My Hospital Bag Packing List.

So you’re pregnant and b-day is approaching. Here are my thoughts on what to pack. Disclaimer – I only lived a 10 minute walk from the hospital so my bags might seem a bit lighter for that reason! I’d recommend packing your bag from 36 weeks as you never know when the small human might decide to put in an appearance…

Your Bag:

• Snacks. Everyone always advises you to take healthy snacks like nuts and cereal bars but I ignored this. I figured that if I was trying to push out a baby I deserved my favourite snacks. So my bag was filled with Wispas, Coke, Salt and Vinegar Pringles and Jelly Babies. Mmmm. During labour I wasn’t hungry at all and I wasn’t allowed to eat after I’d had my epidural but I really appreciated those snacks the next day. And so did Hubby as the hospital would only feed me. He wasn’t even offered a cup of tea.
• Something to give birth in – I just ended up in a hospital gown. I don’t even remember where my clothes ended up.
• PJs and dressing gown. Something cosy, suitable for breast feeding (if you decide to) and something you’re happy wandering around the ward in front of random people in.
• Slippers. A pair that can be machine washed because hospital floors are icky.
• Granny pants (black). Primark’s finest in a large size.
• Socks!
• Comfy maternity or breastfeeding bras.
• Breast pads and maternity pads. I recommend purchasing some pretty reusable ones as I found the disposable ones sticky and they irritated my skin.
• Comfy change of clothes to go home in.
• Toiletries. Pretend you’re going on holiday – hairbrush, shampoo, shower gel, face wipes, deodorant, lip balm, moisturiser, toothbrush and toothpaste etc
• Phone charger. What would actually be worse than running out of battery before you get to take those first pictures?
• Stuff to keep you occupied. You might need things to watch or read especially if you end up being induced or have an epidural.
• Bluetooth speakers. I think listening to Bruce Springsteen and Meatloaf was probably the only bit of my birth plan that actually happened.
• Tissues. Just because. I don’t go anywhere without tissues.
• Towels.
• Inhaler. If you’re asthmatic like me. Or any other medication you might be on.
• Birth plan. Haha. And hospital notes. I don’t recall having these but I probably did. Maybe.
• Tens Machine.
• Lansinoh nipple cream. It’s never too early to start using this.
• Birthing ball. You can’t guarantee one will be available if the ward is busy. We brought ours the first time we went to the hospital but gave up and left it at home for the second and third trips! I knew by then that it wasn’t going to be a birthing ball kind of birth.
• Painkillers. I was really lucky and was sent home with lots of drugs after my C section but I’ve heard about other women not been given anything so it’s nice to have to something ready to go just in case.
• Plastic bags.  To take dirty clothes home in to wash or burn.

 

Baby’s Bag:

• Vests. I think we took a couple of different sizes as we had no idea what size Tiny would actually be. All the 0-3 months was huge on her so it was nice to have a couple of new-born bits too.
• Baby grows. The ones with the built in mittens so the small human can’t claw at its own face.
• A hat. The hospital will be hotter than the sun but baby will still be required to wear a hat at all times.
• New-born formula kit? Please don’t shout at me. This is very much a personal thing. I didn’t bring any formula with me when Tiny was born as I naively expected breast feeding to work and instead we really struggled.
• Wet wipes.  I decided to bring Water Wipes but you can also use water and cotton wool.
• Nappies. Obvs.
• Bum cream.
• Bibs.
• Muslins.
• Car seat if you’re planning on driving home.
• A fitted sheet for your shiny new buggy basinet. The small human is almost guaranteed to puke on it immediately.

If this is your first pregnancy I really hope you found it helpful. If you’ve done it before I’d love to know what your number one hospital bag item was?

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