What to pack in hospital bag?

[PigeonDuckGoose]

Midwife has told me to pack my hospital bag, baby will be born via planned c section.

I know what to pack, I just don't know how many of the baby clothes to pack? When I had my son I was in hospital a long time (9 days) so his dad went home and got more stuff and I don't remember how much I initially packed. What a reasonable amount for an assumed normal stay?

Intention is to breastfeed again, do I need to take formula incase? With my son I did breastfeed, but after a very complicated labour, emergency C section and a very poorly me on day 3 they supplemented him with formula as I was dry as a bone. I continue to boob and when I produced again formula stopped. By the time we left hospital he was EBF. The hospital supplied the formula though because I didn't take any or bottles as always planned to EBF. I don't know what the rules are now as this was over 10 years ago.

Feeling like a first time mum again. 😂

I packed 5 initially. It was a planned induction. I didn't need all 5 as I was discharged fairly quickly. If you are in for awhile then can dad bring in more as needed? If he can then you don't need to pack loads - it will just take up space. If dad/family/friend can't then probably best to bring a few more if you have space.

It might be worth seeing if you can express colostrum and checking the hospital policy on that to see if you can bring some in if you are worried about feeding again. My LO was initially syringe fed colostrum because he wouldn't latch. Different hospitals have different approaches about formula I think. For LO we had little emergency premade formula bottles but didn't need them.

*Best advice I received when packing my bags was to put each outfit in a separate bag/pouch so I could just grab it and have a full outfit, hat, mittens etc. Made life easier for me and DH!

If you're travelling by car, we had a small bag for the hospital with an extra bag of spares for a longer stay in the boot. I'd just put a couple of vests and sleepsuits and a hat in the first bag and 6 or so nappies. As PP said, see if you can express colostrum to take to the hospital. Also useful to have some at home in your freezer.

In the boot bag, another 3 outfits, the rest of the pack of nappies, and a pack of premixed formula bottles.

We will be travelling by car and I'd I am kept in husband can go home for more if needed. So it's really just the "normal" amount needed for a single night stay I need to pack in the main bag.

Leaving more in the car is a good idea.

I plan to start harvesting colostrum at 36 weeks. :)