Once you’re around 36 weeks pregnant, you’re going to want to make sure that you’ve got your hospital bag at the ready. The last thing you need when you’re counting contractions is to be running around looking for clean socks!
It’s worth asking your hospital in advance what they supply so you don’t end up packing unnecessary items. When we visited our hospital of choice in Torrejón, they told us that they provide towels, bath sponges, maternity pads and disposable underwear, nightgowns for mum, nappies and clothes for babies.
To help with organising things, I found it easier to pack baby’s stuff separately from my own. I just packed their regular changing bag with a few extra items, and brought another bag for myself, with a few things for my husband too.
For baby
When I was packing baby’s bag, I used sandwich bags to organise everything neatly. The sleepsuits went in one bag; vests in another; socks, bibs and hats in another… It meant that in the hospital we weren’t rooting through a full bag trying to find what we were looking for.
- Changing bag (check out our other post on “What to pack: Baby Changing Bag”)
- Changing mat
- 3 sleepsuits with long arms and legs to keep baby nice and toasty
- 3 vests
- 3 muslin cloths
- Burt’s Bees Baby Oil (for helping to clean that first sticky, tarry poop)
- Hand sanitiser
- Nappy bags
- Going-home outfit
- Nappies
- Cotton pads
- Nappy rash cream
- 2 cellular blankets
- 2 bibs
- 3 pairs of socks
- 1 pair of soft booties
- 3 hats
- Wet wipes
- Car seat
For Mum
- Your birth plan and hospital notes
- Boob care kit – this is mostly for breastfeeding mums
- Nipple shields
- Breast pads- reusable or disposable
- Nipple compresses
- Nipple Balm
-
- Make-up
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Any medication you need
- Witch hazel spray (for relieving swelling and inflammation after labour)
- Deodorant
- Lip balm (your lips can get really dry during labour)
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash
- Face cloths (useful for patting yourself dry after a shower, especially if you’ve had stitches)
- Massage oil
- Toiletry bag
- Hair ties
- Hairbrush
- Water spray bottle or a hand-held fan to keep you refreshed
- Snacks and energy drinks like Aquarius
- A bikini (if you’re interested in a water birth or in using a shower to help with pain relief)
- Flip flops for wearing in the shower
- Slippers, cosy socks (your feet can get surprisingly cold during labour), a nightdress or t-shirt for labour and pyjamas for the nights that you’ll be staying in the hospital
- A dark dressing gown (in case of any stains)
- Nursing bras
- Comfy underwear (I bought a multi-pack of black Granny-pants from Primark that I could throw away afterwards)
- A towel
- 3 changes of comfy clothes, including something to go home in
- Birthing ball (if the hospital doesn’t have them)
- Heat pack
- Something to keep you distracted: your phone, charger, laptop with films downloaded, playlist, headphones, a book
- You might also want to bring your own pillow
For your partner
- A change of clothes
- Toothbrush
- Deodorant
- Snacks and drinks
- Comfortable shoes
- Swimming trunks if they plan on joining you in the pool or the shower
- Change for parking and vending machines
That’s it! So get packing and don’t leave it too late!
Is there anything else that you’d add? Or anything else that you wish you hadn’t packed? Let us know on our Facebook page!