10 Hospital Bag Must Haves (And 5 Things You Don’t Need)

There are many moments of pregnancy that make the journey memorable. From going shopping for baby items to setting up the nursery and getting your scans, all of these moments mark how close you are to meeting your bundle of joy. But, of course, one of the most significant moments is starting your hospital bag! But when it comes to your bag and what to pack, there are many different opinions on what you need and what you don’t.

The threat of early labour, an array of complications and a generally very-high risk pregnancy meant that from 20 weeks, I was researching what to put in my bag, and now at almost 29 weeks, it’s complete. So these are my following must-have items, as well as those you don’t need based not only on recommendations but personal preference, and the experience of having already been up on labour ward more times than I care to count!

First things first – your bag!

What you do for your hospital bag is up to you. Some people like 2 bags, either one for them and one for baby, or one for labour and one for after. Others, like me, shove everything into a case! If you’re like me and choosing the latter, a hard-shell case with separate compartments and an inbuilt lock is highly recommended! Not only do you then have the ability to split your case, but you can also keep it locked when it’s not being used. Cases like these are also great to use packing cubes with, giving you even more options for separating items however you need to.

What to put in (and what you can leave)

Everyone knows the basics of the hospital bag – nappies, car seat, clothes etc. But here I’m going a little more in-depth with 10 things I’m popping into my bag and 5 that I’m choosing to leave out!

Must-haves:

  1. Maternity towels and breast pads – I’ve seen people say that you don’t need breast pads; however, if you’re leaking milk, then I’d definitely pack some! Although I use my Elvie Catches at home, they need cleaning and regularly sterilising, so if you are using products similar, then leave them out and just get some disposable ones for the bag! Maternity towels are also a must, as regardless of how you have your little one, you will bleed after!

2. Isotonic drinks – Can we rename these to lifesavers!? Drinks like Lucozade sport will keep your energy topped up and stop you from getting dehydrated during labour, especially if you’re unable to eat! If you have gestational diabetes or need to watch your sugar levels, they also do a ‘lite’ version containing 10g of carbs per 500ml bottle.

3. Snacks for you and your birth partner – If you’re like me and having to pack for every scenario, then enough snacks for your birth partner and yourself is a must! Some hospitals are still strict on birth partners leaving the room to get food, so plan ahead. I’ve got snacks for Alex that I know I won’t eat, as well as snacks both of us eat. I’ve also popped dried fruit in my snack bag for me, as that will probably be the thing I want most.

4. Cotton wool – This is so versatile! Not only can you use it to clean baby up if they poop before going home, but if you’re like me and use a cleanser that doesn’t require water, then you can use cotton wool to apply that and toner too.

5. Phone charger – The last thing you want to be doing when it’s time to get to the hospital is fighting with your phone charger, so plan ahead and pop a couple of cables and a plug in your bag! You may also want to pop a pre-charged battery pack in your bag as well, which is precisely what we’ll be doing! A 6ft cable is a good idea, as the plug sockets are often high up behind the bed in the hospital, making a standard 1m cable almost useless!

6. Button-front nightdress or PJs – However you decide to feed your little one, a button-front nightie will make life easier for you, especially if you don’t do hospital gowns! If you know you’re going in for a section, then I suggest nightdresses all the way to prevent PJ bottoms rubbing on your scar!

7. Simple going home outfits for you and baby – Emphasis on the word simple! You’ll be tired, in pain and just want the easiest thing to get on and off when the time comes to leave. My going home outfit is a simple black wrap-front dress and leggings, and our little one will be in a vest and sleep suit.

8. Towels – Yes, the hospital provides them if you ask, but if you have sensitive skin like me, you’ll want to take your own. One brand I highly recommend is Dock & Bay who’s ultra-fast drying towels are lovely on the skin, and they’re also perfect for travelling and beach days when your little one is

9. Cooling mist and a handheld fan – Take it from someone who’s spent more time on labour triage than they wanted to. Those wards are hot! An excellent cooling mist (I recommend this one from Beauty Formulas) is a must, as is a handheld fan that your birth partner can direct towards you when required. I’m not a fan of battery ones, so I have a large handheld fan from Daftboy, but get whatever works best for you.

10. Flip flops! I cannot recommend flip-flops enough, not only for moving around the ward but also for using the showers in the hospital. Find a pair that are easy to put on and pop them down the side of your bag so that they’re easy to reach.

Don’t need:

  1. Muslin squares Yes, they are lifesavers, but baby stomachs are tiny, so the chances are you won’t need muslin squares just yet. If you’re unexpectedly in for longer than a day or two, then you can get someone to bring a few up!

2. Baby wipes – Remember I said you need cotton wool? You can use that to clean your little one with water. Unfortunately, most baby wipes are too rough for newborn skin and can causes rashes. I’ve been advised to wait a week or two before we start to use baby wipes, and even then to use something like Water Wipes.

