coming home
2 maternity bras (one black one white)
1x tshirt
2x nightys
1x thick black pair of jammies
10x pairs of thick black pants
Breast pads
Sanitary towels
Perineal bottle
Toiletries such as makeup, skin care, lip balm, bobbles, Kirbys & a hair clip, tooth brush tooth paste, face cloth & sponge and sanex body wash
1x pair of flip flops for the shower
1x pair of slippers
Socks
1x black towel
Cereal bars, crisps, lucozade sport & will pack a sandwich
1x headphones and charger
1 handled fan
iPhone charger

For baby:

3 sleep suits
3 vests
1x cardigan
2 hats
1 coming home outfit (separate sleep suit, vest, hat and cardigan)
2x celluar blankets
3 muslins
3 bibs
Some nappies, water wipes & nappy sacks
Also the Aptimal ready made bottles with the teet.

I think that's all and hope this helps ❤️ xxx

Some really good advice already. I had to be in for 6 days in total so money for the car park was essential as DH had to keep moving the car. This was pre-covid so he could stay with me during the induction and in a private room. As it's not the norm to use money as much as card, I had to save all the coins I could here and there in the months before. Hopefully your hospital takes card now (this was only a few years back so we were shocked during hospital appointments prior!) but worth a thought if not.

@grey12 ooooh yes yes literally packed one for a photo placed next to them for my daughter. She is only 5 and thought they needed one and as she can’t be there she has cuddled it for months and popped it in my bag

Lip balm! My lips were so, so dry.

[quote Nurselife2020]@grey12 ooooh yes yes literally packed one for a photo placed next to them for my daughter. She is only 5 and thought they needed one and as she can’t be there she has cuddled it for months and popped it in my bag[/quote]
Awwww she's so sweet 🥰

Nothing... DS keeps bloody emptying it. God help DH making sure it's all there when I go into labour.

I've put everything in separate bags inside my big bag as PP suggested. There's a bag for food, bag for baby clothes, bag for DH bits (toothbrush, deodorant, spare pants), bag for my underwear.

Only thing I've not seen mentioned is a packet of mints for first thing in the morning. I hate the taste of my mouth first thing in the morning but don't want to be jumping out of bed straight away to brush my teeth. So... Mints.

I've also got a little light for feeding overnight as I can vaguely recall struggling with this first time round.

Hospital air is very very drying, we were told the last time to bring a thick moisturising cream for your face/hands and a lipbalm and even a mini evian water spray (might be refreshing in labour). Some hair ties, comfy socks/slippers. Also an extra long charging cable (most outlets aren't within 6 ft), and I would also bring a remote battery charger pack in case your outlet does not work/just for easiness. Some earphones/ipad/kindle. Probably against most hospital advice, but my doctor said to bring something to drink/elecrotyte drink and cracker type snacks. If you are being induced and in all day, mine said they would turn a blind eye to it especially if it was first child as they know labour is so long and you will need energy. Bland snacks like the type you would eat with morning sickness are best as you might feel the same in labour.

Oh yeah forgot the maternity bra/pumping bra hands free attachment to go on top and breast pump if you are planning to use one. Helps the colostrm come in. When i had my DD I didn't bring the pump hands free bra bit and it was frustrating sitting for ages holding the pump on when I could have been using my hands for other things.

DS born this morning! Things I have used:

• "birthing shirt" x2. Arrived in PJs changed into birthing shirt 1. Gave birth, eventually got a shower now in birthing shirt 2. Made of bamboo, SO fecking comfy, great for modesty, skin to skin & feeding. Just the perfect thing really, can't recommend highly enough!

• Lucozade, juice cartons, water bottle, snack bars.

• Big pants, maternity pads, bath towel & toiletries inc toothbrush and deodorant.

• Chargers

For baby

• nappies, 2 outfits already 💩, wipes, muslin & a hat

Congratulations @CorpusCallosum! Where did you get your shirts from? I’m looking for a maternity/nursing nightie and can't decide what I want!

How big are these bags as this all seems like a lot of stuff? 🙈 Is it a bag or a small suitcase?

@paintfairy

How big are these bags as this all seems like a lot of stuff? 🙈 Is it a bag or a small suitcase?

I only took a bag but my sil took a cabin bag ! Mine wasn't very organised to be honest just thrown in so would probably be easier with a cabin bag to keep things organised

bizziebaby.co.uk/product-review/the-bamboo-birthing-shirt-2/

These. Even matched the colour of my TED stockings, hospital chic 😂

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits I was only thinking I'm not sure i have a bag that big. 🤣