Hospital bag check list for Mum

Hospital bag check list for Mum

Congrats! You’re going to be a parent soon.  Have you packed your Hospital bag yet?

Getting your bag ready as early as the third trimester is a good time.  This give you enough time to get organised what you will need to pack for you and your baby.  You will find you may not feel like shopping in the final weeks of your pregnancy.

Having said that, I remember I started to have contractions while shopping for the last of my baby essentials.

Not a good idea! Thank goodness I had my sister with me; being my first child I had no idea.

I want to make this really simple for you, so if you haven’t got time to read just download the checklist.

But I will just touch on some advice on what I found was good information

What to pack in your hospital bag  for labour and birth

I look back now 24 years ago when I gave birth to my first son and laugh, what was I thinking!  Wearing a brand new nightie I just bought especially for labour!  I ended up throwing out.

• Take an Old nightwear or T-shirt to wear during the birth ( it does get alittle messy)
• Dressing gown –useful if you end up pacing the hospital corridors in early labour.
• Slippers -or any other footwear that is easy to just slip on.
• Socks- your feet do get alittle cold during labour.
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during your labour.
• Hair tie, bobby pins, or hair band to hold your hair back
• Lip Balm –your lips get really dry
• Snacks and drinks for you while you are in labour.
• Things to help you relax, books, magazines, music etc
• Heat pack- that you can just put in the micro wave.
• Birth Plan – several copies for your partner to give to the midwives, plus any other documentation you have been asked to bring by the hospital.
• Plastic bag to take soiled clothes home in

Don’t forget your Medicare card and private health insurance details if you have them. 

What to pack For the birth partner

Poor Alan, the father of our 2  boys.  I so remember he was more concerned about me he totally forgot about himself. It was winter and we went into the hospital about 10pm and he was all rugged up, jacket, Hoody , track pants,Ugg boots- you get the picture.  What he didn’t count on was how hot hospitals are!  I remember he kept taking layers of clothes off ,until he was down to a singlet and track pants.   Beads of sweet where dripping off him as he was massaging my back.  What made it worse they were fleecy track pant and all he wanted to do was to take them off!  Hence to say child number 2, Alan dressed lighter!

• Water spray or a hand-held fan to keep cool down the mum-to-be while she’s in labour.
• Comfortable shoes. You may be pacing the corridors!
• List of people to contact
• Phone and charger- it could be a long wait and you wouldn’t want you phone to go dead when you announce the arrival of bubs.
• A change of clothes. – For afterwards, Alan could have done with this one.
• Swimwear, if you want to join the mum-to-be in a birth pool.
• Digital camera or video camera. If you want to bring a video camera, check with the hospital beforehand, because not all of them allow them in delivery rooms.
• Snacks and drinks. It could be a long haul.
• Money or a credit card for parking, and change for vending machines.

What to pack for in your hospital bag for  after birth

After being so in ore that I just gave birth to the most beautiful baby! I wanted a shower and Food!

Keep in mind you  will still have all of the items you took in for your labour, and it can be a good idea to ask your partner/support team, to take home any soiled clothes after the labour

• Comfortable, dark coloured undies (as much as pads are really large, there is going to be leakage!)
• Or disposable undies! This way you don’t have to send them home with your partner to wash. I have even heard some mums use depend
• Maternity pads- at least 2 packs. Bleeding can continue to 6 weeks but usually subsides after afew days.
• Nursing pads (disposable is good for hospital, washable is great once you’re home)
• Nursing Bra’s(no underwire to make sure you’re not cutting off any milk ducts) read more on choosing a nursing bra
• Nipple Cream to help heal your nipples while breastfeeding
• Relaxed fitting breastfeeding singlets/tops
• Loose pants – you may feel alittle tender afterwards.
• Sleepwear with easy nursing breastfeeding access
• Socks/slippers and robes
• Cardigan , light jumper or warm warp
• Phone charger
• Change for vending machine (just in case!)
• Toiletry bag

Post Pregnancy – After birth Care

I going to tell you a funny and slightly embarrassing story, directly after my first born (24years ago) the nurse gave me a condom full of ice.  You have to keep in mind I was young and naive (well that was my excuse) I had no idea what  to do with it. I was thinking to myself surely they don’t want me to put it up there. Yes, you know what I am thinking, after a great concern I ended up asking the nurse what to do with it.  Wow it was a relieve but was alittle uncomfortable.

Products have come along way since then (thank goodness)

These are just afew product you may want to look into.

Perineum Strip

Breast Gel- breast pads

Compression garments

Optional Extras

• Your own pillow if you’re particular about pillows
• Any snacks e.g. fruit and nut mix, snakes etc
• eye mask if you’re sensitive to light

A notepad or journal and pen or pencil for tracking your baby’s feeding sessions, writing down questions for your midwife or doctor, noting what the paediatrician says, jotting down memories of your baby’s first few days and so on

If you have older children

• a gift from your newborn to any siblings is a great idea
• activities (coloured pencils, books, stickers) for any older children to keep them occupied during visits

What to pack for your new baby

• Many hospitals include nappies, onesies, and blankets so check with your hospital before packing your bag
• Newborn Nappies, wipes, blankets (if not supplied by the hospital)
• 4 x warm onesies, singlets, socks (if not supplied by the hospital)
• Baby hats and mittens
• Baby swaddles
• Baby Moisturiser
• Other baby toiletries are not usually necessary – just water is enough in the early days, and is better for sensitive skin.
• Going home outfit

• REMEMBER to have your approved car seat fitted well before your due date!

For more information as to what you to pack for hospital download Hospital  check list

Image credits: Nursing Mama, Storksak Nappy Bag,BodyIce Woman