I’ve never been a light packer. I usually throw around six handbags into the footwell of the car when we go away just in case the geranium red lipstick I love and need is in any one of them. I also believe that I will have time to sort through the freeze dried tangerines, crushed oatcakes and receipts and have them all organised and consolidated by the end of the trip. One day…Having given birth at home with my two previous children I never had to pack a hospital bag before – add into the equation that we wanted a water birth in a birth centre rather than a maternity ward and the list of essentials got longer and longer. When we got to the hospital we looked like car boot looters. I’ve put NEED next to the things we really, really did need…
Oops and these!
1) This is an essential oil diffuser that you plug in. It is really good. We didn’t get to use it 2) You’ll need oil for your diffuser. Lavender and rose are safe for pregnancy and babies 3) Big massive sanitary towels NEED THESE 4) Maternity Mattress and chair protectors came in so handy – the hospital will give you some but good to have extra in case of leaks. You could even use one as a bath mat when you have a shower and it will catch any drops of blood and save you having to clean the floor with wipes like I did. Yes, I know a cleaner probably would have done it but I just couldn’t leave it like that. 5) Wipes. NEED THESE for baby and for you. 6) Nappy bags. Great for disposing of nappies and sanitary towels 7) Nappies. NEED. If for some reason you run out or forget them there will be some in the Bounty bag you get given 8) Towel/towels NEED 9) Cotton Wool pleat for cleaning your baby’s bottom with water as recommended by midwife for early stage 10) Face Moisturiser. I packed my ever faithful Bobbi BrownExtra Repair moisturising Balm which made me feel human again. For me this was a must pack item. 11) Oh, yes you need a bag. This Herschel Supply one looks pretty roomy.12) Black pants. Don’t bother with white ones for obvious reasons 13)Dark coloured PJ’s – again choose dark for obvious reasons. These are from Hush £49.50 14) Lip balm – nothing worse than crunchy lips in a hot hospital. I like Lanolips.15) Jumbo Muslins. So useful for swaddling, shading, make-shift change mat, feeding under etc. These Aden+Anais ones are great. Put them on your baby shower list!16) Non scented body Moisturiser 17) Juice Cartons. Someone told me to sip juice during labour to keep my energy levels up so I threw some chilled cartons in my hospital bag. Having something to pep me up, refresh my mouth and sooth my throat during labour was a godsend. Throughly recommend 18) Flip Flops – these were on the recommended packing list for the Active Birth Centre but they came in handy in the hospital for walking to and from the shower19) Blanket, hat, grows, vests – basically everything your baby will need to wear and stay cosy in. This 6 piece set from Boden £54 is great. 20) This Works Energy Shower Gel. Nothing like it in shower gel terms for reviving and making things feel more doable 21) Toothbrush NEED 22) Toothpaste NEED. And if you’re going for a water birth you need to pack your own hand mirror and sieve. No need to pack your inhibitions… In between feeding and not sleeping, this has taken me blinking ages! Will try to add in more links asap.
