From hair straighteners to a pillow from home, there are more things Iβve packed in my hospital bag and havenβt used than things I have on the two previous occasions Iβve been into hospital to have a baby.
In fact I was so loaded down with bags and paraphernalia when I had BB that they had to be transported from the delivery room to the post-natal ward via a wheelchair while I trailed along behind.
I streamlined my packing significantly the second time around, but even then I took along umpteen things I didnβt end up using.
This time Iβve streamlined even further, and I reckon there are just 10 things you need to pack in your hospital bag.
The only 10 things you need in your hospital bag
1. Your maternity notes. (Even if they do end up getting left in triage because itβs all happening so quickly β just saying).
2. Something to wear in labour. Whether itβs a nightie for walking around in or a swimming costume for the birthing pool, even if you donβt end up wearing them itβs reassuring to know theyβre there.
3. Something to wear after the birth (including big pants). Thereβs nothing like climbing into nice clean home-smelling clothesΒ on the other sideΒ β the comfier the better, and that goes for the pants too.
4. A nursing bra. If youβre planning to breastfeed youβll need this from the word go β it makes life so much easier.
5. Slippers. The thing about giving birth is that you know exactly what the hospital floor is likely to have seen in the past. Plus itβs nice to pad around in something soft and comfy instead of bare feet.
6. Toilet bag. Iβve stocked mine with travel-sized toiletries from Boots (which are always on 3 for 2 which is a bonus) so I donβt have to worry about grabbing things from the bathroom when itβs time to go. Think little tube of toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner and Vaseline (hospitals always make my lips so dry). And don’t forget pads. Lots of them.
7. Elemis cellular recovery skin bliss capsules (no they havenβt paid me to add this to my list). I could have included these in the toilet bag, but theyβre so amazing theyβre worth their own mention. These little capsules of serum will literally transform your skin from knackered, morgue-lookingΒ pallor to just-had-the-best-nightβs-sleep-ever in the blink of an eye.
8. Nappies and wipes. Better to pack too many than too few β Iβve taken 10 nappies and one pack of wipes with me both times before and on each occasion we came home with unused nappies and at least half a pack of wipes left.
9. Outfits for the baby. The first time around I took everything you can think of β hats, mittens, babygrows, a cardigan (why on earth do they always tell you to pack a cardigan?) and it was August. This time Iβm taking two babygrows with built-in scratch mittens, a blanket and thatβs it. If we need anything else Misery Guts can go home for it.
10. Change for the car park. Do not underestimate how much cash youβre going to need to feed the hospital car park machine. It can be eye-watering.
You could add things like a tens machine if youβre planning to use one and things to personalise your labour like music etcetera, but in my experience both have been a total waste of time so Iβm not bothering this time.
Which brings me on to things you think you need but donβt.
Things you THINK you need in your hospital bagΒ but actually donβt
1. A pillow from home. While this is a nice-to-have, unless youβre facing an extended stay in hospital you donβt really need it. Youβll be so tired you wonβt notice β much less care – whether youβre sleeping on a wipe down hospital one or a John Lewis Egyptian cotton one. Plus itβs just another thing to carry around.
2. Cotton wool. Iβm not entirely sure whether Iβve packed this for me or the baby in the past, but on both previous occasions Iβve never used it. You can use baby wipes from day one so thereβs no need to top and tail β this time Iβm taking Huggies newborn wipes which areΒ 99% water and 100% safe for newborns.
3. Industrial-sized sanitary towels. I’m referring to the ‘maternity pads’ they sell alongside disposable pants and breast pads in the mum-to-be aisle. In my experience there’s absolutely no need to walk around with a mattress between your legs – the super slim night-time ones in the normal aisle do the job just as well.
4. Breast pads. Again, unless youβre facing an extended stay in hospital and youβre planning to breastfeed you probably wonβt need these. My milk hasnβt come in until after I returned home, so packing these was pointless.
5. Nappy cream. Iβve taken this with me on both previous occasions too and never used it β theyβre unlikely to get nappy rash that quickly, and I didnβt like to use it as a preventative measure on such pure and new baby skin.
6. A dressing gown. It doesnβt matter what time of year youβre having your baby, the perma-temperature of the hospital means you wonβt be needing this. A total waste of space.
7. Hairdryer and straighteners. I donβt know what on earth I was thinking, but I packed both of these first time around. Youβll be lucky if you get to use them in the first month, never mind the first few days.
8. Make-up bag. For exactly the same reasons as the hairdryer and straighteners.
Have you been into hospital to have a baby and did you end up taking things you didnβt need? Is there anything you couldnβt have lived without?
Linking up withβ¦
I love this as so many mums, especially first time ones go completely overboard with fans, bottles of cooling sprays, whale music etc! My last two labours have been unexpected and so for the last one I knew exactly what I did and didn’t need. Thanks for sharing and joining us for #marvmondays xx
Yes – I think I may have taken a cooling spray in first time around!
Even second time around I took way too many baby clothes, my dressing gown and a million nappies! Ridiculous. My hubby had to run home for my notes whilst the pool was filling with my second! We only live a 10 min walk away thank god. Good luck to you…getting close! xx #marvmondays
Yes the notes! It’s so easy to forget the important stuff!
The first time I took an enormous suitcase. The kind you’d take for a 2 week holiday abroad! Was in hospital for less than 24 hours and used non of it!
