With only 4 short weeks to go, my hospital bag is ready and packed (with some lollies and water needed to be added).
I'm definitely an over-packer, and prefer to have too much than not enough, however, I wanted to make sure I didn't go overboard, while ensuring I had all the essentials.
So what exactly goes into my hospital bag?
Firstly, change of clothes x 2: With me being due at the end of May, plus it always being freezing in hospitals, I packed a pair of trackies, a jumper, and a long sleeve lounge set. Something that is warm, yet also easy to breastfeed a baby in. I also packed two pairs of maternity tights, which I can choose to wear either under or below my belly (depending on how sore I am). From my first birth experience, you want to make you have comfortable and loose clothing to wear to avoid any unnecessary rubbing or tightness.
Slippers + thongs: Wearing slippers around a hospital is a definite. I loved having a pair when I had Kaiden. They are comfortable, and also keep your feet off the floor. I would also recommend packing a pair of thongs to wear in the shower. As much as hospitals are clean, the thought of using a public shower without thongs makes me nervous (so pack some).
Pjs: You might find you wear these the whole time, and won't want to wear normal clothes (which is totally fine). In that case, pack yourself an extra pair. I bought myself a new pair of pjs for hospital so I could feel a little bit more elegant and refreshed :)
Granny underwear + nursing bras: These are MUST HAVES!! Trust me. Do not wear your nicest and sexiest underwear to hospital. Firstly, they will be ruined. Secondly, they most likely will not hold anything in, and thirdly, the midwifes and doctors have pretty much seen you naked, so some granny underwear is the least of your worries. With Kaiden, I got the full covered briefs from Best&Less, and they were great. They covered all the right areas, were big enough to hold the large maternity pads, and I felt comfortable knowing nothing was going to escape haha. You can pick up a 2 pack of these for about $6, but you will definitely find cheaper ones when on sale. Nursing bras are also a great investment when breastfeeding (or even nursing singlets). When breastfeeding for the first time, it can be awkward, painful and involves a lot of handling and manoeuvring. Therefore, having a bra or singlet that just clips down without having to take the whole bra off is a lifesaver. You can pick up some cheap ones from Kmart, Best&Less or even Big W.
Swimwear: I didn't pack any swimwear last time, however, this time round I am hoping to spend more time in the bathtub when labouring (I haven't made up my mind about birthing in there as well), and this bikini top is so comfortable.
Maternity pads + Depends: I've heard women say they didn't bleed much after birth, and therefore regular pads were fine for them after a few days, however, for me, I definitely felt safer and more comfortable in maternity pads. So I would recommend at least just buying a pack to be safe. I also recommend some Depends, as they also hold everything in place - a lot more than just pads! You can order a couple of packs as free samples from their website.
Breast pump: I used the Medela Swing single electric breast pump with Kaiden, and thought it was fantastic! Easy to use, came with useful ways to store milk, and very functional. I have packed it this time around just in case, for whatever reason, I need to express milk in hospital.
Breast pads + hydrogel breast disks/ice pack + nipple cream: I've used many different brands of breast pads and they all do the same thing. I've packed Medela ones this time. Breast pads are so important because once your milk comes in, you WILL leak. Some nights I would wear a bra to bed just so I could hold my breast pads in place, otherwise I would wake up and the bed would be soaked from where I was laying. Breastfeeding can also be painful for the first few times, or even throughout yours and your baby's breastfeeding journey. The Rite Aid Hydrogel Breasts Disks are a great relief and soother for sore nipples and help with healing broken skin. In addition to these, AVENT Breast Care Thermopads help both stimulate and soothe - a much needed item to pack! Lastly, definitely pack some Lansinoh cream. This cream is recommended by the Breastfeeding specialists as it soothes, heals and protects sore and cracked nipples (and you don't need to take it off before breastfeeding). You can get pick up a tube from Chemist warehouse and most supermarkets.
Toiletries (all the essentials): It's important to remember all our own normal toiletries, such as a tooth brush, toothpaste, shower gel, moisturiser etc. I have also packed hand sanitiser and wipes to make sure my hands are always clean when touching bubs.
Snacks and water bottle: When labouring with Kaiden, I was so hot and thirsty. labouring was literally like playing 50 games of netball without having a break. You will need your energy so make sure to refuel with water or a Gatorade, and perhaps some lollies or crackers if you can stomach it. I found after I gave birth and was taken to the ward, I was really hungry, so having the snacks filled me up for the meantime before breakfast was served.
Medicine: I've discovered that when I'm in a lot of pain, my body copes by feeling nauseous and vomiting. As much as labouring and birth is painful, feeling sick is worse for me. I hate that feeling and can't deal with it. Therefore, my doctor prescribed me with anti-nausea tablets to take at the start of labour to prevent me feeling and being sick. If you also suffer this, I would definitely recommend looking into it and speaking to your doctor about your options. Contractions are bad enough without feeling like you're going to vomit.
Comments