What to pack in your hospital bag
I think that packing my hospital bag was possibly one of the most stressful things about my whole pregnancy! I kid you not.
What should I take?
What shouldn’t I take?
What will I need that I am bound to forget….will I even care when I’m legs akimbo with a seven-pound baby ramming its head through my pelvis?!
Google tells you to pack a million things and Tik Tok would have you believing that you can do it all with a hair bobble and a long phone charging lead!
I packed and re-packed my bag, each time adding more and fretting over how many pairs of pants I would need.
I wouldn’t mind, but I literally live fifteen minutes from the hospital and have various family members with house keys that could have popped in and collected things if I needed them and hadn’t got them! As it turned out we were kept in for a week after the birth because my baby was poorly and they had to do that anyway….I 100% didn’t pack enough pants.
It’s hard to know what to do for the best, especially if you haven’t done this all before, but if you’re fretting, then fret no more my pregnant friend, because here is my ultimate list of things you will definitely need to make your life easier at the birth of your bambino.
First things first…..WHEN should you pack your hospital bag?
Pack it around 36 weeks. I think I did mine around 35 because I was excited and blooming massive and convinced that baby would be early (she wasn’t…she hung out in my womb watching Netflix until 40 +6 when I was induced!).
You don’t really want to leave it any later than that because:
- Baby could make an appearance
- Bending down is not the one after about 36 weeks and packing is going to feel like you trekked Kilimanjaro with a watermelon after that point.
- If you leave it too long and baby comes, you’re going to have to trust a partner to do it and my husband goes on holiday with one pair of pants and some aftershave. Aint no way he was packing my case!
What to pack for you
You are not just having a baby. You are having a baby and then immediately expected to exist as a human afterwards.
You will need:
Comfy pyjamas or nighties
Loose. Soft. Nothing tight. You will not care what you look like.
Big pants. Bigger than you think.
No, bigger.
Biggerrrrr
You want the kind of pants that could hold a small sofa.
Maternity pads
You will need them.
Say no more!
Okay…you don’t NEED this, but ladies you can thank me after.
Again…thank me later
Nursing bras or comfy bras
Your boobs will do whatever they want after birth, so just be prepared. Don’t forget your Breast Pads either. You won’t need loads, you might not need any. But I was a Girl Guide and so I’m always prepared!
Slippers or flip flops
Hospital floors are cold and weird and you will not want to walk around barefoot.
Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Face wipes
Deodorant
Any medications you take
Lip balm (very important, hospital air is DRY and the gas and air is dryer still.)
Phone charger (LONG one if possible)
Hospital plugs are always about 7 miles away from the bed.
Hair ties / clips
Labour + hair in your face = instant rage.
A going-home outfit
Not your pre-pregnancy jeans.
Be kind to yourself.
You won’t look at glamourous as Beyonce on stage with all her fans blowing, but trust me you will thank me for this one!
These are the things you don’t think about but will be weirdly grateful for.
Snacks
For after birth.
You will be starving.
Drinks / water bottle
Flat isotonic drinks, squash and water
Lip balm
I’m saying it again because you will regret forgetting it.
Headphones / music
I made myself a little birthing playlist and every time I hear it now I think of the day that my daughter came into the world.
Birth plan (if you made one)
Just be prepared that you probably won’t stick to the birthing plan once the fun and games begin, but it’s good to have a rough idea anyway!
Dark towel
Trust me.
Spare carrier bags
My waters broke in the hospital. It was gross. Carrier bags were my friend. My mom was even more my friend when she took my clothes home discreetly and washed and ironed them for me. My mom is my hero.
Things for baby
Clothes (for someone who will immediately puke on them)
- 3–4 baby grows / sleepsuits
- 2 vests (more if your baby has explosive ambitions)
- Hat (because babies lose heat)
- Mittens (to stop them scratching their own face like a tiny raccoon)
- Going-home outfit (for the dramatic hospital exit)
Nappy changing supplies (you will use all of them)
- Newborn nappies (take more… no…… more than that)
- Baby wipes or cotton wool
- Nappy cream
Blankets & comfort stuff
- 1–2 baby blankets
- Muslin cloths (if you think you packed enough, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely didn’t)
- Extra muslin cloths (still not enough)
Muslins will be used for: Milk, Sick, Tears (theirs and yours), Drool, Unknown liquids
Feeding stuff
(If bottle feeding)
- Bottles
- Formula
- Steriliser / sterilising tablets
(If breastfeeding)
- Nothing….your boobies will do just fine.
Optional but helpful:
- Bibs
- Burp cloths
- Patience
Leaving the hospital gear
- Car seat (they won’t let you leave without one)
- Blanket for the trip home
- Outfit that makes the baby look like a tiny human, not a potato
Things for partners
If your partner is anything like my husband then pants and aftershave will do just fine! Luckily I packed for him this time.
Spare clothes and flip flops
My labour was 25 hours and we both got hot, sweaty and stinky
Blanket and Pillow
I will forever be grateful to my hospital for their incredible treatment of me, but believe me when I say that Dad ‘aint gonna get the same attention. If Dad needs something then he better have brought it himself. Be kind. Pack a pillow.
Misc
Toiletries
Snacks
A couple of bottles of water.
Things I packed but didn’t use
Learn from my mistakes.
- Makeup bag (Pfffftttt…I looked rough and I rocked it!!)
- A book (I thought I’d read… I did not read)
- Fancy pyjamas (I lived in the ugly comfy ones.)
You can get a full packing list on the NHS website too, just in case you don’t entirely trust mine!
Hospital bag checklist – Best Start in Life – NHS.
Remember…
No matter how organised you are, you will still feel unprepared.
Welcome to motherhood.
