The Ultimate Hospital Bag Guide: What I Packed (and Actually Used)

Hospital Bag? Well, I Had More Than That...

As someone who likes to plan ahead, I made sure I packed my hospital bag - well bags, in advance. When my partner and I arrived at the maternity ward with my partner and informed the receptionist that I was having contractions, we were met with a bit of laughter because of the amount of luggage we brought.

We didn't have the option to leave the bags in the car and go to get checked first as we took an Uber (my partner doesn't drive) and I didn't want him to leave me in the hospital and go home to pick up the things in case we are really in labour. So we took everything with us. And it turned out to be the right decision because despite being initially sent home, I was indeed in labour, If you're curious about how everything unfolded, you can read the full birth story.

Are you wondering how much luggage we brought that made them laugh? So, we had one hand-carry suitcase with stuff for our little one, one gym bag with things for me, a nappies backpack with things for daddy and snacks, we had a small bag with a blanket, pillow and my water bottle, and of course, we had a car seat for the baby.

While it may seem like a lot, we used almost all of the items we brought, so I have no regrets about overpacking. In fact, I'm glad that I did my research and packed everything we needed. It helped alleviate stress and ensured that we had a comfortable stay at the hospital. And if we have another baby in the future, I would definitely pack everything again, but perhaps in one big suitcase instead of multiple small bags.

It's important to say that we live in the UK, and here mums or babies don't get anything from the hospital and parents have to bring everything. Also, we preferred to go home as soon as possible but in the end, we had to stay for almost 48 hours.

It’s worth noting that this was my experience with my first birth, which took place in a hospital. Now, with my second child, I opted for a home birth and didn’t pack a hospital bag at all. Despite the potential risk of needing a hospital transfer, I chose to fully commit to my home birth plan. My mindset was, “If I have a plan B, plan A never works,” so I went all in with my decision. I’ll be writing another article about how I prepared for my home birth, so stay tuned for that!

Finally, let's get to what I packed...

Download PDF Checklist

Nightgowns and Lightweight Robe

We stayed for two nights with the first being the night of labour. Because my labour progressed rapidly I did not get a chance to change, and I was in the clothes I came into the hospital. The next day, I used one of my nursing-friendly nightgowns, which I found on Shein. I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. For my robe, I chose a lightweight one from Amazon For my robe, I opted to purchase a lightweight one on Amazon, which was a wise decision as itI would have been too hot if I had brought my warmer robe from home.

Mummy Nappies and Maternity Pads

I packed two packs of mummy nappies and used one pack, along with a few from the second pack. I preferred to shower with every nappy change and changed them frequently to stay fresh and comfortable. I used the remaining nappies at home but did not buy more as my bleeding decreased, and I transitioned to maternity pads. The nappies were so comfortable that I’ll definitely use them again for my next pregnancy. I did not use any maternity pads during my hospital stay, except for one on the way there as my water hadn't broken yet, and I wanted to avoid making a mess in the Uber.

Black Knickers

I packed black/dark knickers just in case, but I didn’t end up using them at the hospital because I was wearing mummy nappies. I bought a multipack from Primark, and although the quality wasn't fantastic, it was suitable for those few weeks. And because I'm a thong girl, I knew I wouldn’t have much use for them afterwards anyway, so it was a good, practical choice.

Frida Mom Peri-bottle

During my hospital stay, I didn’t get to use the peri-bottle as I had a catheter for 24 hours and didn’t go to the toilet until the day of discharge. However, once I got home, the peri-bottle was a lifesaver, and I can’t imagine postpartum care without it.

Frida Mom Cooling Pad Liners

To be completely honest, my postpartum physiotherapist didn't recommend using Frida Mom Cooling Pad Liners since they contain alcohol, and I had second-degree tears and was stitched in three places. However, I gave them a try, and they provided much-needed relief – they were incredibly soothing, and I ended up loving them.

Breast Pads

Although I breastfed for two months, I never had an oversupply of milk that would cause me to leak, so I didn't need breast pads. But, wanting to be prepared for all scenarios, I packed some disposable pads from Lansinoh. They also offer reusable options if you prefer. I packed around 20 pads into a ziplock.

Nipple Cream

Matteo slept most of the time during our hospital stay, so I didn’t experience cracked nipples or need nipple cream until the second night at home when he started cluster feeding.During our hospital stay, Matteo slept most of the time, so I didn't experience any cracked nipples and didn't need nipple cream until the second night at home when he started cluster feeding. The amazing thing about this nipple cream is that you don't need to remove it before breastfeeding, which was extremely convenient since our little one was hungry almost every hour.

