Packing Your Baby Hospital Bag. A Minimalist Checklist.
I don’t know any Mother that didn’t pack and unpack their hospital bag a million times. Mainly because you’ll probably change your mind on what you’ll need, pack too much, unpack, pack too little, then add more. But also because it’s fun and exciting to pack all those tiny clothes and imagine of the little baby you’ll soon be bringing home in them.
However once at the hospital you’ll realise you didn’t need half of this stuff and potentially get stressed looking for that one hair band you need at the bottom of the bag, under the 5 packs of nappies you don’t need.
That’s why I’ve made this a much shorter list of just the essentials, and what to do with everything else to keep your labour and first few days post partum as simple and stress free as possible, all based on what I found the easiest way to do this process.
Minimalist Essentials for Mummy.
Water Bottle and Straw.
I have never been more thirsty than when I was in labour. That last stretch of pushing, desperately sucking on the gas and air made me scream for water between each contraction. Obviously the hospital will provide you with water, cups and straws, but I really apricated my partner being there with my huge water bottle, long metal straw at the ready so I didn’t even need to lift my head.
Period Pants.
Although I use cloth pads during postpartum as I find them more comfortable (and obviously more eco-friendly), those first few hours in particular and days after birth I found it necessary to use heavy duty disposable pads. This was because you are likely to be bleeding heavily and need to change them every couple of hours. My midwife recommended I wear two at a time. Even then I leaked through onto my my comfy hospital trousers, and then onto my mother-in-laws white sofa when we took our first baby daughter to meet them one day post-partem, (yes I know I was mad going out one day post partum but I’ve learnt my lesson). For this reason I really recommend having some period pants too. Wear your pads inside your period pants so even if you leaks there’s extra protection. Great if your stuck under a sleeping baby. My particular period pants from WUKA are also super comfortable and supportive, great for postpartum. Of course you can them carry on wearing them for however many weeks you bleed after (which I promise isn’t as bad as those first few days) and then for your periods for many years to come.
Heavy duty Pads.
As I said before I like reusable cloth pads because I find them so much more comfortable, but I’ll take a pack of disposables to the hospital too. Don’t go over board packing pack after pack taking up room in your bag as the hospital will provide you them with too. Leave any extra packs at home (or cloth ones) in easy reach of the toilet for when you get back. This will also be easy for you partner to grab for you if you do need to ask him to bring them.
A tight fitting top or belly wrap for you now soft belly.
No-one tells you how jelly like your belly will feel straight after birth and for a week or so after. Don’t worry it will retract but after my first birth I remember feeling like I needed to hold onto my belly or it might fall on the floor. Once home from the hospital I put on a tighter t-shirt and felt so much better that things felt more “in place.” After all everything inside you has been moved for where that baby once sat. I thought I was slightly mad for doing this but have seen found belly wrapping or binding a common in many cultures.
You can buy belly wraps which are almost like splints, though I recommend just researching how to use a wrap you already have yourself or like I said just wear a tighter fitting t-shirt. Your muscles will go back on their own, this is just for your own comfort.
a couple of comfortable outfits.
Hospitals are in my experience the hottest place on the planet. Opt for light comfy clothing. I went with cotton lounge trousers and t-shirts. This way I could wear them to bed and as a going home outfit. Have a few spares incase of leakages.
A top that will be easy to feed in is important for you comfort in the early “Just latch please” days and a light jumper. You can always keep a thicker jumper or coat in the car if it is cold for heading home. These will otherwise just get in your way in hospital.
Basic toileties.
Hopefully you won’t be in hospital for long so you won’t need your whole bathroom cabinet. Just something to shower with after birth. Which has the potential to be the best shower of your life weather you have fancy products with you or not. Just a shampoo that you can use on your hair and body. Your tooth brush and paste to freshen up. Some lip balm and face cream as hospital can also be very dry. The rest of your body can wait to be moisturizer when you get home. You’ll probably be to tired and sore to stand their rubbing cream into your legs away. Hair bands and clips are also essentials for giving birth.
