Realistic hospital bag list for c section

[SherryCherryCake]

Hey everyone! Im having my 2nd baby in 8 weeks and starting to think about packing my hospital bag. Im having a planned c section this time.

With my first, I seemed to pack everything but the kitchen sink which was actually not helpful as I was having to search through a small suitcase and rucksack to find things. I realised I didnt need the majority of the items I brought with me!

Does anyone have a more realistic list for a clueless mama?

Thank you!

3 pairs of comfy pjs, high waisted so the band doesn’t rub on your wound.
Adult nappies (I found them easier then pads as I couldn’t bend well).
Travel size toiletries.
Snacks and drinks.
iPad/kindle
chargers.
Clothes for you to wear to come home if you want, I left my pjs on.
nappies and wipes for baby,
feeding equipment depending on your plan, next time I would take those disposable bottles instead of packing mine and sterilising bits.
vets and baby grows, outfit to bring them home.
blanket.

I found it helpful to pack a ‘grab bag’ they could keep on my bed for when I couldn’t move and I could still access all necessities - power bank charger, muslin, snack and water for me, wipes, etc. Then if I was alone I wasn’t totally helpless!

Cosy socks and cosy blanket for you. Nobody can grab a nap on a hospital sheet imo.
Hand cream.

Puzzle books and a pen.

I had an elective. I brought 2 suitcases, but all I needed was:
baby hat
diapers
wipes
baby vest
baby sleep suit
baby blanket to put on when we were walking him to the car

I didn’t even open the suitcase I packed for me, I was too knackered and too besotted to care about lip balms, comfy pillows, books etc. I spent my time in hospital in the hospital gown and then put the clothes back on I was wearing when coming in to go home.

I had two C sections. For the second one I got a water bottle with a handle and a straw, and the longest phone charger I could find. Basically you don't want to have to reach or twist to get essentials because it will really hurt the incision site. Other than that I think shower flip flops and a nightie were the only things I really used.

I wasn't in the UK so we didn't have to take our own nappies, wipes and baby clothes but presumably you might need those!

You are very organised OP! Currently 1-2weeks away from a planned c-section following and emergency for my first. Just got the bag sorted and this time I’m taking much less!
I have a smallish gym sized bag with: towel, travel sized shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, razor, makeup wipes (plan to throw moisturiser and hairbrush in last minute. Was going to throw some makeup in but at a recent hospital observation on the ward realised they had no mirrors - so no point!). I have two nighties, a pack of maternity pads, about 4 pairs of high waisted knickers, change of clothes to come home in, baby’s first outfit, and 3? Onsies, around 10
nappies (which I think is way too much but they fit in the bag so I thought why the hell not), baby hat, muslin, space to throw on my purse and phone charger, and I’m hoping to remember to take a seperate pack of snacks and formula as last time the food situation was appalling. Basically squashed as much in the small bag so that it can live right next to me without me needed to get up and move. Last c-section was an emergency and during Covid so partner wasn’t allowed to stay long, and I couldn’t reach anything, utterly pointless having the bag with me at that point! Haha

I was in and out in 24 and then 48hrs.
If you need more it can be brought to you...

I wore the same outfit in and out (literally had it on 4 hrs total combined)

1 x pajamas / maternity popper shirt thing
Tooth brush and paste/ washbag
1 x change of clothes
Long phone charger (important)
GOOD Snacks (important)
A decent water bottle (important)
Those Adult disposable incontinence knickers

The baby stuff
2 x outfits with hats
hipp organic starter pack if bottle feeding.
A few nappies, pack of wetwipes sudocream
Maybe a muslin...

Big pants!!
The Bridget jones style ones that sit way above the crease between your tummy & your groin.
I planned to breast feed and wished I’d taken pre-made formula bottles for the first night. I had a very hungry unsettled baby & no milk. The midwives were really arsey with me when I asked for some and told me I should have brought my own. I was better prepared the second time around!

