What’s in your hospital bag or what do you plan to pack and when did you start packing?

This might help https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/pregnancy/preparing-for-labour-and-birth/hospital-bag-checklist/ Don't forget snacks! You might like a spray you use at home, blanket and headphones

The My Expert Midwife hospital bag list is quite a good one, it’s what I used 1st time round. I felt I had way too much stuff personally, so I wouldn’t necessarily pack duplicates of everything but it’s a good all round list for you, baby & birthing partner x

@Mary ooo! Thank you, I’ll be having a read of this in a minute!

@Sam is that so? I was told to defo take a snowsuit because you just never know how cold it will actually be when the time rolls around. I don’t spend too much time at hospitals so I have no idea about the temp in there, thank you! I do have a lot of sleep suits with the integrated mittens so I’ll pack them instead then, appreciate it!

@Mia I’m worried about packing too much for sure. I’m so stressy when it comes to my hospital bag, so I’m trying to find a good balance of things that I’ll 100% need and things to take as a just in case, as well as how many of them all. Thank you so much! X

I probably wouldn't pack a snowsuit as the ward should be nice and warm and if you're driving home he can't wear it in the car seat. BUT I've packed 10 sleepsuits, 10 vests, 1 pack of nappies, 2 packs of wipes, a baby blanket and a swaddle (I can't swaddle with a blanket😂) 4 boxes of ready to feed formula. For me I've got a pillow, blanket, nighties (I had an c section with my first and found I couldn't wear trousers and pants without it being irritated. Plus it was nice being somewhat free! Taking some slippers, an extra long phone charger, snacks and loads of lucozade 😂 Ive only packed so many sleepsuits because with my first he would happily throw up on his clothes at least twice a day and I didn't have enough😂 x

@Sam I have to agree I wouldn’t bother with a snowsuit, just a vest, an outfit and a blanket maybe a thin cardigan depending on the outfit. Nothing thick is allowed to be worn in the car seat as it is unsafe so a blanket over the top is all that should be needed. My first was a January baby and we were never cold, not at hospital nor in the car. We only walked for 30 seconds from hospital doors to the car x

@Chloe three for no snowsuit, so no snowsuit it is! Throwing up on himself didn’t even cross my mind so I’m over here thinking I’ll only need like three sleepsuits😅 I’ll make sure to pack enough for accidents, my worry was that I don’t know if I’ll be in the hospital for a hot minute so how much is too much, you know? I have one of those little sleeping bags for him and he has plenty of blankets so I’ll be taking two or three blankets (just in case he throws up on them too, I was only going to take one, but now you’ve set my brain cogs off). I’m very much the kind of person who can sleep anywhere, so I don’t think I’ll bother with a pillow or blanket, but I’ll defo take a dressing gown and my Snuggie. I hadn’t thought about nighties, I was thinking trackies so I’ll defo look into those, bed socks and slippers sound good to me, I love toastie feet! I didn’t even think about my phone charger I won’t lie💀💀 I 100% am taking lucozade though! Thank you doll!x

So we only ever had short sleeved vest. Whilst in the hospital she wore a vest and then a sleepsuit or pyjamas on top. She only needed 2. We were in for 24hr exactly after birth. (Btw you need a hat for as soon as they are born they recommend one you don’t mind getting dirty or white so u can napisan! We just bought a white cotton one and washed it. Then had a different woolly hat for going home and everyday outings!) I was hot in the hospital mainly wore a baggy nightie and incontinense pants and then when I went home just leggings and a t shirt. Have a cardi just in case I had had so much medication when I went outside I needed a cardi and thick coat until I got to the car i was shivering. My lg to go home had a dungeree set very similar to that so I can’t actually remember 100% but I’m sure she had a vest, then the long top, dungerees and a thin cardigan plus the woolly hat and then a blanket to go out to the car. Once I. The car my FIL has the heating on so hot we stripped! 😂

@Jamie and honestly don’t worry they won’t get sick from being cold! If bubba is cold he will let you know by crying but the only way they will get poorly is germs. It’s such a minefield I know! X Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions or anything! If I can help I will do my best xx

@Dani My grandad will be the one bringing us home from the hospital and he’s such a worrier! I already know he’s going to have the heating on FULL BLAST and constantly asking if the baby is warm enough🤣🤣 Taking care of this newborn life has me all over the place, I’m over here looking at thermometers to take on the go everywhere so I can make sure he’s not too hot or warm🤣🤣 I think being told “yeah, I was in the hospital for 2 weeks after birth and my baby and I were really sick” by a friend of mine has set me off and now I’m just trying to make sure I avoid any uncomfortable situations for my son. I’m really glad you mentioned he wouldn’t be able to wear a snowsuit in his car seat but I had NO IDEA and would have put him in there with the snow suit on! 😨😨 I realise I defo need more assistance so I’ll HAPPILY be in your inbox! Thank you so much! Im very nesh as a person and winter + me = disaster. I like looking at the snow, I hate being in it and I can’t stand the cold🥲🥲

Anyone !!! please send link or details from where i can buy good stuff for baby.

