Hospital bag essentials
Giving birth is the single most empowering and amazing thing your body will ever do. Preparing for the birth, both psychologically and physically (we’re big fans of hypnobirthing at Amoralia HQ) will help you to feel in control and confident, and will ease the journey into motherhood. Preparing your hospital bag can be an exciting moment (OMG, it’s really happening!), so here are our top hospital bag essentials for you (check out The Bump for the bits to bring for baby).
A nightdress is great for the early hours after you’ve given birth. You’re going to be feeling extremely tender down there, so it’s best to stay clear from pyjama bottoms. Our Seamless Nursing nightie and Basic Nursing Nightie both offer easy nursing access, are a dark (but flattering) colour and both made from super-soft fabrics. Team with luxe slippers and the matching robe to pad around the ward in style. Our Amoralia Mandy Cardi ties under the bust so won’t aggravate any tender areas. We find disposable breast pads such as these Lansinoh ones, are the best for the early days as they’re thin and very absorbent. You can always switch to re-usable once you get the hang of breastfeeding later at home.
Believe it or not, we don’t advise you spend too much money on knickers. For the first few days, it’s best to get something that you’re happy to chuck out afterwards. Full coverage and a high waist is best, as it will help you feel more secure and won’t rub any scars if you had a cesarean.
Stock up on sweets, glucose tablets and sports drinks – even if you don’t need it, chance are your OH will!
Maternity wards can be noisy and bright, and you’re going to be very tired (sorry for the reality check!). Catching up on sleep whenever possible is so important, so bring ear plugs and an eye mask. Some mums find they get dry lips because of the warm environment of maternity wards and stress of birth, so remember to take along a lip balm. Your nipples are also going to be very sore, so choose a nipple cream that is free of preservatives is breastfeeding friendly. Lansinoh offer a great nipple cream that has no taste or perfume, so doesnt need to be removed before nursing.
When you’re finally ready to leave the hospital don’t go for a pair of jeans. You’re still going to be very sore and aching all over, so choose some bottoms that won’t dig into your bump when you’re sitting down for the journey home. Our PJ leggings are catered to sit snuggly on a new-mum-tums and are super soft. Choose a nursing bra without a flexi-wire, to protect delicate breast tissue against mastitis – We love our Sleep Nursing bra, as it has no clasps and offers easy lift up nursing access. Team with our super comfortable Nursing Tunic as choosing something dark will be less forgiving for breastmilk stains. Take a scarf or pashmina to snuggle with in the car and stick to slip-on shoes, so you can kick them off as soon as you get in. Finally, have a rest at home with the best part of it all, your brand new baby.
1: Amoralia Seamless Nursing Nightie, £49
2: Amoralia Nursing Nightie, £40 and Amoralia Mandy Cardi. £35
3: Sleep Nursing bra £25
4: Amoralia Nursing Tunic, £35 and PJ leggings £35
5: Amazon Grey Pashmina, £25
6: Amoralia Second Skin Short, £15
7: Vans Slip on Trainers, £61
What should I pack in my hospital bag?
We’ve been given a few baby essentials lists over the last few months (aka Rat Tat), and a v useful one from the NCT on what to pack in your hospital bag. Having done a bit of cross referencing with friends and BabyCentre’s, here are the things I think we need.
For Me:
- hospital notes & birth plan
- toiletries including lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup (for those 1st photos!)
- maternity pads (have you seen the size of those things?)
- cheap knickers that can be thrown away
- flip flops and warm socks
- button-through nightdress for skin-to-skin (advantage of running my own biz, I’m getting a pre-production sample of our fab new nightie sent so that I have it in time!) Otherwise they’ll be online from last week of Jan, or you could try our 3/4 sleeve nightdress with lace trim (it also has easy breastfeeding access)
- hair bobbles to tie back long hair
- J cloths and antibacterial spray
- flannel/water spray (though not sure how much I want the Bean maker tinkering with my face)
- pillows with old/dark pillow case
- nourishing snacks; cereal bars, bananas, chocolate, dextrose tablets
- 2 large bottles of water, one frozen which will defrost and stay cool, sugary drinks too (currently craving ginger beer and small cartons of OJ)
- straws for drinking
- herbal remedies if you want to use them (‘Natural Healing for Women’ recommends Caulophyllum 30 or 20o to strengthen contractions, Aconite 30 or 200 for fear and anxiety, Carbo Veg 30 or 200 for exhaustion, and Pulsatilla 30 or 200 for weak contractions). Obviously always check with your midwife
- TENS machine with batteries and spares if you want to use it
- breastfeeding bras and breast pads (I’ve just sent my order to the office for our Second Skin nursing bras and Second Skin organic sleep bras)
- dark coloured towel
- hot water bottle
- dressing gown
- ipod/MP3 with relaxing AND uplifting/energizing playlists + charger
For the Bean:
- 3 babygrows
- 3 vests
- newborn size nappies
- small plastic bottle (the kind that you take on holiday) with pure vegetable oil to coat baby’s bottom pre-meconium poo
- 3 muslins
- baby blanket
- car seat (and do a dummy run on how to fit it)
For Him:
- cash for the carpark
- camera (make sure it’s fully charged)
- sandwiches/snacks (don’t want him nipping down 5 floors to the shop because he’s got “low blood sugar”…)
- spare T-shirt
- swimmers if you want him in the birthing pool with you
- wash bag with toothpaste/toothbrush and deodorant
- watch with a second hand, or get him to download the contractions app for his iphone!
