What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag? Advice From Real Mums.

Written By Tess Milton

At 33 weeks pregnant, the looming promise of labour is becoming all too hard to ignore, which begs the question: ‘what do I pack in my hospital bag to prepare for labour?’.

Despite the fact I’ve had two babies before (albeit 10 years ago), I couldn’t for the life of me remember what to pack, so I hit up Google. The results were vast and varied, but it wasn’t until I put the question to my Facebook followers that I was inundated with suggestions from real mums - suggestions that Google had failed to fill me in on.

I knew these answers to the question ‘what should I pack in my hospital bag?’ had to be compiled into a blog for other pregnant mums like me, screaming out for some educated guidance. So, here it is…

You can see the original Facebook post and comments here.

Labour Essentials To Pack

  • Snacks

  • Clary Sage essential oil: ‘Clary sage for labour! But get a roll on if you can cause if you have a pregnant midwife they aren’t supposed to inhale a diffused clary sage in pregnancy, only in labour.’ - Aimee

    ‘My midwife used this with me during my recent labour. It helps bring on contractions - my little man had stalled.’ - Jasmin

  • Music, speaker and headphones

  • Hair ties

  • Battery operated candles

  • Combs: ‘You put one in each hand and squeeze during contractions. It’s reflexology.’ - Kerri

  • Spray Moisturiser: ‘A spray bottle of moisturiser for your face… especially in labour! A lady recommended it to me and midwives loved the idea. My skin did too!’ - Amanda

Post-Labour Recovery Items

  • Peri bottle

  • Ural: ‘To help with the stinging of my episiotomy cut when I was weeing! Was a life saver.’ - Aimee

  • High waisted undies: ‘Best advice I ever got (caesarian).’ - Jess

  • Maternity pads

  • Breast pads

  • Adult disposable undies: ‘No-one wants to do postpartum washing.’ - Erika

  • Femfresh wipes

  • Lavender essential oil: ‘To help relax and sleep, and it just smells nice.’ - Sally

  • Movicol (laxative): ‘Definitely want it to be easy breezy down there.’ - Sarah

  • Peppermint tea: ‘To drink if you end up having surgery. The gas pain after c-section is the worst pain.’ - Laura

Post-Labour Clothes

  • Slippers

  • Baggy clothes

  • Lots of undies

  • Nice pair of PJs or nightie: ‘I lived in nighties. Easy to pop out a boob and also feels less invasive when down stairs needs to be checked.’ - Laura

    ‘Preferably nighties not pants and tops. You are definitely not going to feel like pulling up pants.’ - Natasha

  • Lightweight dressing gown

  • Bonds nursing tank tops: ‘They are great because they are comfy, easy to breastfeed in, and you can wear them and not have to worry about layers/lifting your shirt etc.’ - Jasmin

Items To Help You Sleep In Hospital

  • Sleep mask: ‘There are always lights on everywhere!’ - Heather

  • Travel neck pillow: ‘Handy when you are sitting up and dog tired, plus also acts at useful earmuffs.’ - Heather

  • Ear plugs: ‘Incase you want to sleep after bub is born and everyone is snoring and being super noisy.’ - Amy

  • Your own pillow

Hospital Toiletries

  • Paw paw ointment

  • Cream for mastitis

  • Makeup: ‘If you are up to it for cute first pics.’ - Danielle

  • A nice body wash: ‘Hospital soap stinks.’ - Bridie

    ‘100% agree! It made me feel human again.’ - Nicole

  • Hand-held mirror: ‘As you may not feel like having to get up just to brush your hair.’ - Sally

  • Hair brush

  • Moisturiser

  • Box tissues: ‘As hospital will charge through the nose for these.’ - Sally

  • Deodorant: ‘It’s the simple stuff, but easily forgotten and greatly missed.’ - Christel

  • Hair ties: ‘Super handy for keeping your hair out of the way and for when you have gone 24 hours without brushing it’s easy to just pull it into a bun or pony.’ - Natasha

  • Toothbrush

Baby Items To Pack For Hospital

  • Baby swaddle

  • Onesies

  • Baby socks

  • Burp cloths

  • Baby wipes

  • Nappies

Extra Hospital Bag Must-Haves

  • Deck of cards

  • Extra-long phone cord (3 metres)

  • Tea bags: ‘Good quality tea bags if you are a tea drinker.’ - Clare

  • Notepad and pencil: ‘Recording feeding times for bubba. Also in the (hopefully unlikely) event you need to record unacceptable statements or behaviour by health professionals.’ - Julie

Are You Scared of Child Birth?

Whilst it is important to prepare for our babies, if I’m brutally honest, my obsession with getting everything ready (labour bag included) is one of the ways I’m trying to take control of an otherwise uncontrollable situation. If you have the same fears and feelings starting to surface, you may benefit from reading the blog: ‘Are You Controlling? Here’s How To Tell + 5 Ways To Stop’.

Do You Struggle To Set Healthy Boundaries?

Having a baby makes the need for healthy boundaries a must! Your job at this time in life is to look after your newborn baby, and to do this you need to look after you too. This means sleeping when you can, delegating jobs that others can do to lighten your load, and the big one… saying ‘no’ to people! If you need help learning how to create healthy boundaries, check out the blog: ‘How To Create Healthy Boundaries + What Happens If You Don’t’.

Tess Milton
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