What to pack into your birth bag aka hospital bag during this pandemic? Are there any essentials that you’ve missed? Find out…
Pack one bag for mum, one for baby/babies and one for your birth partner
COVID-19 TopUPs are highlighted in bold
Bag for mum
- Your birth plan and maternity notes
- Comfy, lose-fit dressing gown
- Nighties x 3 (ideally ones that opens at the front for breastfeeding access)
- Comfy loose clothes – big baggy jogging bottoms, zip-up hoodie, tops that undo down the front for skin-to-skin/feeding x 3
- Slippers that you can slide your feet into rather than pulling on – if you have a Caesarean Birth bending over is tricky.
- Socks – often women get cold feet during labour
- Slip-on shoes
- Flip flops to wear in the shower
- Hand Sanitiser
- Washbag including shower gel with a hook so you don’t have to bend over in the shower, hand cream as constant hand gel use makes hands very sore,
- lip balm as air is dry
- 2x Packs of waisted Bridget Jones massive cotton knickers in case you have a Caesarean Birth – dark colours are best and a couple of sizes up from your usual
- Arnica and/or witch hazel for piles and bruising relief
- Maternity pads x3 packs
- Nursing bras x4
- Large pack Breast pads in case of boob leakage or x10 washable ones
- Pillow and/or pillowcase from home
- Towel x2 – hospital ones are scratchy
- Eye mask (it’s never dark!)
- Face mask x3 (if you’d like your washable ones)
- Earplugs (it’s never quiet!)
- Hairbands
- Headphones
- Phone with labour playlist downloaded (you’re usually allowed to take your phone into theatre and can play music via Bluetooth)
- Small tripod to prop up your phone/camera
- Phone charger
- Phone Power Bank
- Snacks. If having a Caesarean Birth maybe apricots/prunes to ease constipation – you may not poop for several days and it can be a strain
- Peppermint Tea Bags. In the case of a Caesarean Birth, it helps to get rid of wind.
- Sports drink eg Lucozade
- Books/magazines/puzzles – in case you have to stay in hospital beforehand it can be very dull
- Tissues for all the crying
- Photo of your partner for times when they cannot be with you or maybe something that they have given you i.e. love notes
Bag for baby
- Muslins x 6
- Nappies – 2 packs to start with until know size – newborns go through approx 12 nappies a day
- Cotton wool pads/balls
- Baby clothes – at least 6 x vests, 6 x sleepsuits/babygrows, 4 x jumpers/cardigans, hat x2 including a going home outfit
- Baby blankets x 3 (cotton or cellular or wool)
Bag for partner
- Change of clothes
- Snacks
- Phone & Chargers à power bank
- Change for vending machines (shops may not be open for as long) and car park
- Phone list (if you’d like to tell people right away)
- Car seat to take your baby home. Practice putting in/out car beforehand!
- Maybe keep a book/magazine in the car while waiting to be asked to come into the hospital after mother’s initial assessment (a lot of partners wait in the car).
I hope this list is useful for some of you and please if you have anything to add or adapt contact me and I’ll add it to the list!
Stay safe!
Tina Gibbs 