1st baby - hospital bag help - so overwhelmed

[LunarMoon92]

Everytime I start to look into what I need for baby or me for hospital bag I get overwhelmed so just end up avoiding it. I dont even know what kind of bag I need to pack. I've looked at suggestions but really need help/advice with what I actually need at decent prices. Please help

I found it easier to have two - one for baby one for me.

how far is the hospital from home? Do you have a partner? Because if close and you have a partner there’s nothing he couldn’t run back and get.

Baby:

nappies
water wipes
formula- if you need it
baby grows
going home outfit
hat and scratch mittens

Car seat and blanket

Just packed my bag for the hospital

3 x sleepsuits
3x bodysuits
Mittens
Hat
Blanket
Newborn nappies
Baby wipes
Ready made milk if not breastfeeding or if potentially you struggle, these are good to have.

For you

2x change of clothes
Toiletries - shampoo ( mini size will be fine)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, flannel
Deodorant
Maternity pads
Knickers, you can also get disposable knickers

Phone, charger, battery pack.

Money ( change)

Snacks for you

for baby
3 vests
3 baby grows
cardi
hat
pack of nappies
pack of wipes
nappy sacks
if bottle feeding get a hospital pack in your chosen brand

For you
comfortable Clothes/pyjamas
big knickers just incase of c section so won’t be sitting on wound
nursing bra if planning to breast feed
pack of maternity pads
breast pads
hair brush
hair ties
towel
deoderant

other
phone charger
lip balm
snacks
drinks

for your partner
spare tshirt
phone charger

Use something like a cabin bag with wheels you can pull rather than carry. Pack bag with partner so he knows where everything is as you won’t be wanting to rummage through. Have a back up bag in the car with extras of everything in case you need to stay longer.

I had a small wheely suitcase.

baby:

• hat
• vests
• sleepsuits (x2)
• nappies
• formula (just in case BF didn’t work)

me:

• maternity pads
• black nightshirts (x2)
• big black knickers (high rise in at least a size bigger)
• sliders (for the shower - better than flip flops in case of c-section and need to wear compression socks)
• maternity leggings/dress for after. Again nothing that compresses in case of c-section

extras

• extra long charging cables
• external charger (actually more useful than longer cables)
• hairbrush/shower gel

Put outfits for baby/you in sandwich bags and label. That way your OH knows what is what without you trying to explain from the bed.

Hope I don't stress you more but I packed 3 bags.

Small holdall for me: (assuming home within 24 hours)

• Big birthing t-shirt
• fluffy socks, apparently your feet get cold although mine didn't
• 1 x after birth outfit (maternity leggings, nursing t-shirt, big pants)
• soap bag with stuff for a shower and big maternity pads, Tesco ones are good
• 1 x nursing friendly nightshirt
• Going home outfit (just another comfortable and nursing friendly outfit)
• phone charger, lip balm, hairbrush
• Flip flops/slip on shoes that you can wear to the shower
• Plastic bag for putting dirty clothes in, they might be bloody/soiled

Small rucksack for baby: (again assume home in 24 hours)

• water wipes and nappys
• plastic bag (food or nappy bag), labelled and on top so it's the first thing you come to when you open the bag, with 1 set of clothes for after birth, nappy, vest, sleep suit and hat, although hospital gave us a hat. I actually did 2 with different sizes, my first baby was tiny.
• 2 x additional sleepsuits
• 2 x additional vests
• 1 x cardigan (if winter baby)
• 2 x muslin, you'll need formula/bottles if you don't plan to bf
• I didn't take a 'going home outfit' for baby, imo vests and sleepsuits are all they need for the early weeks.

Then a suitcase, left in the car. With an extra couple of outfits for me and baby, slippers, books/magazines/snacks etc. I never needed any of this as both my births were quite fast and straight forward but I figured better to have it all there just in case, rather than dh having to go home and get stuff if for any reason we had to stay longer than planned or it was a very long labour. You could leave bottles/formula in the car if you plan to breastfeed but at least they would be there if need be.

Remember car seat with suitable blanket in the car.