I’ve come to realise that the vast majority of hospital bag
posts have been written pre-baby and although interesting & insightful,
they don’t give that ‘real life’ quality that could be achieved though writing
post-baby. And this is what I’m bringing for you today.
What we packed in our hospital bag & what we actually needed.
We packed our hospital bag when I was around 36 weeks
pregnant, which is when midwive’s typically advise you to do so - Little did
we know at that time we’d still have five weeks left to go before we could put
it to good use.
pregnant, which is when midwive’s typically advise you to do so - Little did
we know at that time we’d still have five weeks left to go before we could put
it to good use.
We looked at countless hospital bag guides that advised us which
sort of bag to use as well as what to pack – Packing was usually split into
three sections; Things for me, things for the baby & things to pass the
time.
sort of bag to use as well as what to pack – Packing was usually split into
three sections; Things for me, things for the baby & things to pass the
time.
The bag.
After spending numerous nights googling hospital bags
and to be honest feeling a little disheartened at how expensive they all were,
we stumbled across a brand that ticked all of the boxes. We discovered Lekebaby on Amazon, a brand which makes practical but still super cute bags, which after
nights of searching was pretty hard to come by. We opted for the satchel style
which is lovely, but in hindsight we should have probably bought the rucksackstyle, just from a practicality point of view. The satchel is quite big and
bulky, which is great for keeping all the baby crap you seem to accumulate in
(because you WILL accumulate that shit) but not so great for actually carrying
on your shoulder for long periods of time.
and to be honest feeling a little disheartened at how expensive they all were,
we stumbled across a brand that ticked all of the boxes. We discovered Lekebaby on Amazon, a brand which makes practical but still super cute bags, which after
nights of searching was pretty hard to come by. We opted for the satchel style
which is lovely, but in hindsight we should have probably bought the rucksackstyle, just from a practicality point of view. The satchel is quite big and
bulky, which is great for keeping all the baby crap you seem to accumulate in
(because you WILL accumulate that shit) but not so great for actually carrying
on your shoulder for long periods of time.
We’re lucky because the Uppababy Cruz pram we have has a huge carry section underneath so we just bung the bag under
there and it fits perfect but for carrying purposes I think a rucksack would be
way more comfortable.
there and it fits perfect but for carrying purposes I think a rucksack would be
way more comfortable.
I’d definitely stick with the same brand though and will
probably end up buying the rucksack a few years down the line when Amelia isn’t
as reliant on her pram. The simple reason I’d stick with the Lekebaby brand is that
even now, three months down the line we’re still discovering new pockets and
compartments to the bag we have – And you’ll discover that literally the more
pockets the better when it comes to hiding all of that baby crap!
probably end up buying the rucksack a few years down the line when Amelia isn’t
as reliant on her pram. The simple reason I’d stick with the Lekebaby brand is that
even now, three months down the line we’re still discovering new pockets and
compartments to the bag we have – And you’ll discover that literally the more
pockets the better when it comes to hiding all of that baby crap!
Things for me.
I think comfort is key when you’re about to go into hospital
and after reading ‘your baby your birth’ by Hollie De Cruz I went into the
birthing room wanting to make it as homely as possible. I'd also read lots of other articles which discussed what to include in your postpartum care kit.
and after reading ‘your baby your birth’ by Hollie De Cruz I went into the
birthing room wanting to make it as homely as possible. I'd also read lots of other articles which discussed what to include in your postpartum care kit.
I’d packed a long line capped sleeved top from Primark (two
sizes too big) to wear during the birthing process which proved really useful –
I was a bit nervous going in that I was going to lose all of my dignity during
childbirth so wanted something loose and comfortable to wear to try and save
whatever dignity I’d have left… And this did the trick! I’d packed a couple of
pairs of pyjamas too for afterwards, but truth be told I didn’t wear them, I
spent the rest of the day braless in another baggy tshirt and some mens joggers
from primark.
sizes too big) to wear during the birthing process which proved really useful –
I was a bit nervous going in that I was going to lose all of my dignity during
childbirth so wanted something loose and comfortable to wear to try and save
whatever dignity I’d have left… And this did the trick! I’d packed a couple of
pairs of pyjamas too for afterwards, but truth be told I didn’t wear them, I
spent the rest of the day braless in another baggy tshirt and some mens joggers
from primark.