Slip on shoes/slippers/flip flops.
Make things as easy and minimal for yourself as possible and just take one pair of slip on shoes. No tying laces, put socks on with flip flops if your cold. No one will care in the hospital or in the car park as you slip out quickly and straight into bed at home. It’s all about comfort and ease right now so if that means socks and sandals, you go Glenn Co Co.
Phone Charger.
Thanks to modern technology your phone is all you’ll need to take pictures, contact loved ones, listen to music, stroll through Instagram when your tired, tired, broken body won’t let you sleep. Therefore make sure you have your charger. One with a long lead if you have it.
2 x large wet bags.
If your trying to be a low waste partner, you’ll soon come to realise that the biggest super power in your arsenal is having wet bags. Wet bags mean you can bundle in any dirties, weather they are bloody, pooey, sicked on, anything that welcomes you to the unglamorous world of parenting and send them home to be put straight into the wash without having to touch anything. Or have it touch anything in your bag. Their magic. My favorites as always are from Baba and Boo.
Minimalist Essentials for Baby.
Cloth Wipes.
Cloth wipes are my number one essential for any baby, but particularly for newborns. This is because you’ll be recommended to use cotton wool and water for the first few weeks rather than harsh disposable wipes as newborn skin is sensitive. However, cotton wool and water is a FAFF!! Tackling that first newborn meconium poo (it’s like black tar) with cotton wool in my opinion is a recipe for disaster. However using soft cotton, or bamboo wipes with just water gently on babies skin works a treat. Head over to my Full Guide on Cloth Wipes if you interested in learning more.
Nappies.
Just pack what you need for a couple of days weather that’s cloth nappies or disposables. Don’t panic about what if I’m in hospital for a week. The hospital will provide if necessary, your partner can head home or to the shops to buy more. Keep it simple to avoid extra stress and a huge bag to carry.
A baby blanket and LArge Muslin.
The hospital will automatically wrap baby up in a blanket for you but their never the nicest and you’ll want something to put over baby as you bring them home. Large muslins are my favorite for this as they are light and breathable in a hot hospital, can be used to swaddle and as great covers when feeding.
3 x Baby grows and 3 x vests.
Don’t go mad with tons of fancy outfits. Mainly because even if this isn’t your first baby you will have forgotten how tiny and fragile they look. Suddenly dressing your baby in something that needs to be pulled over their head and tied around the back seems all too much. Just stick to sleep suits that can be done up at the front. A vest to go underneath if its colder weather. I recommend a few incase of meconium poo explosions. But again remember if you end up having to stay in hospital for an extended period of time more can be brought to you from home.
Baby grows with built in mittens and feet are best so you do not have to worry about socks and those silly scratch mittens that do not stay on whatever you do.
Hat and cardi if weather appropriate.
Remember it is advised not to put babies in padded coats when in a car seat as it will affect the seat belt in a crash. The hospital and then car will be warm anyway to strap them in a baby grow and a cardi if necessary and then put their blanket over the top once you’ve strapped them in to keep them warm.
Car Seat.
Sounds obviously but when I was in hospital they would not let you take you baby home unless you had a car seat in the hospital with you. Yep even if it was in the car they wanted to see it. Get your partner to bring it in before home time so there’s no waiting around.
Extras for your Birthing Partner.
Something for them to eat.
You may be in labour but they will be standing by your side for a long time, get some instant noodles in the bag or something can be heated quick and easily so they can have something hot, and if your up to it feed it to you too.
Cash for vending machines and coffees.
After labour your body will be carving everything. I had more than enough food given to me by the hospital but it’s always handy to have cash for the vending machine for sweet treats, and awful coffee for you partner.
A spare pair of pants and socks.
They probably won’t need them but if they do end up staying a long time, a fresh pair of pants, a washed face and a coffee with help them feel a little refreshed.
Things you do not need to pack for the hospital.
Now for the things all the other lists will tell you to bring. Many which I threw into my first hospital bag that never came out and then became a nuisance to find once I was at home. Of course the last thing I thought of when I arrived home was to unpack my hospital bag straight away, Mat was busy cooking up lovely food for me to eat, all my essentials which I needed next to me were hidden away in the mess my bag became while in hospital.
