What to really pack in your hospital bag

Naomi Gornall - 11 May 17

You’re getting increasingly near your due date and practically everyone you meet asks you two questions. Either “are you all ready?” or “are you excited?”

Frankly at this point I’m most excited about the point post-childbirth when people do not ask me whether I’m excited.

As to whether I am ready or not, I could debate for hours about whether anyone is really ready for such a life-changing event, but I suspect they mostly mean on a practical level, which I shall address now.

Hospital bags. It’s drummed into you by your midwife/family to get it all packed and sorted by week 37 but what to put in it? Second time around, I am a bit more clued up about what I’ll actually need (contrary to the generic lists found online).

Here are a few pointers;

1. You will not need lipbalm. Moisturising your lips will probably be the furthest thing from your mind as you grapple with the enormity of having a baby, and your body being a little bit broken.

2. Earplugs and/or headphones. They will drown out the noise of other mums (and their babies) during the night, which trust me, can be the worst part of the experience.

3. Flipflops or wide shoes. My feet ballooned after giving birth to such an extent that I ended up leaving the hospital in pink fluffy slippers.

4. Which brings me onto dignity. Leave it at home. There is no place for it on the maternity ward. I won’t go into details but suffice to say, it’s lucky you feel as if you are in fog as it desensitizes you to the grossness of everything.

5. Also expectations can stay away. Don’t assume you’ll be overcome with love for your new baby straight away. Yes, you’re pleased they are healthy and they are pretty cute but that immediate bond doesn’t always come. You’ll be feeling sore, vulnerable and overwhelmed by the situation so give yourself a break.

6. Bring tissues. See above point. The smallest things might make you cry.

7. Mobile charger. Everyone will want to know the news. You’ll want to share it and take pictures of baby at 4am when it is asleep and you aren’t (and neither is half the ward).

8. Miraculous nightgear. It needs to hide the still large bump (yep, thanks Hollywood for letting me imagine otherwise), not too exposing (no one wants to see the carnage), suitable for breastfeeding, and good enough for photos (vain but necessary). Let me know if you find such an item.

9. Partner: After the event, they’ll definitely be needed to supply the following  a)more tissues b)sympathy c)strong coffee

Naomi Gornall

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