Speaking of braziers, I’d packed two maternity bras which I never
ended up wearing… When it came to feeding Amelia I just whipped a boob out and
she got herself all cosy in the excess fabric of my two sizes too big longline
tee.
I’d read a lot of guides which advise you to take lip balm
to combat dry mouth when you’re gas & air. I asked Dan to apply lip balm to
my lips twice during childbirth, so I would say it is useful to take with you,
but what I’d recommend more is juice…. And lots of it! We took two bottles with
the intention of having one for me and one for Dan, when truthfully I had them
both & could have probably done with another two. Eeek! We went for ones
with a sports cap too, which was a life saver when I was in full on angry beast
childbirth mode.
to combat dry mouth when you’re gas & air. I asked Dan to apply lip balm to
my lips twice during childbirth, so I would say it is useful to take with you,
but what I’d recommend more is juice…. And lots of it! We took two bottles with
the intention of having one for me and one for Dan, when truthfully I had them
both & could have probably done with another two. Eeek! We went for ones
with a sports cap too, which was a life saver when I was in full on angry beast
childbirth mode.
As well as lip balm I took a few extra beauty products with
the idea that after popping this child out of me I deserve a bit of a pamper…
How wrong I was! You won’t have time for that shit! I took makeup, moisturiser
& massage oils, all of which didn’t really get a look in. I was too in love
with my baby and the family we’d then become that I didn’t give a rats ass
about how I looked.
the idea that after popping this child out of me I deserve a bit of a pamper…
How wrong I was! You won’t have time for that shit! I took makeup, moisturiser
& massage oils, all of which didn’t really get a look in. I was too in love
with my baby and the family we’d then become that I didn’t give a rats ass
about how I looked.
I made sure to pack plenty of maternity pads, but in all
honesty I didn’t realise how many I’d actually go through. As minging as this
sounds I’d never really thought about what else was to come out of me other
than my baby, and the fact I’d be needing to change pads every two hours
definitely took me by surprise! I packed disposable pants too (yes they’re as
sexy as they sound) but didn’t end up using them, I’d been living in those packs
of Primark pants before birth & they didn’t fail me afterwards… You’ll (as
well as my husband) be pleased that these pants no longer live in my wardrobe –
They’ve been banished to the bin!
honesty I didn’t realise how many I’d actually go through. As minging as this
sounds I’d never really thought about what else was to come out of me other
than my baby, and the fact I’d be needing to change pads every two hours
definitely took me by surprise! I packed disposable pants too (yes they’re as
sexy as they sound) but didn’t end up using them, I’d been living in those packs
of Primark pants before birth & they didn’t fail me afterwards… You’ll (as
well as my husband) be pleased that these pants no longer live in my wardrobe –
They’ve been banished to the bin!
Other articles I’d read included taking a tens machine, which
to be honest I never bothered looking into in that much detail. I’m glad I
didn’t buy one though as I really didn’t need it to get me through the birthing
process & it would have been a complete waste of money; and when you’re
living on a maternity wage, every penny saved helps!
to be honest I never bothered looking into in that much detail. I’m glad I
didn’t buy one though as I really didn’t need it to get me through the birthing
process & it would have been a complete waste of money; and when you’re
living on a maternity wage, every penny saved helps!
Something we should have taken, and this is peak parenting…
Is a couple of plastic bags for dirty clothes, blood stained clothes, baby pee
stained clothes - You get the jist!
Is a couple of plastic bags for dirty clothes, blood stained clothes, baby pee
stained clothes - You get the jist!
Things for baby.
We took way too many clothes for baby, like it was actually
ridiculous, although I do think it’s better to over pack than under pack, we
took things to the extreme. We packed three bodysuits, three sleepsuits, three
tops, three bottoms & so on and so forth. We even took two pairs of boots…
Which looking back now is totally stupid! A newborn baby isn’t going to get
dressed up in full on outfits! Ooops! During our time at the hospital Amelia
only made use of two bodysuits and two sleepsuits, and to be honest she only
wore the second outfit due to peeing all
over us during her first nappy change.
ridiculous, although I do think it’s better to over pack than under pack, we
took things to the extreme. We packed three bodysuits, three sleepsuits, three
tops, three bottoms & so on and so forth. We even took two pairs of boots…
Which looking back now is totally stupid! A newborn baby isn’t going to get
dressed up in full on outfits! Ooops! During our time at the hospital Amelia
only made use of two bodysuits and two sleepsuits, and to be honest she only
wore the second outfit due to peeing all
over us during her first nappy change.
