WHAT DO I PACK IN MY HOSPITAL BAG?

• HUGE knickers
• Willingness to lose all dignity​​

A bit of a different post to normal but you voted – so here we go! To be honest, I’ve been meaning to share this for a while as I have recently forwarded it to a few friends and thought it would be helpful for any new mums as quite frankly, when I was pregnant with Rafe I literally did not have a clue. I’d hardly even held a baby, never mind actually look after one, so baby grows and nipple cream and giant pads (for you, not baby) were just totally alien to me. And surprisingly the best thing I bought wasn’t nipple cream (though helped), it was a lovely little rubber ring so I could sit down without swearing.

So hopefully this is helpful. I’ve also included other things we brought that we found useful for both our little darlings in those early weeks.

And on a side note, ladies you don’t have to get waxed, shaved, fake-tanned to give birth – unless you really want to of course. With Rafe I had my hair done, waxed from head to toe, nails done…where in reality by the end of it I couldn’t have cared less – nor do the midwives. And second time round, well they were lucky if I shaved my big toe.

On that note, what is the one thing you are glad you packed?

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What I packed in my hospital bag

You can pick and choose what you want to take – at the end of the day you will probably have so many people saying ‘you need this, you don’t need that’ but this is what I packed.
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For Mum

• Loose, thin clothing as is it about 1,000 degrees on a maternity ward. I had huge PJ's /nighty - the baggier the better. Mine were nursing friendly too so I could just whack a boob out.
• H&M nursing tops – I still wear mine for bed now.
• Slippers or flip flops - just get cheap ones and chuck afterwards as your after-birth shower is erm, messy.
• Zip up hoody or thin dressing gown – Not too thick as you will melt, but something cosy.
• Toiletries – shower gel, shampoo, moisturiser, sponge/bath shammy thingy, big bath towel. Basically what you would take for an overnight stay in a hotel. Just remember it won't be as relaxing.
• Bag to put all dirty clothes in.
• Maternity pads – you cannot have enough maternity pads in general. I bought mine in bulk. Make sure you have a pack in your hospital bag, the hospital may give you some but in my experience they're not great.
• Massive and I mean MASSIVE knickers - you don’t want to wear tight knickers for a while – or ever again to be honest.
• Breast pads (if planning on breastfeeding). In the early weeks, I used nappies to be honest. You leak a lot!
• Lansinoh – the holy grail of nipple cream – an absolute must.
• Lucozade - might be in there a while!
• Snacks – anything that you love to keep you going!
• We packed magazines and word puzzles (never done one in my life but apparently a good time to try), a book - basically something to keep you entertained is worth packing. (On that note - don't forget your phone charger!)
• Flannel to mop your head and keep you cool. I never wanted anyone really touching me but worth taking just in case.
• My friend told me this - some straws! Random I know but just easier for partner to hold a cup and you drink from the straw if you are slightly distracted with contractions.
• A small rubber ring – if you have a vaginal birth, it became my best friend after Rafe.
• Loose clothing to wear in hospital/when you leave. The baggier the better! MATERNITY LEGGINGS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND FOR A LONG TIME.

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For baby

• Newborn nappies – disposable or a huge range of reusable around now. The nappy lady is fab for advice on reusable - https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/
• Hospital should provide cotton wool but worth taking some (to clean bum) and cream (we use Aveeno – good for sensitive skin).
• Short sleeve vests, I’d get a few of each size, just in case you have a whopper – so newborn and 0-3 months.
• Baby grows – again a couple of each different sizes. Get the baby grows with mitts – DO NOT BOTHER BUYING MITTS – THEY NEVER STAY ON!
• Cardigan x 2 – May not be needed depending on weather but worth taking.
• A couple of pairs of socks.
• Hat x 2
• A few muslins
• Blankets x 3 – cellular ones are great. Fab for warmer weather and can double up when cold. They will provide you will a blanket in hospital too.
• Don’t forget your car seat!

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And for when the fun begins at home….
(I've went for the 'little' things here -not necessarily the big essentials i.e. cot or pram but happy to share what we have, just holla.)