The second time I realised that if some some reason I was there longer, or needed something, I was allowed visitors who could bring things!
One of my friends was rushed in and didn’t have her bag packed. After the birth she asked her boyfriend to bring her some clothes to wear to go home. He took her a pair of her pre maternity size 10 super skinny jeans! That went well!
#marvmondays
You sound like me the first time around too – I also looked like I was going away for two weeks!!
Great list and it’s true! But, I had to pack some huge sanitry pads haha! Only because I bled quite heavy after all three especially my first. #MarvMondays
I’ve been lucky in that respect – that said famous last words and I’ll probably get caught out this time!!
Luckily I’ve always packed lightly but did up ending twice the amount of nappies and outfits for bubba the second time round cos I couldn’t remember if I needed more than 10 from the first time lol.. oops! I bought the slim maternity pads from Tesco which were great but still needed those giant ones (the hospital gave me some) second time round as bleeding was heavier. I wore these with large disposable knickers which left like a fat nappy. Also opting for a black nightie was the wisest decision I made haha! π #MarvMondays
Yes I’ve always gone for black big pants too – I don’t understand why they sell white maternity ones!!
Fab list! Should I ever need to pack a hospital back again I will certainly pack a lot lighter than I did the first time! I actually took two bags with me. One for the baby and one for me. I looked like I was moving in! #marvmondays
I was like that when I had BB – except I had three or four bags plus pillows!!
Definitely pack light. I had an extended stay both times but just got the hubby to brings things in each day if they were needed, you really don’t need to cover every single eventuality x
#MarvMondays
Yes that’s so true!
Great list, I know what you mean about the dressing gown..hospitals are way to hot to bother with one of those. I packed way less second time around and still ended up not using half of it xx #twinklytuesday
I still bet I’ll do the same third time too!
Great list! We ended up with a bag full of stuff we didn’t use and hubby having to go home to fetch the stuff we did! I did have an extended stay so we quickly ran out of baby vests (sicky baby!) so I’d take far more of those next time round. #twinklytuesday
Yes I guess it all depends how long you stay in – luckily I’ve never been more than one night…
It is all so long ago I actually can’t remember what I took, apart from disposable pants, I’m not sure they were great to be honest. #TwinklyTuesday
Such a glamorous packing list isn’t it!!
Great list! My mummy packed for a holiday when she went in….big mistake! The thing that we really needed – which she forgot was change of the car park!! #TwinklyTuesday #MarvMondays
At least it wasn’t your notes!
This is a brilliant list and I agree with everything on it and not on it. I was nodding away in agreement as i read this, especially about the tropical heat and change for the car park. I found that the other half was more than willing to go home and get some fresh air and a shower, to fetch what I needed for a one night stay post birth. #postsfromtheheart
You’d think the car parks would take cards by now too but no…
After having given birth in a hospital, I totally agree with you. There were so many things I packed that I never used including my Ipad, books and breast pads. Actually I didn’t need breast pads until a few weeks later.
I packed a book the first time too – what a joke!
This is brilliant! I have to add, my absolute number one item that I couldn’t have done without was snacks! I took loads of drinks and snacks both savoury and sweet. Labour does such a number on your body that refueling is a must! #postsfromtheheart
I couldn’t eat a thing when I was in labour – food was the last thing on my mind! That said, I was starving afterwards!
I need those capsules in my life. Four years on and Archie still doesn’t sleep because of Autism, the word Mombie has never been so true! #TwinklyTuedsay
I swear by these capsules – honestly theyβre brilliant!
I love this! I can remember the first time I packed my bag with Lewis, it was like I was going away on a two week holiday! By the time it came to baby number five I just flung a few bits in a bag and that was that!! #twinklytuesdays
I bet you’re a pro by now!x
This post is perfectly timed as R and I have started discussing her hospital bag, probably a tad too soon if I’m honest. I’d add a bottle of water and a pack of biccies because I know how long labour goes on for and what the midwives are like for letting you eat, but yes, LOTS of change. I remember that!
I couldn’t eat a thing when I was in labour! But lots of people have mentioned snacks…
Great list. I bought a spare toothbrush to put in my bag which was great. Meant I didn’t need to remember to take it and God did I need it! After a long labour there was nothing better than a shower and brushing my teeth! #coolmumclub
Yes I’ve done exactly that too! I remember brushing my teeth after both labours and it feeling wonderful!
Great organisation! I could have done with a plan like this 20 years ago. Mu friends going into hospital to have her baby in r weeks, I will pass on this great info for her.
#coolmumclub
Yes do!x
It’s funny, but having been induced for all my deliveries I ended up completely under-packing my hospital bag! I was calling home for reinforcements daily, and by the time I left I had a week’s worth of stuff to cart home as well as a brand new baby π Just goes to show, you can never really prepare for what you don’t know!
Reading this made me feel strangely broody! You can;t beat the excitement of those last few weeks π
Thanks for sharing with #coolmumclub
That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that – over packing is usually the problem! Didn’t mean to make you feel broody…
I too took a hairdryer & straighteners to hospital with me and a big bag of makeup for baby no1’s arrival.Boy did i get a shock!! With baby No2 i ended up naked for 2 days in slow labour so that cut dowm on packing #potsfromtheheart
Ha ha! I don’t think I even used my straighteners for the first month after my two were born…