The thought of heading to hospital to give birth to your baby is a hugely daunting one for all new mums - when will it be? Will it be an emergency? Will it go to plan? What on earth will you need?!
With baby number two, my packing was entirely different! It mainly involved tools for avoiding hospital food - how do they make everything, including ice cream and sandwiches taste like gravy? The other main things were; keeping myself entertained and being comfortable!
I thought I would do a little comparison to show the variation after my first experience. I was told after several extra sizing scans that I was due what they estimated to be an eleven pound baby - every first time mum's dream - right? The news of my upcoming womb giant meant that I had to prepare myself for the fact he may or may not fit in newborn clothes, which influenced my packing - as you will see.
Baby Number One - The Essentials
- Baby vests, sizes newborn to 0-3 months, in case of a giant baby.
- Baby sleep suits, sizes newborn to 0-3 months, in case of a seriously giant baby.
- Baby day clothes, sizes newborn to 0-3 months, in case of a seriously mega giant baby.
- Nappies, sizes one to three, in case of giant baby.
- Baby wipes, enough to cleanse an army.
- Maternity notes (in a pretty floral file).
- Birthing plan, with added pages. It will run smoothly!
- Clothes for me, lots of them! You never know what you may need.
- Five nighties with button down fronts for nursing (possibly more than five!).
- One pack of maternity pads.
- Makeup - minimal as I won't really need it.
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Moisturiser
- Phone
- Baby Towels
- Towels
- Cuddly toy for baby
- Nursing bras
- Breast pads
- Scratch mitts
- Booties
- Range of baby hats
Baby Number Two - The Essentials
- A fan/cooling spray - it gets hot as hell in there!
- Photos of my son - I knew I would miss him like crazy
- Sweets - I needed sugar!
- Snacks - labour is hard and builds an appetite!
- Money for the vending machine in case snacks above run low.
- Makeup - lots of it! Those photos will be around forever.
- 4 packs of maternity pads, giant thick ones
- Maternity notes - once finally located
- Birthing plan - 'There is no plan just please be nice and please no C-Section!'.
- Loose baggy PJ's for me
- Vest tops and cosy leggings
- Dry Shampoo - because I can't be doing with an actual hair wash
- Hair Brush to prevent the 'labour dreadlocks'
- Hair straighteners/drier to avoid afro birth pictures again - I looked like Mick Hucknall
- Phone charger
- Quiz book
- Lip balm - gas and air majorly dried my lips out!
- Magazines
- Tablet
- Sketch pad/pens
- Cuddly toy for baby
- Present for baby from son, present for son from baby.
- A pack of first size nappies
- Tiny baby/newborn sleep suits X 4
- Newborn vests X 4
- Baby hat
- Scratch mitts
- Nappies
- Wipes
Second time round it was all about comfort, surviving the long boring nights and preparing myself for the real aftermath of labour with a new baby. I knew I would miss my family and home comforts like crazy, so I made sure those were catered for too. I never had the giant baby first time round and in fact nothing I took fitted. Baby weighed in at 7lbs 13oz but was so tiny he only fitted in tiny baby size, so off Mr Waffle went shopping! My clothes were all tight and unsuitable after stitches and the nighties just made me look like a loon. I soon sent for spares from home. Labour left my lips sore and my hair matted first time round, so I was ready for that second time round too!
I didn't take much first time round to make myself look and feel nice, which was fine apart from the fact I am left with several 'oh so natural' pictures of me with a giant ginger afro, zero makeup and a big swollen face, beautiful!
I didn't take much first time round to make myself look and feel nice, which was fine apart from the fact I am left with several 'oh so natural' pictures of me with a giant ginger afro, zero makeup and a big swollen face, beautiful!
When you pack your hospital bag you really don't need to pack the earth. Think about how you would feel running a marathon on the spot, and what you would want afterwards and you will be pretty close to perfect! Think about home comforts and what will make you happy and comfortable during your stay. You don't need to pack for every eventuality - friends and family will love to bring things up to see you and your new bundle, make the most of it! Your new baby really just wants a sleep suits, cuddles, milk and love!
My biggest essential to pack in your hospital bag is a camera. You will never forget those first cuddles and becoming a family for the first time. Pictures capture the moment and are an everlasting reminder of those first moments, feeds and everlasting love!
My biggest essential to pack in your hospital bag is a camera. You will never forget those first cuddles and becoming a family for the first time. Pictures capture the moment and are an everlasting reminder of those first moments, feeds and everlasting love!
This is my entry into Pink Linings Brand Ambassador search #itsinthebagbaby, good luck to all the other entrants! You can visit Pink Lining and view all their gorgeous bags here. I have included pictures of my favourites above!
Thanks for reading,
Wafflemama
