What's In My Hospital Bag?

It's official... I have finally packed my hospital bag! I've been putting it off for ages because I

a) thought it was too early

b) felt very overwhelmed about the whole situation

and

c) knew I would have to go out and buy lots of little bits and couldn't be bothered! But now it's finally all packed and ready to go! Packing for hospital felt really weird - as I said to B, it's like packing for a (painful) holiday but you don't know when you're going or how long you're staying for. I've actually never been in hospital for anything before (except day surgery for varicose veins when I was about 21/22, but I was literally in and out!) so it felt especially weird.

I know I've read a lot of blog posts, watched a lot of YouTube videos and asked a lot of people about the things to pack in your hospital bag, so I thought I would share my list on here in case it helps anyone else (or if you're just nosy and want to know what I'm taking!) As I've never done this before, there might be things in here that I won't need/use or things that I wish I had afterwards, so I might do an update post at some point with the things I actually used from here.

• Lush Dream Cream - my favourite moisturiser of choice

• Lush Sleepy lotion - always calms me down if I'm feeling anxious! I rub a little bit on my wrists and rub them together. Thought it would be useful for when I'm panicking!

• Breast pads

• Comfy clothes - for chilling in the hospital and/or for going home afterwards

• Slippers/sliders - for walking around the hospital room

• Dressing gown - even though it will be summer, I've heard that some hospital wards/rooms can get quite cold! I won't be taking a big fluffy one, just a light airy one to wrap around myself if needed

• Nighties - I have a few different options - some button down and some regular just so I have different options and fresh ones to change into

• Nursing bras

• Big knickers - enough said!

• Maternity pads

• Leggings - for going home

• Top - for going home

• Vest top - in case I want something other than a nightie on

• Bikini top - for the birthing pool

• Towel - for afterwards

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Make up wipes

• Hand sanitiser

• Hairbrush

• Shampoo/conditioner - mini ones just in case I fancy a freshen up

• Dry shampoo - depending on when I go into labour and/or how long I have to stay in for!

• Hair bobbles

• Deodorant

• Contact lenses and glasses

• Basic makeup - just in case I want to feel a ibt more human

• Paracetamol

• Ibuprofen

• Gestational Diabetes testing kit (needles, blood glucose monitor, sharps box etc.)

• Flannels

• Cooling spray - essential if the weather stays as it is right now!

• Handheld fan - see above!

• My Expert Midwife Spritz For Bits - this has been recommended by SO many people!

• My Expert Midwife No Harm Nipple Balm

• Pillows - pregnancy and regular just to feel more at home

• Peri bottle - I've also heard this is an essential for weeing after birth!

• Extra long phone charger - in case my regular one doesn't reach

• Flip flops - for the shower.

• Water bottle with a straw - so that I can drink lying down

• Camera

• Snacks/drinks - including non-diabetic snacks that I can (hopefully!) enjoy after labour if my blood sugars return to normal

• AirPods

• Laptop/iPad - so that I/we can watch stuff if we're waiting around/staying in for a few days

And that's everything (I think!) Let me know if there's something glaringly obvious that I've missed or that you think would be useful to have!