Hospital bag MUST vs Just in case

Breast pump if you’re going to use one or breastfeed! My milk didn’t come in right away but pumping helped that process along

my hospital had pumps, but I wish I would have packed my own pump honestly.

Milk doesn’t come in right away anyway - it’s colostrum to begin with. It takes a few days for it to turn into milk. So take a pump if you want but I don’t think personally it’s necessary.
Honestly, I had a pretty easy birth luckily and I overpacked. All I used was a nightie (one that buttoned as I breastfed), a nursing bra, I wore adult nappies but if you want the maternity pads instead then take some pants for them, I used my shower gel but didn’t fancy washing my hair in the hospital shower, used my slippers, and some joggers and a jumper for going home. If you’re bottle feeding some pre made formula bottles. I’d probably take a hairbrush too but don’t remember if I used mine or not. I took some isotonic drinks (Tesco own version of lucozade sports), and some sweets/snacks but I couldn’t stomach anything until a good few hours after giving birth.

I didn’t use a dressing gown or a spare pillow, I also didn’t have to charge my phone up as I was hardly on it due to being tired plus busy with contractions etc 😅 but I would say pack a long charger incase. I took a peri bottle and spritz for bits - I didn’t end up using the peri bottle at all during recovery really as I (thankfully) didn’t tear so didn’t need the help but the spritz for bitz felt nice.
I think I used an NHS list for the main things needed and I guess better to be safe than sorry. You never know how the birth will go! Hopefully all well

I literally only used a few things in my hospital bag😂 stuff I used was my button up Jammies to wear in recovery, wore same ones for both nights, 2 nursing bras, sweats and shirt to wear home, body wash, hair brush, dry shampoo (I didn’t wash my hair till I got home), baby announcement photos, baby coming home outfit. Hospital provided me pumps to try to use, nonslip socks, ALL things baby would need, I use normal hospital gown to give birth in, all post partum things I would need. My spouse used all his stuff, 3 undies, 3 shirts, shorts, sweats, hoodie, blanket and pillow. I was there 9am Sunday and left noon Wednesday

My phone charger. Granted, I went to an excellent hospital that provided everything I needed for postpartum care. I did also bring my knitting so I could finish up the baby blanket I was making. So my phone charger and a book and my knitting were the only things I actually needed from home. Oh, and babies coming home outfit.

Definitely all the toiletries. The hospital body wash and shampoo sucks!

Going home outfit for you and baby, baby picture outfit, charger, shower shoes, pj's with buttons, toiletries, snacks.. I had packed more then this but it wasn't needed

I wish I had taken a towel from home! The hospital ones were like drying myself with ryvita 😣

Musts:
Maternity pads
Breast pads
Toiletries
Change of clothes
PJs
Nappies
Baby clothes

Also I've had two vaginal births and never used the peri bottle or spritz for bits so I don't think they're essentials at all

Having given birth in august my musts would be: BIG water bottle with a straw, if you have gas and air this will save your life! Lots and lots of maternity pads, some big knickers and high waisted ones just in case you have a section, clean clothes. For baby, nappies, milk if formula feeding and clothes. I massively overpacked with mine but honestly I didn’t care what I had on (it got ruined anyway) and didn’t have time for much else!

I’ve done 2 bags - one essentials and one if I need to stay in that someone can bring/can stay in the car. I hardly used anything 1st time round, we didn’t even bring the bags in until after birth 🤦‍♀️ and I was only in the birth centre 12 hours total.
Essentials - going home clothes for me and baby, lucazade, nappies and cotton wool, maternity pads, phone charger, toothbrush.

Take a decent water bottle, lots of disposable pants and pads, comfy clothes, snacks x

I used every thing in my hospital bags, I had one I took in with me and one I left in the car. We had to stay for 4 days and weren’t allowed visitors as we had to stay in the labour ward so I was so glad I had everything on me. For me my non negotiables were different sized baby clothes, comfy thin dressing gown, spritz for bitz and a peri bottle. I know other comments said they aren’t essential but I was soo uncomfortable after my episiotomy and I personally needed anything I could to try and feel fresher/cleaner down there. Water bottle with a straw so you can sip in labour while your birth partner holds the bottle without having to actually hold it up to drink it. So many people told me ‘over packed’ but I have no regrets lol, having 2 blood transfusions i was so happy to have some home comforts with me, and I’d take the same for baby number 2

Loads of snacks and still lucozade!

I had an elective and was only in 24hours but omg I have never been so hungry in all my life.

Long phone charger! Extra pillows, blanket from home, witchhazel for pads! Lots of snacks!

got the long charger! Learnt my lesson when I was admitted for covid back in the day and couldn’t charge my phone and watch love island

saving snacks for delivery day! There’s a shop directly outside the hospital so I made a list of approved snacks for him to buy me as and when I need

sippy bottle wasn’t on my list but good to know!! I’ll deffo add it! I have a peri bottle but haven’t packed it. I might put it in the “just in case” bag since it has mixed views

yeah that’s what I’m trying to do. Have a main bag for all the main things and just a bag for the things that could be handy but aren’t essential. I think all those things are on my list already which is good to know🙌🏽

I bought some disposable ones from Amazon hope they are ok as I just feel a bit icky using the hospital ones even though they are washed

ohhh there’s a few here I might add to my essentials! I won’t be taking hair stuff as I plan on having my hair done before going in a style that’s easy to manage

I thought about taking my pump, incase I struggle with latching but also to see if they could help me use it but I’m still not 100% sure if I should or shouldn’t

I don’t think it’s 100% necessary. I didn’t bring mine and they told me it would just help stimulate so your milk would come in a bit faster but usually milk hasn’t come in by then anyway! Waiting until you get home is totally okay too!

no harm in taking it and not using it. I got quite upset at the hospital as I needed help basically every time to get my girl to latch, but the midwife said you don’t know what you’re doing, and they don’t know what they’re doing, it just takes some getting used to. It soon becomes easy and almost 10 months later I still breastfeed!

Yh so many things depend on the labour you have which you can’t predict! I def felt better being over prepared for every eventuality lol

A big water bottle!!