This is a tough one as babies really don't need as much stuff as you think they do - but equally you somehow accumulate so much stuff. In the same note, just because Grandma Audrey slept in a chest of drawers when she was a baby, it doesn't mean you won't want to buy a cot.
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• Sleeping bags – your life will become a constant worry about are they too hot/too cold?! But sleeping bags are an absolute godsend and you don’t have the added worry about safety and blankets. I have 2x 2.5 togs for winter and 2x 1-1.5 tog for summer. For the first few weeks with Elijah because it was so so hot, we didn’t use sleeping bags – just a cellular blanket. But as it got colder, we popped him in a sleeping bag. Make sure you check any sleeping bag guidance for weight restrictions as some don’t start at newborn.
• 2 x changing mats. One for upstairs, one for downstairs. We use a travel one for downstairs so we can just fold it up.
• Changing bag for when you go out. I have a backpack style which is ideal. I don't own a handbag anymore.
• Cotton balls for changing nappy with water for early days and a little top and tail bowl.
• After about a 5 days with Rafe we moved to wipes but with Elijah, it was after 2 days I think. We used Water Wipes but are expensive - Aldi wipes are cheaper but just as good. There are amazing reusable wipes you can get too – wish I’d done some more investigating into these.
• Nappy bags. I never bothered with a nappy bin, personally don’t think it’s essential.
• Metanium nappy rash cream.
• Good old sudocrem.
• Plenty of vests and baby grows. I had Rafe in baby grows for a while as wanted to keep him cosy as all he was doing was sleeping, pooing and nursing so easy to get on and off. Same with Elijah but with it being so hot, he was just was in a vest a lot of the time. Don’t go overboard on newborn sizes – or on clothes to be honest – that's what people tend to buy you as gifts!
• Baby Monitor – so many to choose from. Angelcare we had with Rafe and we use BabyCare with Elijah which is a cheaper option and fab.
• Blankets – already mentioned but cellular blankets are great for layering.
• Muslins – for sick, covering boobs, wiping up poo – does pretty much everything!
• Hats – for colder weather.
• Small feeding bibs, just for dribbles and little bits of sick so you don't have to change them all the time.
• Sleepyhead – I would say this was one of the things I was recommended the most – it is expensive though. It keeps them feeling all safe and cosy. Rafe was in his for a while but Elijah soon grew out of it as is massive!
• Snuzpod 3 bedside crib – Probably one of the best things we bought. Can use right up to six months and can carry up and downstairs, have as a carry cot, or like a next-to-me crib. I know mosses basket are lovely but what I’ve found from other mums is that they tend to only fit baby in for a couple of months .
• Jungle ‘gym’ or something similar for baby to ‘play’ on.
• Baby bouncer – don’t need a fancy one, just a good old bouncer!
• Sling – if you want to carry baby when out and about – and also good for in the house. I would try and find a sling library so you can try loads of different ones before you buy. But I don’t know how easy that will be with what is going on. I had a simple wrap one to use from birth and I have a Tula baby carrier which is amazing and can use for a while and from birth.
• Ewan the Sheep - I think I have a million white noise machines which may become your obsession but both kids love this and we used from day one with both (heartbeat sound).
• Baby bath, then we moved to shnuggle bath when a bit bigger.
• Infacol – for wind which will become your nemesis.
• Saline nasal spray - great for congestion.

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FEEDING
I breastfed Rafe and I'm still breastfeeding Elijah so I’m really not that clued up on bottle feeding at all but the list below is what we brought when pregnant with Rafe. I knew I wanted to try and breastfeed but thought I’d prepare for both just in case.

If breastfeeding:
The main thing I would say after looking back is if you want to breastfeed – do some research, as much as you can! I literally didn’t have a clue, I just thought it would be relatively easy. Lucy Webber, a lactation consultant recommends the following books - The Positive Breastfeeding Book - Amy Brown, You've Got It In You - Emma Pickett, Dr Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding - Jack Newman, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - La Leche League.

• Main things you will need are breast pads, nursing bras, Lansinoh and a few nursing tops/dresses – I LOVE thebshirt - https://www.thebshirt.clothing/
• I wear nursing vests from H&M at night (linked above)
• Breast pump - so many to choose from. I use the electric Medela 'swing' pump. It’s expensive though.
• Expressed milk freezer bags
• I bought so many nursing cushions, but a curved one that you can play around with different positions works for us.

Bottle/combi feeding

• Steriliser
• Bottles – MAM bottles we had
• Tomee Tippee Prep Machine – we never used ours in the end so unless 100% want to formula feed, maybe hold off??

Anything else/present ideas for people to get you

• Random but - headphones for your phone if you don’t have them – you can watch Netflix series after Netflix series during night feeds!
• Sophie Toy – good for teething.
• Jumperoo – not for a while but literally the best/worst invention.
• LOVE this baby snug chair from Mamas and Papas. Great to help support head from 3 months.

It looks like everything will cost a fortune but do some digging around - compare prices, look for bargains, also  many people are selling things second hand - or friend's can hopefully borrow you some bits.

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Hope this helps. I know the list looks daunting but like I said, you can just pick and choose what you want. Feel free to share this with anyone expecting!

Next blog post is WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING...

Till next time,

Faye
x

P.s For those who have been reading my blog for a while, I will still be writing about my 'here and now' (send wine) but those posts will be more on Facebook and Instagram. I will be doing a bit more 'general mum posts' on here. Just for a few weeks, see what people want to read to be honest. If there is anything you want me to cover, PLEASE just message me.