What to pack into your birth bag aka hospital bag during this pandemic? Are there any essentials that you’ve missed? Find out…
Ideally, pack three bags. One for mum/birthing person, one for the (birth) partner and one for baby/babies.
COVID-19 TopUPs are highlighted in bold
Bag for mum/birthing person
- 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
- Wash bag 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 have a bowel movement 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 caused by the operation.
- Sports drink
- Books/magazines/puzzles – in case you have to stay in hospital beforehand, or after.
- 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
- Photo of older children
- Photo of you pet(s)
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!