Drop Everything! It’s Hospital Bag Time

Our helpful list of must-haves and nice-to-haves for your hospital bag.

Even if you don’t end up using absolutely everything you cram into your hospital bag (OK, bags. We’ve never heard of anyone squeezing it all into one…), planning and packing and unpacking and packing your hospital bag again is a good use of time when you’re waiting to pop.

One of the things they don’t tell you about pregnancy is that it can drag a little. So, perfecting the art of the hospital bag is a great project and distraction as you waddle your way into the final weeks of pregnancy.

Of course, every family is different, but we’ve put together what we hope is a pretty helpful list of must-haves and nice-to-haves….

For you

📽️ Some entertainment - Ideally pre-downloaded, whether on your phone, a laptop or tablet (hospital WiFi can be shaky and you’ll want to save your phone data to live-Whatsapp your birth to your friends later…) in case you’re in for the long-haul. The trashier, the better – now is not the time for hard-hitting Danish dramas.

🎧 Earphones - So that the whole maternity ward doesn’t need to know that you watch Selling Sunset. And so that you don’t have to involuntarily eavesdrop on the woman in the next bay’s clucky mother-in-law.

🔋 Phone charger - On the off-chance that you want to send people the odd photo of THE CUTEST BABY IN THE WORLD.

👩 Hair ties (if you have long hair, anyway) - Otherwise, you may find yourself screaming that you want to shave your head immediately.

🩴 Flip flops, sliders or slippers - Base your decision on the season, although bear in mind that hospitals are always absolutely boiling.

🍈 Stretchy bra tops or bralettes - The really cheap kind that come in multipacks. They’re comfy and super-stretchy, so work well as sleep/nursing bras, as well as drying super-quickly after a water birth if you have one.

💦 Breast pads - Because even if you don’t plan to breastfeed, your boobs might have other ideas!

🍫 Wrapped snacks - Think cereal bars, dried fruit, sweets, stuff that doesn’t go off or make too much mess. Shove some chocolate in there too, just because (although it might melt due to aforementioned tropical climate of most hospitals).

👚 A comfy nightie or big t-shirt, plus a dressing gown - Depending on how long you’re in, you might want a few nightwear options – especially because you’ll inevitably get gross bodily fluids on them (sorry!).

🛏️ A pillow - Because the hospital ones can be stingy. Also useful when you’re trying to get to grips with feeding. Likewise, a spare towel or two wouldn’t go amiss (but the hospital will give you the essentials).

🩲 Loads of pants - And then some more pants as well. Big old comfy ones.

🩸 Maternity pads - Useful for when your waters break, as well as all the mess afterwards. Take more than you think you need!

🪥 Travel-size toiletries - Remember face wipes – you might not have a face full of make-up to wipe off but they’ll help you feel cool and fresh in the absence of the time or space for your usual six-step skincare regime.

For baby

💩 Nappies, whether disposable or cloth - Either way, make sure you’ve practised on a doll and/or wriggly pet so you don’t get into any more of a flap than is absolutely necessary when you’re fastening it for real.

🧻 Nappy paraphernalia - Now, midwives will tell you your baby’s bum must be cleaned with cotton wool and cool boiled water to start with. Very few people actually keep this up. Proceed with caution as babies do have sensitive skin, but these days there are plenty of very gentle wipes on the market, including the reusable variety.

🍼 If you plan to bottle feed: a “starter pack” of ready-made formula with bottles/teats - The hospital will support you to breastfeed (and formula can be easily purchased in an emergency if you need it) but if you’re not planning to breastfeed at all, you will need to bring your own kit.

💤 Clothes, of course - Consider packing newborn size AND the next one up, in case you birth a whopper (you have our sympathies).

🎩 A hat - Partly for warmth, partly for aesthetic reasons due to the tendency for newborn heads to be a bit misshapen and/or crusty to start with.

🚗 A car seat - OK, this won’t fit IN the bag but you do need to bring one before you’ll be allowed to go home. We’d recommend keeping it in the car anyway in the run-up to your due date, and getting to grips with those fiddly straps and clips before there’s 7lb or so of precious life to contend with.

For your partner

🌙 Whatever they might need for an overnight stay, in case they end up stopping over - A toothbrush is definitely a good call, so your baby’s first opinion of their parent is not “eww, they smell like old coffee”.

💰 A bit of cash - Most hospital car parks take cards/contactless these days, but it’s good to be prepared for every eventuality.

📱 A list of people to contact with the big news - Along with the words “TELL THEM NOT TO PUT ANYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA UNTIL WE HAVE” underlined in red.

👍 A can-do attitude and lots of patience - Not currently available on Amazon Prime.

What you probably don't need

💄 Your entire make-up bag - If you’re a “less is more” type, you might not bother taking it at all. If you want a smidge of glam in those first photos (although we promise those new mum hormones will give you a glow anyway), just take the bare essentials to avoid unnecessary clutter.

🍗 Loads of food - If you end up staying, the hospital will kindly feed you. You really don’t want to discover mouldy sandwiches at the bottom of your bag four weeks after the birth.

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