- your phone and his phone with contact lists of people you want to notify
So that’s about 3 suitcases then… Let me know if you think there’s anything on here not worth taking, or likewise, if I’ve forgotten something crucial!
Have you packed your hospital bag yet?
As you near the final months of your pregnancy, you’ll start thinking about what you should pack in your hospital bag.
1. Pack two bags, one for labour and another for your post-natal stay in the hospital. This will save on space in the hospital ward as you can leave one bag in the car.
2. If you’re driving (or rather being chauffeured!) to the hospital, bring some change for the car park and hospital vending machines.
3. Pack a watch with a second hand so you can time your contractions.
4. Take your pillow with you. It’s nice to have some home comfort at the hospital and an additional pillow can also be helpful when breastfeeding.
5. During labour you won’t be able to eat or drink very much. As bizarre as it may sound, using a small sponge to suck on can stop your mouth from going dry and you can use it to wipe your face to cool you down. Try this organically grown sponge from Beaming Baby.
6. Pack lucozade or dextrose tablets for extra energy and a picnic for when you get your appetite back after the birth. Cartons of fruit juice are a must, as is a plentiful supply of water. Keep a couple of bottles of water in the freezer before you leave home so that they will stay cold for longer.
7. For the birth wear a button-through nightie. The Lauren Sweetie nightie from Babes with Babies(£69) is both feminine and practical. We will be launching our own version of this hospital staple in January 2012 so watch this space!
8. Maternity wards are very warm but at night you may get cold so pack a pair of thick socks or slippers. These slipper socks from M&S are only £6 and will make you feel more at home.
A dark-coloured dressing gown will keep you snuggly and allow you to cover up when you need to leave your bed. This maternity robe from Mothercare is comfy, stylish and only £18.
9. Amoralia’s Love from nightdress and babygrow set is perfect for those all-important first photos. The nightdress has ¾ length sleeves and is in a practical dark colour. Priced at £34, it’s perfect for nursing as a side panel at the neckline pulls down so you can breastfeed discreetly (nice when your father- in-law comes to visit!)
The 100% cotton baby grow is designed to match the nightie so you’ll both look cute together! It has a kimono style design so you don’t need to pull it on over their head. It is available in a girly rose colour or a handy unisex slate colour and is only £15 .10.
10. Your outfit for leaving hospital should be loose fitting yet chic.
11. Pack plenty of cheap knickers and extra-absorbent sanitary pads. Matalan sell packs of 5 knickers for only £3.
12. Your midwife will encourage you to breastfeed so you’ll need a couple of nursing bras to take with you. Amoralia’s second skin nursing bra is made from supportive microfibre for a better fit and extreme comfort. At £29 it is a must-have item which will see you through the post-natal stage!
Breast pads are also essential as they prevent leakage: these pads from TommeeTippee are extra-absorbent and at only £4.09 for 50 they are economical too.
13. Get some nipple cream. Lansinoh is specially designed to treat cracked and sore nipples and it’s available from Mothercare at £9.99.
14. Take something light-hearted to entertain you while you are in hospital- your favourite book or a magazine– not too complicated as you’ll be tired.
15. Invest in a newborn car seat. Try it for size in your car (or in the car in which your baby will be taken home from the hospital) to ensure it fits properly and safely. Check online reviews to see which seat would best suit you.
16. Taking a camera is a great way to get dad involved and to capture those precious first moments between you and your baby. Leave your valuable camera at home though and instead take this disposable Kodak from Boots (£5.99).
And one final tip:
This is one for the dads! Plan your hospital route in advance! Map reading can be stressful at the best of times, so have everything ready (and plenty of fuel in the car!). Plan an alternative route as well, should there be road works on the day you need to go to hospital.
You might want to plan another route to the florists for later on…failing that this new baby basket is available from John Lewis for £35.