For changing we took nappies, bags, wipes & cream – The usual
stuff all the guides tell you to take. For us this one was quite straight
forward and we made use out of everything we took.
stuff all the guides tell you to take. For us this one was quite straight
forward and we made use out of everything we took.
I decided I wanted to breastfeed so didn’t take any bottles
or formula with us, which In hindsight probably wasn’t the best idea, just
incase Amelia couldn’t latch on, or I couldn’t get along with it – It’s
probably a good idea to pack something for those ‘just in case’ moments.
or formula with us, which In hindsight probably wasn’t the best idea, just
incase Amelia couldn’t latch on, or I couldn’t get along with it – It’s
probably a good idea to pack something for those ‘just in case’ moments.
Something we could have done extra with is blankets. We only
took one, but it got drenched during the pee fountain we had to deal with. We
probably have about ten different ones now at home, all of which get used so
often – I definitely think it’s worth taking a few extra. You could even use
them for yourself because lord knows the hospital beds aren’t all that cosy.
took one, but it got drenched during the pee fountain we had to deal with. We
probably have about ten different ones now at home, all of which get used so
often – I definitely think it’s worth taking a few extra. You could even use
them for yourself because lord knows the hospital beds aren’t all that cosy.
Truth is babies don’t actually need all that much – Just warmth,
love & grub.
love & grub.
Things to pass the time.
We read so many guides that advised us to take everything
but the kitchen sink pretty much when it came to passing the time, things such
as phones, laptops, music or books, but when it comes down to it, you will literally
have NO time to do any of this!
but the kitchen sink pretty much when it came to passing the time, things such
as phones, laptops, music or books, but when it comes down to it, you will literally
have NO time to do any of this!
Throughout my 23 hour labour, I must have picked my phone up
only a handful of times, and as soon as Amelia was here I only used it to take
photos of her. Proud mam and all that! If I took anything else it would have
been a total waste.
only a handful of times, and as soon as Amelia was here I only used it to take
photos of her. Proud mam and all that! If I took anything else it would have
been a total waste.
We packed a couple of drinks which I’ve already noted that
we could have done with double the amount; But we also packed a couple of
snacks too – Power food – Such as breakfast bars, banana’s and oranges, which
we managed to make our way through pretty quickly, we could have definitely
done with more... After leaving the delivery suite and making our way onto the
ward it became apparent that it would only be myself that would be fed,
thankfully the meals were quite generous so Dan & I managed to share them
between us both, but we could have definitely done with extra food, especially
for him after I’d given birth.
we could have done with double the amount; But we also packed a couple of
snacks too – Power food – Such as breakfast bars, banana’s and oranges, which
we managed to make our way through pretty quickly, we could have definitely
done with more... After leaving the delivery suite and making our way onto the
ward it became apparent that it would only be myself that would be fed,
thankfully the meals were quite generous so Dan & I managed to share them
between us both, but we could have definitely done with extra food, especially
for him after I’d given birth.
In conclusion I do think it’s useful to gather as much
information as possible when it comes to packing your hospital bag, and I do
think it’s better to overpack, but what I think there should be more of is
hands on experiences from women after they’ve given birth reflecting on what
they’d packed. I should have probably written up a blog post before I had
Amelia for comparison, but hey ho, we live and learn… I’ll do it for the next
one!... Although you may be waiting a good few years before that happens again…
Because parenting is HARD!
information as possible when it comes to packing your hospital bag, and I do
think it’s better to overpack, but what I think there should be more of is
hands on experiences from women after they’ve given birth reflecting on what
they’d packed. I should have probably written up a blog post before I had
Amelia for comparison, but hey ho, we live and learn… I’ll do it for the next
one!... Although you may be waiting a good few years before that happens again…
Because parenting is HARD!
What did you pack in your hospital bag that you didn’t use?
Claire.X
Have you read my other Pregnancy & Child birth posts?
My labour story - Welcome to the world Amelia May Chircop.