Keep in simple, minimal and stress free by having less in your hospital bag and everything else place in the right convenient place at home. That way if you do have to stay in hospital longer than hoped your partner will be able to find it all easily, but mainly once your home it will be where you need it all.
Own Pillow/Blanket.
Seriously in labour you won’t notice if its a silk pillow made by angels or just something to scream into.
AN outfit for birthing in.
You’ll end up naked, forget about this one.
Things to stop you getting bored.
Bored? With a baby? I wish. If you do your phone gives us all we need now. First time round I even put in the portable DVD player as if we would have time to watch a movie. A quick YouTube video will suffice, trust me.
Hairdryer.
Unless you’ll be stepping out like Kate Middleton, don’t worry about it.
Your own towel.
Hospital gave me towels so I didn’t bleed all over the nice one I brought.
Hundreds of extra Pads and nappies.
Like I said, have them to hand when you arrive home. More can be brought or given by the hospital if necessary.
Breast pump and breast pads.
Your milk won’t come in for a few days and even then it may take a couple more days before the spraying situations begin, so the need for breast pads is minimal. The hospital will also have medical grade breast pumps if you need one, like if your baby needs to go to NICU, otherwise you shouldn’t need one, getting help with feeding support and latching instead. Keep the pump and pads next to your bed for when you need them at home is a much better idea.
Loads of Food.
You’ll be fed at the hospital even if it isn’t the best food in the world it will be hot and better than any snacks you can cram into your bag. My Mum and Dad also turned up at the hospital with decent bread, cut up melon and a flask of decent coffee for me too. Much better than cereal bars. Start dropping hints to people that may visit now.
Extra Tips to make the process easier.
A few bits written down.
I didn’t want a strict birth plan written down, but I did make notes of the few things that were important to me. Write down as little or as much as you want for the midwives and make sure you bring this with you. It will be a help for you partner too if your unable to talk at the time.
It’s also good to have some good breast feeding support helplines, or forums written down and ready if you are wanting to feed. Even if your super confident. Sometimes things are harder than we think and not always are the midwives able or have the time to give the support we need. There is often lactation support at the hospital if you ask but it is a post code lottery, some hospitals have more support than others. Again if they are busy with a lot of mother this could affect the support you receive. It’s not a great thought that we potentially may have to take the matters into our own hands and look else where for support but it is the reality, so it is better to have the resources there ready for you to be more empowered. I can not tell you how many mothers have told me they were unable to breastfeed for X Y or Z reason. 90% of those mothers could have fixed the problem with the right support. So if you want to feed being prepared by looking for support is my best advice.
Breastfeeding Support Numbers to have at the ready.
National Breastfeeding Helpline.
Breastfeeding Support and find a local Lactation Consultant.
Having sepate Bags or sections for you and baby.
May sound over the top but having yours and babies things separate makes things easier. It is highly likely your partner, midwife, doula or health worker will be getting things out of the bag for you. Having things separate will make it easy for you to direct them to the right place.
Having things organised at home.
I mentioned this throughout this post but being organized with everything in the right place at home will not only help you feel more prepared and relaxed but mean that should you need anything brought to hospital it will be easy to find. The most important thing is that when your at home and resting with baby everything is where you need it, the hospital and your birthing partner will cover the rest for any kind of stay you may have, which hopefully isn’t much at all. The minimal essentials in your hospital bag will really see you through.
I wish you all the luck and love in the world with you upcoming birth, weather its the one you plan or not keeping things as minimal as possible as always made me more relax and feeling more prepared. I hope this works for you too.
Hannah xx
Other Articles you might enjoy…
Creating a Sustainable Maternity Capsule Wardrobe.
How to Survive Maternity Leave Pay while Living Sustainably.
Cloth Nappies for Newborns. Everything You Need to Know.
Baby Essentials You Don’t Need. Lists for the Minimalist Mother.