Nursing Bras

During my pregnancy, I needed to size up, so I searched for nursing bras that didn’t have the typical “mum” look. I found a beautiful, comfortable nursing bra with a touch of lace from Victoria’s Secret – a surprise since I didn’t realise they sold nursing bras!

For labour, I purchased a simple nursing bra from Shein that I could just throw away if it became stained with blood. I didn't get more because I was not sure if I would be able to breastfeed, also I thought I might just be not wearing a bra at all for easy access to feeding

Water Bottle

Initially, I purchased this tumbler with a straw to enjoy my raspberry leaf tea with a refreshing blend of lemon, honey, and ice during pregnancy. However, it quickly became my go-to water bottle, especially for diluting juices (which I craved like crazy). When it came time for labour, I packed it with me, filled with non-sparkling Lucozade Sport, which gave me a much-needed energy boost.

Dark Towels

I packed two towels - one for use during labour if I needed to manage pain by taking a shower, and the other for the rest of my hospital stay after giving birth. However, since towels were provided at the hospital, I used those instead.

Flip-flops

For my postpartum hospital stay, I packed a simple pair of black flip-flops from Primark, which were perfect for walking around the room, heading to the bathroom, and taking showers.

Going Home Outfit

Realising that my pre-pregnancy pants wouldn't fit me post-birth, I searched for something comfortable yet more stylish than leggings or sweatpants. On Shein, I found these maternity pants with a cute bow on the belly, and the best feature is that they are adjustable on the side, so they grow with the bump. Also, you can tie them up after the birth when the belly is much smaller but still there. To complete my look and stay warm in the chilly weather I paired these pants with a long-sleeved t-shirt and a cardigan.

Toiletries

To save space, I transferred my toiletries to mini travel bottles. My kit included essential items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, micellar water, face lotion, face wipes, deodorant, make-up bag, bio-oil (because stretch marks can still occur during or after childbirth).

Long Charger, Power Bank

We chose to keep our labour a secret and avoid any distracting messages or phone calls. We wanted to keep these moments just for us. However, after the baby was born, we used our phone a lot during our hospital stay, especially to keep in touch with loved ones and capture precious moments. Due to the frequent usage, our phone batteries drain quickly, so bringing a fast charger with a long cable is a must and I highly recommend a power bank for comfort in case a socket is not close enough.

Maternity Folder

Make sure you don’t leave any important documents or ultrasound pictures in your maternity folder as the hospital may take it.

Labouring Aids: Birth plan, Fan, Face cloth, Tripod, Comb, Breast-pump

I did a lot of research on labour. Like I said I love to be prepared so I wanted to know all the details I need, to make informed decisions in all scenarios. So when I was writing my birth plan, it was very specific and detailed. It was frustrating to hear people around me dismiss the importance of planning and research, claiming that it was unnecessary and that I should simply trust my midwife and hope for a healthy baby. Well, it was just a plan. But looking back, the key elements were realised: I had an unmedicated vaginal delivery. Although it happened quickly, I was unable to use the aids I had prepared.

If you're curious about how my birth plan translated into the real experience, you can read all about it in From Birth Plan to Beautiful Chaos: My Birth Story. And if you're currently working on your birth plan, check out my guide on How to Write a Birth Plan: A Guide for Mums-to-Be.

Portable Fan - despite I was due at the end of October, I was sweating during labour.

Breast Pump - I read some research about nipple stimulation potentially speeding up labour, but I didn’t end up needing it.

Wave Comb - Some women swear by gripping a comb during contractions, but I didn’t get to try this as our luggage wasn’t with us in the delivery room.(Edit Note: I tried this in my second labour, and it does work!)

Tripod - We planned to take as many photos and videos as possible and create a vlog to document our little one's arrival. We brought our tripod with us, but again, everything moved so quickly that we were happy my partner was able to grab his phone before I began pushing.

Carseat

I am a devoted fan of the Cybex brand, and I like the design of their products as well as the quality and functionality. So when it came to choosing a car seat, there was no other option.

The first thing that caught my eye about the Cybex Cloud T i-Size car seat was its sleek and modern design. The car seat is available in different colours, but I opted for the Sepia Black Plus colour, which looks stylish and timeless. The materials used in the car seat are of the highest quality and feel sturdy and durable. One of the best features of the Cybex Cloud Z i-Size car seat is its lie-flat position. This position is perfect for supporting your baby's natural sleep and is suitable for use from birth.

Overall, I'm completely satisfied with my decision to purchase the Cybex Cloud Z i-Size car seat. Its quality, functionality, and design make it an excellent choice for parents who want the best for their baby. The lie-flat position is a game-changer, and I highly recommend this car seat to any parent looking for a safe and comfortable option for their little one.

