A Midwife’s Guide To Packing Your Hospital Bag

Pack A Couple Of Bags: “Consider packing two or even three holdalls rather than one big suitcase. The reason being that suitcases are tricky to get into once you’re in bed recovering, especially if you’ve had a c-section. A holdall can be placed on a chair by your bed so you can reach into it or show the midwife where something is. Within each bag, pack items into labelled clear plastic bags or packing cubes. I also recommend that your birth partner packs your bags with you. This will mean they know exactly where everything is when the time comes.”

Keep Yourself Comfortable: “Pack your dressing gown (ideally in a darker colour), some socks (soft and fluffy as well as regular), an old comfy nightdress or t-shirt to wear during labour and some hairbands. Slider plastic sandals are more useful than slippers or flip flops as they can be worn with socks (or compression socks post-abdominal birth). You may also find you bleed heavily when you stand up – cleaning plastic footwear is much easier than cleaning fluffy slippers.”

Think About Recovery: “It can be helpful to pack a pair or soft maternity leggings for when you’re ready to walk around and for when you head home. Oversized black pants are also a must – ideally ones that reach up and over your tummy. Buy a multipack from M&S or your local supermarket and always size up at least two sizes (from your pre-pregnancy size) for extra comfort.”

Create A Cosy Environment: “If you have space, your own pillow and a blanket can be a lovely addition. These home comforts will help your brain associate your room with somewhere cosy as opposed to somewhere clinical. This can have a real impact on how your hormones develop during birth and postnatally, too. Some people also like to take their own soft lighting and photos or affirmation cards. Hospitals won’t allow candles, but a plug-in diffuser can be great, as can battery-operated fairy lights. If you are planning to use a TENS pain relief machine, remember to pack this, too.”

Don’t Forget About Snacks: “A few isotonic sports drinks will help keep your hydration and energy levels up, while a water bottle with a built-in straw is essential for easy access. Once you’re in established labour, you aren’t going to want anything that takes a lot of effort to consume, but it’s important to keep energy levels up, so pack some soft sweets like jelly babies. Postnatally, porridge pots are great for slow-release fibrous energy and just need boiling water to prepare. Pack some snacks for your birthing partner, too, in their own bag – ideally snacks that don’t have a strong smell or make lots of noise.”

Ensure Everyone Is Prepared: “Your birthing partner should have their own bag packed. As well as snacks and drinks, cash and bank cards will be necessary for car parking and vending machines. Most tend to be contactless but it’s good to be prepared. They will also need a change of clothes, wash bag and have films and podcasts pre-downloaded to their phone or devices to pass the time if needed.”

Have Your Birth Plan To Hand: “Consider creating a birth preferences document and stapling it to the front of your hospital notes. This could include the details that you’d like to be implemented in relation to yours and baby’s care. If you have experienced baby loss, Sands Charity have created a very helpful sticker which can be placed on the front of your notes so your care providers know to be mindful towards you.”