What to pack in your hospital bag

OK so there are lots of blog posts on this but I want to have my say. Here’s what you really need to pack in your hospital bag, plus a few extra’s that I was really pleased I had. I made this list when I came home as I had my sister and a few friends due a couple of weeks after me and there are so many lists out there it’s hard to know what you really need.

Quite often now you are sent home the same day as you had the baby but you never know what your labour is going to be like so better to have too much stuff than too little. My hospital keeps everyone in for 24 hours as a matter or course so you can be monitored and your baby can see the paediatrician. So all this is based on 24 hours in hospital in a ward.

• 2 towels – I took 1 and had a shower straight after having Ned and then needed another one for my overnight stay... which was annoying.
• Shower gel
• Deodorant 
• Razor (sounds bizarre but when you've had a sleep and the baby's sleeping and you get a chance to have a proper shower you really want to freshen up and I was sad not to have my razor) 
•  2 nighties 
•  Big, comfy black undies 
•  Maternity pads (Boots are the most comfortable, Sainsburys own brand are good too) 
•  Maternity bras (1 is fine though you'll want a couple more for when you get home - I like these) 
• Breast pads (Johnson and Johnson are by far the best but not individually wrapped Lansinoh or Boots own brand are also good)
• Nipple cream 
• Baby wipes (suitable for newborns) 
• Nappies 
• Nappy bags 
• 5 baby vests 
• 5 sleep suits
• 1 or 2 cellular blankets 
• 2 baby hats (they will probably wear one the whole time they are in the hospital 
• Dressing gown for you (it is unbelievably hot in the ward but you will be going to the loo etc so it’s nice to have a dressing gown) 
• Flip flops or slippers (my feet were too swollen for slippers) 
• Eye mask (if you like to sleep in total darkness) 
• Hair ties 
• Plastic bag for your dirty laundry 
• Flash wipes for the bathroom etc (the bathroom where I was was really clean but... well, you leak and it’s nice to just have something to hand to have a bit of a clean up after you’ve had a shower etc).

I took an ipod and speakers which I didn’t use. Anything else you need your husband or friend can bring you after you’ve had the baby. A lot of people recommend ear plugs but from my experience newborns actually sleep quite a lot and I would have been too anxious about him if I'd had earplugs in.