Bibs and Muslin cloths for baby also x

I was saying oh I've got 10 weeks and then when I realised that's 70 days I was like....wow, that's no time ! I'm planning on getting my bag packed at around 32 weeks ish. I've got a list of things in my amazon basket ready to just click order. Last time I did an overnight / birth bag for me and baby and then a larger " just incase we stay in" bag in the boot of the car. It actually came in really useful. In our overnight/ birth bags i had 2 pairs of socks and a new pack of pants 1 pack maternity pads mini toiletries + hair brush + bobbles Basic makeup ( eyeliner and mascara) Peri bottle Snacks + drinks ( for during and after labour) Slippers Robe/dressing gown Easy to feed nightie Change of clothes for coming home Long phone charger Breast pads and maternity bra For baby, you definitely don't need a snow suit. Hospitals are HOT and they're not safe to use in car seats, so for the journey home ,inside clothes, maybe a thin cardigan, and a blanket over baby until the car warms up will be fine.

For baby i took 3 outfits incase of leaks/ sick ( vests and sleep suits ) Hat Mitts Coming home outfit Muslin sheet 10 nappies Water wipes Blanket for over baby in car And in my just incase bag i just added extra of each thing, my breastfeeding pillow, etc. Also if your planning thjbgs like fairy lights/ tea light/ aromatherapy for during labour take that in your birth bag. And a paper copy of your birth plan! I had one in every bag 😅 Hub had his own little rucksack.with a change of clothes plus snacks for him and phone carger etc. Anything your not sure if you need it would put in the incase bag. My previous labour inwent in with so much it looked like I was moving in and I was home 4 hours after he was born 😅😅

I doubt you will need a snow suit to get from the hospital to the car... especially as they have to leave in the car seat and you shouldn't put them in a snow suit in a car seat ever - just take a blanket to cover them with over seatbelt.

@Jamie a snow suit is like us wearing our thickest winter coat. If you needed to wear that inside a building then what is going on with the heating lol you won't need it. It's bulky and takes up lots of room. If in doubt - just layer. But it's really important not to overheat a baby. They can't regulate body temperature.

Agree, sleepsuits-wise I have a range of sizes and with/without sleeves, etc as I don’t want to baby to overheat. Hospitals are boiling so I’m taking a portable fan even with December baby! Something else to think about is natural, non toxic/unscented toiletries and deodorant so that baby can bond with your smell instantly. Especially if you’ll be in a little while and need showers!

Attended a regular clinic appointment at 29 + 3 to check my blood pressure and was kept overnight as it was high. Thank god my bag was packed in the car because never left hospital after then emergency c-section the next day. I had my stuff sorted but hadn’t packed one thing for my twins because hadn’t had time to wash everything. Definitely get something ready sooner than later just in case but when it comes to the babies the world won’t end if you forget something. Hospitals have loads of stuff and you can always send somebody on an emergency Primark/ Boots dash or ordered stuff next day online to come to the ward. After a week on a ward things I would would say are essential are: -Super comfy Pyjamas for before labour. - Nightdresses you can unbutton at the front for after labour when feeding and skin to skin etc. they’re easier after birth as may be too sore to get into pyjama bottoms. - If you drink herbal tea bring tea bags, especially peppermint for tummy!

Also… - A good sized snack bag is essential - Shower wipes handy for if you’re not able to get to the bathroom - An eye mask and ear plugs so handy as can be intensely bright and noisy on wards - A pair of sliders, flannels and big black towel to cocoon in after showering. - A lot of moisturiser as hospitals are so drying. Body scrub handy to get rid of all the debris (plasters etc) - Soft slippers (not in white like I stupidly got!) -Pens and notebooks for all the information - A long phone charger and iPad or book or something to entertain you - You’ll need pads but hospital provides those so maybe just big, black knickers - chewing gum/ mints