What you REALLY need to pack in your Maternity Hospital Bag

What you REALLY need in your Maternity Hospital Bag 

(Don't make the same mistakes as I did and start running out of things on the second day) 

When I was pregnant I told everyone that I planned to wake up one morning with contractions, get straight to the hospital, give birth in a matter of hours and come home the same day. Oh how naive I was: I ended up with a 16 hour labour and a 4 day stay in hospital. 

Unfortunately my hospital bag reflected my naivety, 'one pair of knickers will do' 'Oh the hospital will have maternity pads right?' 

So I decided to help other women in my position, yes there are SO many lists on the internet about what to take and when I was expecting I trawled through them all. So I thought I would make one of my own : ) 

• First, use a suitcase, not a bag, a suitcase is bigger and easier to wheel places (plus its a good place for your husband to sit on if there are no other options ha)

Lets start with what you need for yourself 

Top of the list: That sodding green booklet you've had to carry around for the last 9 months (aka your maternity notes) And your Birth Plan (if you've decided to make one) 

• Make sure you have something to give birth in (you will most likely change into this before heading to the hospital) But you will need a comfortable nightie or a long t-shirt (I would recommend a knee length nightie, rather than a full length one, as a full length one might get tangled round your legs) 
• If you plan to breastfeed, pack a Maternity bra (or a flashers bra as I've come to know them) 
• Socks (Flight socks are a good option to avoid achy legs. And slippers in-case your advised to walk around to get the baby moving 
• A Dressing Gown for covering yourself and keeping yourself warm and cozy (I slept in mine as the hospital bedding was very cold) 

For after the birth: 

• Truck loads of Maternity Pads (the ones from Boots were my favourite and they constantly seem to be on a 3 for 2 offer) Maternity Pads are longer and thicker than normal pads and they feel softer too. Yes, the hospital does supply them, but (in my experience) they are very reluctant to give them to you) You will go through a lot of them, as you will be bleeding a lot afterbirth (gross, I know but it happens to everyone I'm afraid)
• Old knickers (again I would say at least 10 pairs (don't worry they barely take up any room in your bag) Or Disposable Knickers (again I found the ones from Boots the best) With Disposable Knickers you can just whip everything off and chuck it all away. 
• Comfortable Clothing for changing into afterbirth ( I would recommend packing clothing from when you were around 6 months pregnant, as you will still have a belly) 
• Toiletries (you can pack make-up, but I guarantee, you won't have time to do your make-up (ie can't be arsed as you now have a screaming baby) Maybe pack a tinted moisturiser just to boost yourself up a little if you feel you need something for when visitors come. 
• When it comes to toiletries, I would recommend: hairbrush / hairbands/ dry shampoo / deodorant / hand-held mirror

For breastfeeding

• Nursing Bras (the Flasher ones) to make breastfeeding easier 
• Breast Pads for leaks 
• Muslin Cloths to cover yourself (these bad-boys have a multitude of uses, and honestly, you will use thousands of the sodding things!)
• Nipple shields; if your struggling with feeding these are a good option. 

If your not breastfeeding

• Pre-made ready to use bottles (we use the Cow and Gate number ones) You just open and go. Even if you plan to breastfeed pack some of these just incase, I planned to breastfeed, but unfortunately I was unable to do so, and these were a lifesaver. 

For baby 

• Five Short-Sleeved Bodysuits and Five Sleep-Suits this may seem over-board, but the amount of times I had to change Emmy, after she had spit-up or wee'd on her clothing was crazy. 
• A Cute blanket (if your in the UK and are having the Bounty Photo-shoot, it's nice to have the baby in a pretty blanket of your choice in the pictures. Plus you will need something to wrap them up in on the way home 
•  Nappies (babies go through 12 a day on average, so pack a lot of nappies, I would recommend one pack of Size 1 Pampers nappies (that's 40 in a pack and they cost around £8) they are honestly so small they take up little room. 
• Baby Wipes: We like Water Wipes as they are nice and gentle on newborn baby skin
• A Baby Hat: the hospital will put the baby in strange looking knitted hat for the first 24 hours after birth to keep them warm. However you will need a hat for the journey home. 
• Muslin Clothes (so flipping useful) you can use them for mopping up all kinds of baby mess 
• Car Seat (Seriously the hospital won't let you go home without one!) 

Don't Forget: 

You will need shit-loads of snacks. Hospital Food kinda sucks (plus your birth partner isn't entitled to any of the free food) Of course, there's usually snack machines and even a a cafe in some places. 

Entertainment: You may choose to pack a magazine or a puzzle book. BUT before and obviously during labour you will be in too much pain to concentrate on anything else other than wanting to scream from your lungs. After the birth I was either too tired or too busy with the baby to think about doing anything else. In most hospitals they have a small TV, however when I was there mine didn't get switched on at-all. 

Random bits and bobs
Remember you and your partners phone chargers
Drinks: Water and Energy Drinks as well as Glucose Tablets to up your energy. 
Your Mobile Phones with all your emergency contacts.

Remember, don't stress if you forget anything, you can always get a relative to pop to your house or to the shops to pick up anything that you may need. 

What emergency items did you keep in your hospital bag?