*Just here for the FREE printable? Click here to get it!*
When I fell pregnant packing my hospital bag felt like it was years and years away. Now I’ve hit 36 weeks, which is just four weeks away from our due date, and he could come at any time now so we need to be as prepared as possible. With that said the hospital bags are now packed (well, packed and unpacked almost every day because I’m freaking out). I’m planning on giving birth at our local NHS hospital, and they don’t actually provide very much compared to private hospitals, so you have to bring your own nappies, cotton balls and maternity pads. So you might think I’m packing a lot of things compared to other hospitals.
Bear in mind that this is my first baby, therefore, I might be a little overpacked… But it keeps my mind at ease for those “just in case” thoughts. After lots of online research, and talking to my friend Alice (who recently had her baby Joshua) about what sizes I should take. I think (think!) I’ve ‘completed’ my final bag. I have a few things that are going to have to be packed last minute that I’m still using daily but we’ll get to that point later.
My midwife told me to pack two bags. One to take into the hospital with mine and baby’s belongings, and another to keep in the car boot with extra supplies for both myself and baby. In case something happens that means we’re going to be staying in hospital longer than the average amount. She also suggested putting a few different sizes of baby grows in this ‘car-boot-bag’ just in case he’s smaller or larger than newborn size clothing. So, here’s what I’m taking with me;
Main labour/delivery Bag
For me;
– Handheld maternity notes
– Loose comfy t-shirt (one of Bradley’s old ones I nicked…)
– My light dressing gown – A linen one, not a fluffy one!
– A black nightgown
– Black bath sheet
– Foam flipflops
– 2 Theya maternity bras
– Bikini top (water birth)
– Pack of big Primark knickers
– Maternity pads
– Comb & hair bobbles
– Make up bag + remover + facewash
– Toothbrush + paste
– Deodorant
– iPhone + charger + battery pack (cause we don’t know where the closest socket will be!)
– My trusty camera + SD card
– THIS nipple cream
– Change for carpark/vending machines
– Small dry snacks
– Energy drinks
For Baby Zea;
– 4 Newborn vests
– 4 Newborn Sleepsuits
– 2 pairs of scratch mitts
– Knitted cardigan
– Cotton balls/pads
– Newborn hats
– 2/3 days of newborn sensitive nappies
– 2 swaddle blankets
– Newborn Socks
– Waterwipes
– Warm blanket
– An up to 1-month sleepsuit
– Baby’s first teddy
– Snowsuit (winter baby!)
– Going home outfit
And that’s all I’m taking! All of that fits into my one duffle bag which I bought from TK Maxx a couple of months back. Bradley is also taking his own little rucksack (bless) with a change of clothes for himself and some toiletries. No doubt I’ll be shoving some of my last minute bits into his bag… Our hospital is very good and lets dads stay overnight with the new mothers and babies, which I am so thankful for because my anxiety suffers badly with staying places overnight, and having Bradley there will hopefully help me keep calm.
I’ve created my own FREE printable hospital bag checklist just for you. This list I’ve printed and I have next to my bags for a ‘last-minute’ checklist so I can mentally prepare that I have everything I’m going to need. As myself and Bradley have both said we don’t want to be taking any trips home once we’ve got to the hospital until the day Baby Zea comes home with us.
Feel free to download the list by clicking on the link so you can print it off yourself!
Click here to get it sent straight to your inbox!
If theres anything you think I’m missing and that I might desperately need please leave a comment so I can add it to my bag. Likewise if you think I’ve packed things I won’t get chance to use let me know on that too. I’m addicted to reading hospital bag lists at the moment, so if you have one on your blog please link it below for me!
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I'd bring 2 baby hats as the first one will probably get a bit yucky after the birth. And you'll probably want to wear 2 maternity pads at a time in the first 48 hours so I'd bring 2 packs 🙂 if you do run out though the hospital won't leave you short! They had to give me a pack of cotton wool, oops! Good luck xx
What a lovely post! You're so close now eek! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy lovely xox Imogen
http://www.imogenrose.co.uk
Wow you are super organised! I bet you’re so excited for your little ones arrival. I’m so glad I’ve found your blog so I can see once baby is born and go on the journey with you!!
This is such a useful post for expecting mom's and dad's!
It's good that you're so organised! Good luck hun xx
Such a useful checklist, having had 2 babies now I feel like I've nailed it with the hospital bag but this is so useful to make sure! x
Oh this is such an exciting time and love this list, something I wish I had seen when I was having my little lady.
That's a great list, wish I'd had something like this when I had my daughter. I think I was most grateful for the nutrigrain bars & lucozade bottles I put in my hospital bag, they were definitely needed after labour! xx
I feel like nobody really packs what they actually need in their hospital bag. When I went in, I hardly touched anything in it and I left the same day. I got re-admitted a week later and didn't take enough – you can't win!! x
Gemma Louise
Goodness it feels like a lifetime since I packed my hospital bag, we formula fed so our godsend was those premade bottles you can get in boots, I over packed for Baby but took barely anything for me hah!
This is such a helpful post that I totally could have done with a year ago haha! I’d say take a couple 0-3 sleepsuits just in case too as Tyler was so long his legs didn’t fit in the new born ones! x
This post is so helpful for new mums, I've printed off the list to give to my sister cause she is pregnant with her second and would find this so helpful! 🙂 xx
Yasmina | The July Journal
Breast pads! Breast pads! YOU NEED THEM! They might have been in the list, but I swear I didn't see them listed haha. They were my life saver. I had ones that were manuka honey and they were so soothing. Reusable or disposable ones are also great. I never, ever got cracked nipples or anything and I'm convinced that the manuka honey breast pads were part of the reason why. I would also suggest a burp cloth or two incase your little has any spills 🙂