what I packed in my hospital bag, as a second time mum.

Jan 3

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EDIT: I have updated this post following my second c-section in Feb 2021.

During my last pregnancy, I spent silly amounts of time researching and planning everything that I could possibly need during my hospital stay. As a first time mum though, I really didn’t know what or how many of each item I would need. Every source that I looked at seemed to have slightly different items and quantities, so there wasn’t one single list that I could just print and check the items off.

Instead, I compiled my own list, bringing together information from my antenatal class, hospital websites, other blogs and crucially, family and friends. I know that this crazy level of planning might stress some people out, but working out all the things that I would need and how to pack them really made me think about what my days in the hospital might be like and helped me to mentally prepare for the experience.

my hospital bag packing list

I have now had two elective c-sections, and shared my packing list with so many friends that thought I would share it here. I have also written a follow up post on how to pack your hospital bag.

Even though this post is all about planning and packing, please please please do not stress too much about what to pack! Even if you turn up to the hospital with absolutely nothing, you will be completely fine. Anything important that you need can be borrowed, brought in later or purchased in the hospital shop.

I have separated the list into three categories; items for each mum, baby and partner.

things for mum

clothes

Nursing bras (2) - I brought these both times but didn’t need them in hospital, I just wore nursing vest tops, but that’s just me.
Big, comfy knickers (10) - I found these M&S ones great for the third trimester and post c-section as the lace was more comfortable than a band of elastic. Don’t forget that they need to be big enough to hold a maternity pad (or two).
Nightie (5) - I changed my nightie every evening before bed. I picked up some cheap, cotton, button down ones from Penneys and Dunnes for nursing and skin to skin.
Dressing gown - I have packed a light cotton one, useful on the ward for going to the loo, shower etc.
Maternity pyjamas (2) - Hospitals are so warm, and you will be sweating out excess fluid, so lots of changes of clothes are essential! I wore these with a nursing vest.
Maternity leggings (2) - I’ll wear these during the day on my last few days in hospital with a nursing vest and cardigan.
Socks (4) - I didn’t wear these at all as I had to wear stylish white compression stockings post c-section, but definitely worth packing again.
Shirt or Cardigan (2) - Wearing my leggings with a nursing vest and cardigan or shirt during the daytime made me feel a little more normal.
Nursing vests (7) - These are great under cardigans, plaid shirts etc.
Flip flops - Hospital bathroom floors can be a bit yuck.
Slippers - A pair of cheap/old slippers is perfect. I was planning on only wearing flip flops but that doesn’t work with the compression stockings, so I was glad I had these.

going home

I’m not wild on the idea of fancy going home outfits for mum or baby. For me it is just another layer of stress to organise and not get puked on, but if that’s your thing, go for it! Whatever you’re planning, don’t forget:

shoes
coat
comfy clothes - you will likely still have a bump and wont not want anything tight rubbing against your sore bits
sunglasses - the real world is a lot brighter than the hospital
car seat - make sure you have all the newborn inserts in it and a blanket to keep your little one snug on the way home
gift for staff - totally optional, but very much appreciated!

I will prepare all the going home items in advance and leave them stacked inside the car seat, ready to be brought in on the morning of discharge.

personal care

maternity & nursing

Breast pads
Nipple cream - I used the Lansinoh brand and it seemed to work well
Breast compresses - I used the Multi-Mum compresses last time and thought that they were brilliant.
Maternity pads - you will need loads of big, bulky thick pads like these. I foolishly brought the slimline ones - big mistake! I was going through almost a pack a day during those first few days, so stock up!

hair care

Hair ties - bring extra, you will lose them and loan them!
Hair brush
Dry shampoo - a can of Batiste in my bag meant I avoided washing my hair in hospital.
Shampoo & Conditioner - I packed miniatures of these just in case.

personal hygiene

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Face cloth
Cleanser
Moisturiser
Towels (2) - most maternity hospitals in Ireland do not provide towels for mum. If you have the space for two, I would recommend packing two as it takes them forever to dry.
Deodorant - consider a brand with no scent as your baby will be all snuggled up near there.
Shower gel/soap

make up

Again, make up may not be terrifically high on everyone’s packing list, but I wanted to feel like myself, I packed the following:

B.B. cream
Mascara
Lip balm

miscellaneous

There are lots of random small things that I made my life easier whilst in hospital:

Face masks - these did not feature on my original packing list, but will be an essential item in my bag for my February 2021 baby.
Headphones - some people suggest noise cancelling headphones (I love my Bose QC35s) but I’m not confident enough that I would hear the baby wearing those. I just used regular iPhone ones for watching the iPad.
Snacks - I brought a random collection of sweet, savoury and salty snacks. (I’ll also be popping in some baby pouches of prunes to keep things moving in those first few days!)
Extra bags - for going home (you will accumulate stuff)
Laundry bags - you (and the baby) will create a lot of dirty clothes. It’s really handy to have a dedicated place to store dirty laundry
Phone charger - bring an extra long cable as sockets can be really far from the bed.
iPad charger -extra long for the same reason as above.
iPad - I downloaded a mix of shows to watch in advance. WiFi in hospitals is notoriously rubbish.
Water bottle - this is essential! Bring a BIG water bottle, tiny plastic cups just will not cut it!
Pillow - I did not bring my own pillow into hospital the first time, mostly because I was worried that it was over the top (and a bit diva-ish) but after a sweaty, squeaky first night on a plastic pillow, it was the first thing I asked to be brought in by my husband the next day. Loads of people bring their own pillows and trust me, it’s a godsend. Make sure you put a coloured/patterned pillowcase on it so that it doesn’t get mixed up with the hospital pillows.
Hand sanitiser - It wasn’t always possible to get to a sink post c-section, so I liked using hand sanitiser to know that my hands were clean before I touched bottles etc. This is now more important than ever.

things for baby

For my first baby, I angsted so much over what to pack for the baby. I had read so many different lists, but was still worried that I would miss something crucial. In hindsight, I need not have worried. He spent most of the time skin to skin with me wearing just a nappy and hat, with a muslin and blanket over him. When he was actually dressed, it was in a vest, onesie/sleepsuit and a hat. If we had forgotten anything, the hospital would have supplied it or found an alternative.

clothes for baby

8 sleepsuits/onesies (size newborn) - I knew I would be in for 5 days, so figured that 8 would probably be enough, it was.
8 long sleeve vests (size newborn) - I love the kimono/front opening ones as I think they are easier with a tiny baby.
2 sleepsuits/onesies (size 0-3 months) - just in case the baby is too big for the newborn clothes.
2 vests (0-3 months) - as above
6 bibs
3 hats - Both babies wore hats 24/7 in the hospital so having a few of these is useful.
1 cardigan/sweater - although we didn’t need these as the hospital was very warm, I would still pack them again, just in case.

personal care

Nappies - apparently newborns need a nappy change on average 10 times per day, so I had 10 newborn (size 1) nappies in my delivery bag and then have more in my main bag.
Wipes - baby wipes are amazing, they are useful for everything! We gave up on using cotton wool balls early as trying to clean meconium with them is a sticky, pooey nightmare. We use Water Wipes in those early days.
Nappy sacks - for disposing of dirty nappies
Nappy cream - I use Sudocrem as it’s Irish and has been around for years.
Cotton wool - as I mentioned above, I ended up not using this after the first couple of nappy changes. I still brought it the second time as it’s useful for cleaning little faces.
Soothers - I didn’t use soothers on my first baby time, but I bottle fed from the beginning with my second, so I brought some ready to use pre-sterilised soothers to pop in my bag.
Colostrum - I brought in a few syringes of expressed colostrum for immediately post c-section for both babies. Check with your doctor/midwife to confirm if this is the right thing for you.

miscellaneous

5 x muslin wraps - I love huge ones (120cm x 120cm) like these aden & anais ones for swaddling, using as a blanket, changing mat, breastfeeding cover, emergency cot sheet etc.
Towels - check if your hospital requires you to bring a towel for the baby, ours provides them.
2 x cellular blankets - the babies were mostly wrapped in hospital blankets and/or muslins, but cellular blankets are on the hospital packing list, so I’ll be packing them again this time.

things for dad/partner

If your partner plans to be around for the birth or immediately after, consider a full set of spare clothes for them. Also, if your hospital allows partners to sleep over, then don’t forget to pack a spare toothbrush and deodorant etc. At the very least, consider a spare t-shirt or front opening shirt to allow for skin to skin.

clothes

Spare t-shirt
Spare boxers
Front opening shirt
Comfy trousers
Spare socks

personal hygiene

Deodorant
Toothbrush

misc

Water bottle
Snacks
Phone charger

Stuff you do not need/what not to pack

I mentioned that I read a lot of lists when preparing my last hospital bag, here are some items I would leave at home:

Your pre-pregnancy jeans - you will still have a soft and squishy bump leaving hospital
Nightlight - I just used my phone
White noise - we use white noise a lot at home, but I would avoid it as it may disturb others, even if you are in a private room. Edit: I used white noise on my second baby (in a private room) as my room was right beside the ward kitchen and was super noisy.
Belly band - give yourself a break
Baby sponge - the hospital I was in used cotton wool for bathing babies
Cute outfits - this is totally a personal choice, but simple sleepsuits are so much easier to get wriggly babies into.

final thought

It’s so important that I’ll say it again! Please please please do not stress too much about what to pack, nothing is so essential that you can’t borrow it, buy it in the hospital shop or wait for someone to bring it in to you.

I split up all the items above across my delivery bag (cabin luggage size) and main bag (medium sized suitcase) and used my nappy caddy to pack all the things that I needed within reach. Check out the second post in this “having a baby” series on how I’ll be packing my hospital bags!

Happy packing!

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