Take two small bags rather than one big one, one for baby stuff and one for you. Actually those big supermarket bags are ideal (not fashionable haha but you're having a baby rather than going on a cruise).

Baby stuff - you know what you need in that as it's your 2nd.

In your bag - flip flops for the shower. At least 20 maternity pads. Very large full briefs style pants - if your usual size is 12, buy size 20. Take many pants as you'll probably flood the lochia at some point. Lip balm and an unscented shower gel is all you need for a wash bag (you can use the baby's Aveeno cream as moisturiser and baby wipes to wipe your face.) Don't forget a couple of plastic bags to put dirty clothes in.

Also take snacks and small bottles of water or coconut water as they don't come round with water often enough, and the hospital meals don't appeal. Have a second lot of these snacks and drinks packed in a plastic bag for your partner to carry in when he visits again the next day.

Even if it'll be cold weather, pack the thinnest nightie you have because hospital wards are hotter than the desert. You won't want a dressing gown or fluffy slippers, flip flops are better especially the disposable ones you get in hotels, bin them before leaving.

I wouldn't take anything like your own pillow etc - you'll be burdened by too much stuff.

I didn't bother with a tablet or a book or anything. Just your phone is enough entertainment and you won't have two hands free most of the time

Thank you so much everyone! Really appreciate your ideas, I feel so clueless despite this being baba 2! 🤣

I had thin cotton nighties with buttons at the front, rather than pyjamas as I didn’t want anything rolling into my scar, and hospitals are so hot (but not everyone likes nighties). Breastfeeding bras. Wipes to clean your face as bending to wash your face can hurt. Slippers that can cope with wet or grubby bathrooms, fit flop rubber sliders are good. Something to swaddle the baby in along with the obvious baby clothes and nappies. A cotton robe to wear to walk about in. Small snacks like plain biscuits, energy bars. Big knickers, and post partum pads. You want the knickers to be big enough to not roll down.

A bag of dried apricots - the first toilet action post section would have been so much easier if it was powered by slightly too many dried apricots.

Giant knickers
Yoga pants to come home in -i.e tracksuit bottoms with a rolled waistband. I lived in them for weeks after bith sections

A handy essentials bag for baby that's not heavy to lift and you can keep on a chair beside your bed for changing etc. Then whatever you need less often in a separate bag. I brought an extra pillow and a cushion for putting between the seat belt and my wound on the way home in the car. An extra long phone charger cable/ battery pack and Bluetooth headphones. I got some button down to the bottom nighties which was really handy when getting checked/ nursing/injections the next day. A good snack as I went on the ward just after breakfast at 9.30am so missed that and they seemed to forget about me at lunchtime so I didn't actually get given anything to eat until dinner time and I wished I had more wholesome snack food with me. I expressed colostrum before ds was born so brought a cool bag with a few vials of that in it. Wet wipes and deodorant for myself. High waisted everything. A dressing gown that's not too heavy but still snuggly. Flip flops are good because very easy to put on and off without bending down. A hand towel though tbh I didn't really wash while I was there, I got a bed wash from the nurse immediately after the section and then the next morning just cleaned myself up with a few wipes and then washed properly when I got home that evening. Hair bobbles to keep your hair out of your way. You don't need as much as you think really. I'd just make sure your partner knows where your things are incase you need to stay an extra day or so and you need extra things from home. I remember a friend telling me this happened to her and her dh who is normally really on the ball bringing her a pair of hot pant shorts and a pyjama top to go home from the hospital in because he was so past himself. So maybe leave out a few spares of things you'd prefer to have brought in if you need anything.

Peppermint tea as it can be really effective in dispersing trapped wind which can be really painful under the wound

Chewing gum and peppermint tea for the gas pain!
If you're driving to the hospital, I would pack some supplies in your boot so your partner can bring extras without being away too long, but also so you're not surrounded with clutter in hospital. Spare nappies, pre made formula, bottles of lucozade and your favourite snacks.
Also weird one but if you can buy a shower gel bottle that has a hook so you can hang it up in the shower it saves you having to move too much!