Nappies

As a new parent, finding the right nappies can be a challenge. I wanted something gentle for my baby and eco-friendly, knowing the impact nappies have on environmental pollution. I've tried several popular brands, but many of them are prone to leaks, leaving me with a messy outfit change. And some can feel rough and uncomfortable against my baby's delicate skin. I was thrilled to discover Kolorky nappies. They're incredibly soft, eco-conscious, and have never leaked when used in the right size and properly fitted. You can order them on notino.co.uk. Another great eco-friendly option is Kit & Kin nappies, which are also excellent for delicate skin. One pack was more than enough for the hospital stay.

Wipes

I prepared a pack of wipes for the hospital, and it turned out to be more than enough. During the first two days, babies don't tend to poop or pee much. Initially, I bought Huggies Pure Extra Care wipes, but their resealable foil-only packaging caused them to dry out quickly, and they left fibres on the baby's skin—not to mention how easily they ripped. Fortunately, I discovered Pampers Aqua wipes, and they are fantastic. Their practical plastic lid keeps the wipes from drying out, and they are both soft and durable, making them a much better choice.

Edit note: Our second baby boy pooped eight times on the second day, so some babies do poo a lot! 🙈

Nappy Cream

Bepanthen has been a family favourite for years, so we decided to use it for our little one. It’s gentle, effective, and a must-have in our hospital bag.

Clothes

Our little one proved that baby-size predictions can be inaccurate. Despite being told that he would weigh around 4kg at birth, he ended up being born at 3.060kg and 50cm. I am glad that I did not listen to the advice of not buying any newborn-sized clothes because babies supposedly won't wear them for long. Most of our baby's clothes are from Next, Primark, or George, and he was still wearing some of the clothes in sizes up to 1 month until he reached 4 months old. Since we are planning to have more than one child, I opted for mostly neutral colours so we can reuse the clothes for our next baby.

To the hospital, I packed:

• 3 bodysuits short sleeve size up to 1 month - we used 2

• 2 bodysuits short sleeve size up to 3 months - we did not use it

• 1 bodysuit long sleeve size up to 1 month - we did not use it

• 2 sleepsuits sizes up to 1 month - we used them

• 1 sleepsuit size up to 3 months - we did not use it

• 2 socks - we did not use them

• 1 pair of mittens - we did not use them/ he hates them

• hat - we used it

• Coming home outfit (bodysuit short sleeve, sleepsuit, jumper, hat)

  
  

Muslins

As a first-time mum, I learned an important thing. You can never have too many muslins. I'm glad I got many of them because, at least, I don't need to be worried if I don't do laundry every day. I packed 4 to the hospital and that was exactly what we needed.

Blanket

Although blankets were available in the hospital, the air conditioning in our room was out of our control, making it uncomfortably cold. That's why I was grateful for bringing a fluffy, warm blanket for the baby with us, which we also used in the car seat on the way home.

Formula

While I planned to exclusively breastfeed for as long as possible, I still brought a pack of our chosen formula with us just in case. Even though I was able to express a good amount of colostrum and everything seemed to be going well, you never know what could happen. In the end, we didn't need the formula, but it was reassuring to have it on hand.

Bottle

I brought an AVENT Natural glass bottle in case breastfeeding didn’t work out. With great reviews for combined feeding babies and easy-to-clean features, these bottles were the perfect choice for us.

Colostrum in a Freezing Bag

Colostrum is an incredible substance that's packed with high calories, immune-boosting antibodies, and stem cells to support a baby's development. I brought 10 syringes of colostrum to the hospital just in case I couldn't breastfeed my baby after the birth. That way, my partner could give the baby colostrum instead. It's important to label the syringes with your name and the date of expression. However, from my experience, please, don't forget to give it to the midwife immediately when you arrive at the hospital. Unfortunately, we forgot to give ours, and even though they were in a cooling bag with ice pads, they had to be wasted after being left for more than 12 hours.

Baby Memory Book + Ink

I had intended to bring our baby's memory book to the hospital so we could capture our baby's fingerprints and footprints in those first precious moments. However, since we chose not to bathe our baby at the hospital and instead kept the vernix on him for a few days, I left the book behind. We ended up taking his footprints on the fifth day after bringing him home after we had given him his first bath. While we were able to obtain beautiful footprints, getting his fingerprints proved to be quite challenging as he kept his fists clenched.

Clothes to change

Pack something comfy in case you need to stay a little longer, and don’t forget a going-home outfit.

Slippers

Blanket and Pillow

My partner was allowed to stay with us overnight and I guess that's how it is in most hospitals now. He was sleeping on a bed chair so he appreciated that we brought a small pillow and blanket.

Charger

Toiletries - toothbrush, deodorant, shower gel...

Cash

Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase through those links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting me.