What to pack in your hospital bag?

Hospital BagPregnancyPregnantLabour and BirthBirth ClassChildbirth ClassAntenatal Class
Written By Lauren Brenton

Packing your hospital bag is an exciting time as you eagerly await the arrival of your new little baby. However, it can bring feelings of stress for some women if they aren’t sure what they should be packing. Remember, if you don’t live too far away from the hospital your partner will be able to duck home and grab any items that you may have forgotten.

 

When packing your hospital bag, as a midwife I recommend packing a bag for you and a separate bag for baby. This can make it easier for you to find what you need during labour and after baby is born.

 

Packing your bag

When you are packing your bag, it can be helpful to have luggage dividers to organise it into sections such as; labour, first shower and postpartum.

 

For labour you may want to pack:

  • Swimmers for the bath or shower (make sure you pack some for your partner too)

  • A large T-shirt, dress or nightie that you can comfortably labour in. You will not feel like wearing pants when you’re in labour.

  • Large grannie undies or Partum Panties. You will need a couple pairs for labour especially if your waters have broken, as it will continue to leak out until your baby is born.

  • Maternity pads.

  • Lip balm

  • Water bottle with a straw

  • Speaker to play your One Mama Midwife Labour Hits Playlist

  • Any items from home that will help you create a calm birth environment (fairy lights, pictures, birth affirmations, diffuser, etc)

  • One Mama Midwife Birth Comb and a TENS machine for pain relief

  • Phone charger

 

For your first shower you may want to pack:

  • Toiletries

  • Loose comfy PJs or nightie

  • Large grannie undies

  • Maternity Pads or Partum Panties

  • Slippers

 

For postpartum you may want to pack:

  • Silverette Nipple Cups

  • Any colostrum that you have expressed antenatally in your Haakaa Colostrum Collectors– make sure you bring frozen, labelled and in a cooler bag that you can give straight to the midwives to put into the hospital breastmilk freezer.

  • Comfortable clothing, I always recommend still wearing maternity clothes so that you are comfortable postpartum. Such as The RY Group pregnancy or recovery tights

  • Supportive but not tight breastfeeding bras

  • Maternity pads or Partum Panties

  • Haakaa Lady Bug or Pump

  • BodyICE Woman Ice and Heat Packs

  • Breastpads

  • If you are planning on formula feeding, bring your formula of choice and bottles

 

Packing baby’s bag

When you are packing the bag for your baby, remember less is more – they really don’t need much while at the hospital and any essentials you forget the hospital should be able to provide for you.

 Most babies are born into 0000 sizing however they grow out of these so fast, so make sure you have a few to take to the hospital with you.

Pack for your baby:

  • Nappies

  • Wipes

  • 3-5 singlets

  • 3-5 Long sleeve and long leg bodysuits as hospitals are always cold

  • Baby mittens and socks

  • Stretchy cotton swaddles (the bigger, the better)

  • Riff Raff Sleep Toy

 

There are many other items that you may like to bring to the hospital to make your stay more comfortable and luxurious however, the items listed here are essentials. It can be helpful to pack your hospital bag before 34 weeks gestation, so that you feel relaxed, ready and just in case you go into preterm labour or need to be hospitalised for any reason during your pregnancy.

This blog is brought to you by Silverette Nipple Cups

 

 

 

Lauren Brenton
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