Hospital bags… am I overpacking?!

It's better to be overprepared and underwhelmed than it is to be underprepared and overwhelmed.

I have 1 bag for little man then 1 with my clothes in and another with all my toiletries/pads ect ect.

We had a whole suitcase with our first so don't worry 😂😂 we did have to stay for three nights though!

I’d go for a bigger bag or suitcase rather than multiple little ones. It’s far easier. I’m booked for elective C-section for twins and have a medium suitcase and a hold-all. I had to get a bigger suitcase as we started with a hand luggage sized one which just wasn’t cutting it

It's always better to over pack! I ended up being in for 4 days with my son, we only packed to be in for one night so my husband had to bring in a whole other cabin bag full of things 😬 x

My hospital only has visiting hours 9am-9pm once baby is born. My view point is pack for labour and maybe 1 night. If I need to stay longer my partner can bring more things in the next day if needed.

I had a mini cabin suitcase and a hold all bag with my first and didn’t use most of it but it’s always better to have it than not

Checklists are a good guide, but think about what's realistic for you. 2 weeks ago, I was admitted for overnight stays twice which made me change all my plans and hospital bags because it was such an eye opener, and I've now ended up with 3 separate bags: 1. One overnight bag for myself only which includes a spare outfit, powerbanks, toiletries, labour/delivery outfit and essentials (pads/snacks). This is in case I get admitted again and/or they say I need to deliver my baby ASAP which almost happened 2 weeks ago. 2. A small luggage for post-delivery with essentials for 2-3 days for me and baby which can be grabbed from the car after baby is born. This includes my post-delivery and spare outfits and essentials (more pads, peri bottle, Spritz for Bits, etc.) and the baby clothes/announcement outfit and essentials (nappies/cotton wool/mittens/socks). I think I put an emergency spare outfit in there as well for my husband. 3. A main luggage bag with more of the above in case we have to stay a week or longer

I bought a whole suitcase because you need so much!!🤣🤣

Hey! So I just had my baby via c-section, I packed loads and honestly would say I used the majority of it. -pack as many sleep suits as possible, I literally went through 6 within 24 hours and mum had to go and buy me more. Also I put him in a little vest (on with out the legs) with the sleep suit on top, the ward was warm but not as hot as I was expecting. - take a pillow from home, this helped with breast feeding and general comfort, the beds are SO uncomfortable and this helped eased some pressure. - LOADS of muslins. They were used constantly for everything. - lip balm- you will be so glad of this, my lips would crack and be really sore. - make sure to organise the remote for the bed and call button for the nurse around you so you don’t lose it and can access it easily. I didn’t do this, then they fell down the side of the bed and I couldn’t get out to reach it, which meant I was waiting for someone to check on me. Maybe not a necessity for everyone….

Thanks everyone, looks like I should get a bigger bag! I have packed 4 newborn and 4 0-1 month vests and grows, 2 muslins and 2 burp cloths, do you think I should take more? (I have hats mittens socks and going home outfit too) Also, I have a nightie and one set of PJs for me, assuming I won’t need other clothes other than what I travel home in? What do you think?

I packed a suitcase for me and a nappy bag for baby with my first and will do the same again. Towels, nappies, maternity pads take up so much space! We had to stay for 10 days last time and I was really glad I had overpacked

But I wish I had the foresight to know this. - I bought a fluffy blanket from cozy crew club, which I used loads! He absolutely loves it, found the cellular blankets good for swaddling but the fluffy blanket was great to cover him when having a cuddle and when taking him to the car in him car seat and it was a bit chilly. I didn’t bother using any of the cardi’s I packed for him. - big yes to packing a towel. I only had a couple of showers, but it was so lovely to wrap myself in a big towel. I also packed a really nice moisturiser, my skin started to dry out and it felt so nice having a bit of luxury….

@Stephanie Personal experience, I would take more Muslins and burp cloths! X

I would take some additional clothes for yourself and an extra pair of pjs. If you end up in for more than one night you won’t want to be in the same pjs the whole time (and have a back up incase you leak through the pad) I also felt more human wearing clothes during the day rather than pjs

@Stephanie I would pack more sleepsuits for baby and a lot more muslins. Depends how long you’re in for. I was in 4 days, was using 4-7 muslins a day and as many as 6 outfit changes

@Meryl oh wow really?! Ok, this is super helpful thank you x

Very welcome 🙏🏼 @Stephanie

We have a bag each, I've packed for a 24 hour stay, as my husband and entire family will be on hand to drop things up if needed c

Yeah think I had a suitcase, a duffle bag, baby bag and partners bag first two times and will be the same this time round 😂 there’s so much stuff you need and you don’t know how long you will be in for! Xx

@Stephanie I’ve packed 3 tops, 3 leggings and some trackies which I’ll prob wear under a nightie. Packed 1 nightie and need to pack 1 pjs I think. You may leak and also you don’t know how long you will be in. I’ve packed a baggy top for labour but doubt I’ll use it, I just put on there gown as had epidural. I’ve packed 4 vests and bodysuits in newborn size and tiny baby (I’ve had a 5lb 13oz baby and 6lb 13oz baby and both went into tiny). Sounds like so much but I’ve had two births and used all my stuff. I like to be dressed in the day and change at night but that’s just me xx

I’d say pack the stuff, pack all the stuff! I went in to labour expecting to be home the next day, ended up with a very long labour then an emergency C-section and then had an infection. What I thought was going to be a 1 night stay ended up being a 5 night stay! Better to have everything and not need it, than need it and not have it x