When it comes to preparing for the arrival of your little one, one of the most important tasks is packing your maternity hospital bag. Having a well-prepared bag can help ensure a smoother and more comfortable experience during labour and postpartum recovery. In this article, we'll provide you with an essential checklist of what to pack in your maternity hospital bag. Whether you're a first-time mum or if this isn't your first baby, this guide will help to take one thing off your list and help you to stay organised and ready for your big day.
1. Comfortable Birthing Clothing
It feels like an obvious statement that being comfortable during labour is so important. For that reason you need to make sure that the clothes you plan to give birth in allow you to feel able to move around freely and are also suited to nursing your baby and having skin-to-skin contact when they are born. We’d suggest a button down nightgown as being the perfect option for you.
It’s fair to say that during the birth process your clothes may get a little messy, so you’ll definitely want a couple of changes of clothes too. Again comfort is paramount as you may be feeling tender and sore. Baggy jogging bottoms and loose fitting clothes are perfect for the days following birth.
If you’re planning a water birth then you may wish to take a bikini or a tankini with you. You may also wish to take a change of clothes for your birth partner too.
2. Dressing Gown and Slippers
After you have birthed your baby, you’ll want to make sure that you have a dressing gown and slippers at the ready in case you have to walk around the hospital. You’ll likely find long oversized dressing gowns the most comfy and slip on slippers are best in case bending down is difficult.
3. Nursing Bras
Nursing bras are a breastfeeding must-have. They quickly and easily unclip to allow you to breastfeed conveniently.
4. Maternity Knickers
Think Bridget Jones! Seriously, the bigger the better when it comes to knickers for after you have given birth. Postpartum you will likely experience heavy bleeding and need to use maternity pads so big knickers will help ensure that you feel comfortable.
5. Toiletries
You may experience a long labour or have to be in hospital for a prolonged period of time. Make sure you pack all of your essential toiletries so you can stay feeling fresh. Here’s a bit of a list of some things you might want to take:
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Hairbrush or Comb
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Soap or Body Wash
You’ll want to choose a really mild and gentle option as you might be feeling sore after birth.
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- Face Wash and Moisturiser
- Deodorant
- Lip Balm
Hospitals can be really dry places so you might find your lips drier than usual. Not only that, if you’re using gas and air during labour this can be notoriously drying on lips. A good lip moisturiser is therefore a maternity hospital bag essential!
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- Hair Ties or Headbands
- Makeup (if you want to!)
6. Personal Items
- Phone and Charger
- Snacks / Drinks
- Music Player or Headphones
- Books or Magazines
7. Assisted Pain Relief Items
- TENS Machine
A TENS machine can be used as soon as your labour starts and works by sending a low level electric current through electrodes placed onto your skin. It’s recommended to choose a TENS machine which is specifically designed for use during labour and which includes helpful information about where to place the electrodes on your skin. It is thought that the electrodes block pain receptors going to the brain as well as causing the release of endorphins in the body (which are naturally pain relieving substances which help you to relax).
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- Hot Water Bottle
Many women report that holding a hot water bottle on their back can help relieve discomfort during labour.
- Massage Tools
Massage is an effective natural way to manage labour pain and using special tools can really help. Massage is often a great way to get your birth partner involved in a positive way during the birth process.
- Essential Oils
You may wish for your birth partner to help you to relax through massage during labour using essential oils. Your midwife will be able to advise on different techniques they could use to assist pain relief. Choosing essential oils such as lavender or frankincense can really help you relax during labour.
- Hand Fan
It’s normal to feel hot and bothered during labour, especially as the contractions intensify. A hand fan can be a really useful addition to your hospital bag to help keep you feeling cool.
8. Baby Items
- Baby Clothes: Pack onesies, rompers (depending on the time of year) and don’t forget a hat for your newborn
- Baby Blankets
- Muslin Cloths
- Nappies
You have a couple of options when it comes to nappies, you can either choose to use reusable or disposable options. Reusable nappies have SO many benefits when it comes to looking after the environment (less nappies in landfill and not mentioning the cost savings) but we understand that they aren’t suited to everyone. That’s why we have suggested an eco friendly disposable option too.
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- Wipes
Your new best friend! Finding the right wipes is so important as you will use plenty of them, starting in hospital. Finding wipes that are as natural as possible is really important.
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- Baby Car Seat: You'll need this for the trip home so make sure it’s prepared and ready in your pick up car. Often this will be used to walk the baby out of the hospital.
9. Postpartum Supplies
- Maternity Pads
For the days and weeks after birth, you will experience heavy bleeding and therefore maternity pads are essential by being more absorbent, gentler and longer than normal sanitary pads.
- Nipple Cream
Sore nipples are very common during breastfeeding and can often be caused as a result of the uncomfortable positioning of baby while feeding. It really is a staple part of your breastfeeding journey to find the right nipple cream to keep sore nipples at bay and also help to soothe and heal the skin.
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- Perineal Spray
A perineal spray can help to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with birth. It can be sprayed directly onto the perineum.
- Breastfeeding Pillow
Especially in those early days, you will be feeding A LOT! This means that you need to be as comfortable as possible while feeding and a breastfeeding pillow is an essential. Breastfeeding pillows can be positioned around you and baby to keep you well supported.
- Nursing Pads
When you are breastfeeding, you will find that your breasts can leak milk between feeds. Nursing pads prevent the leakage coming through your bra onto your clothes.
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10. Documentation
- Birth Plan
We would recommend taking the time to write a birth plan and taking it with you to the hospital for your midwife to read through during your labour. Writing a birth plan allows you to think about the choices available to you, research around them and ask any questions to your community midwife. Once you are aware of all the options, it’s important to document your preferences so that your midwife can support you with this during your labour.
Summary
Remember to tailor your hospital bag to your specific needs and preferences, and pack it well in advance of your due date to minimise stress. All too often women are in early labour trying to throw their bag together - don’t be this mama!