3. Thick blankets – hospitals are hot, too hot for thick blankets! The ward at my local hospital where I’m giving birth also happens to provide blankets, but if you’re that adamant about taking one in, then an extra-large muslin which you can use to swaddle or as a nursing cover will suffice.

4. Breast Pump – Even if you’re expecting to be in for a few days, your milk likely won’t come in straight away. Breast pumps are bulky, and believe me when I say this, you won’t use the pump until your milk comes in!

5. Books, magazines etc. Again, these you probably won’t use. If you’re that worried about getting bored, get the Kindle app downloaded on your phone or tablet (you can get a 30 day free trial of Kindle Unlimited here), pick a couple books you like and then you have reading material if you need it, without the hassle of taking up precious hospital bag space!

Do you have any must-have items or items you packed but never used if you’ve been through birth before? If so, then pop them in the comments for others to get an idea of what is and isn’t a good idea for the hospital bag!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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Photo of a brown box on a grey background with a multicoloured animal print sleeve wrapped around it. The sleeve also has a cream coloured square box with a drawing of a dears head with flowers one, and a fawn just in front of it. The words 'little fawn box' are in black underneath. There's also the words 'the subscription box for mum & baby' in cream on a black background underneath.

Parent And Baby Subscription Boxes – Are They Worth It?

Anyone who signs up to parent and baby sites like Bounty, Emma’s Diary or even just looks at Instagram or Facebook adverts will have probably seen that you can get subscription boxes for babies as well as parents. For those stuck on what to gift parents-to-be, they can seem like a great option, especially as you can find new products and they’ll usually have plenty of useful things inside.


One such box is Little Fawn Box which are boxes for parents-to-be and babies. I recently found a discount code for them which reduced the first box to £7.99, including postage. Usually, the boxes are £12.99 plus £2.99 postage, taking the total for each box to £15.98. You can also get 3-month and 6-month packages so that the boxes work out a bit cheaper. In addition, Little Fawn Box claims that all of the contents of each box are worth at least £30. So it works out at around a 50% discount by the time you’ve included postage.

Photo of a brown box on a grey background with a multicoloured animal print sleeve wrapped around it. The sleeve also has a cream coloured square box with a drawing of a dears head with flowers one, and a fawn just in front of it. The words 'little fawn box' are in black underneath. There's also the words 'the subscription box for mum & baby' in cream on a black background underneath.
How the Little Fawn Box arrives

The box itself is reasonably sized, and I really like the sleeve wrapped around the box as it makes the box itself less dull. In addition, I really like the design as it’s simple yet sleek, and the dear with the fawn is adorable!

What was in the box

Photo of various baby products including a cream and see-through baby bottle, multi-coloured baby rattle and cream and blue coloured bottle containing baby body wash. There is also a green box containing a cleansing bar, a rainbow coloured bath bomb, and a purple, cream and yellow box containing wardrobe dividers which also has an orange black and white tiger on. The products are arranged on and around a brown box which is on a grey background.
Our Little Fawn Box Contents
  1. MAM 130ml Ant-Colic Self Sterilising Bottle And Soother Set

I have so many of these sets from various freebies that I’ve managed to get hold of that I could probably start a small shop! However, I love the MAM bottles, and luckily, that’s what Alex and I have chosen to use with little one since they have a self-sterilising function which will be a godsend when we’re away travelling. The self-sterilising function also means we don’t need to worry about getting a bulky steriliser, which we have barely any room for in the kitchen! 

2. Lamaze Spin And Smile Rattle

I love that a sensory toy for our little one has been included in the box! This colourful rattle is a great size for little newborn hands and helps stimulate their vision, hearing, and touch senses. The smiley face ball moves independently of the rest of the toy to create sounds using the little balls inside, and the toy itself is excellent as a first teething toy for when little one reaches that stage of development!

3. Aveeno Baby Daily Care Baby Gentle Wash

I love travel-sized baby washes and was pleased to see this in the box as it gives us another baby wash option to try out with little one once they’re here. This 50ml gentle baby wash contains colloidal oatmeal for dry and sensitive skin and is specially formulated to reduce the risk of allergies – perfect for little one!

4. Belo And Me Safari Animals Wardrobe Dividers

If there’s one thing both Alex and I are guilty of, along with most other parents-to-be, it’s buying a large mixture of different sized clothes for little one before they’ve even arrived. We love a good clearance and will often pick bits up when shopping for other things, but organising little one’s clothes because of this has become rather challenging. Luckily, these wardrobe dividers will come in handy as they go from tiny baby all the way up to 18-24 months. Each coloured divider has a safari animal on it, giving little one something to look at and help them learn both colours and animals as they get older.

5. Oh K! S.O.S Foaming Cleansing Bar

This product highlights the slight dangers of getting a subscription box with allergies. My skin is very sensitive, and I happen to be allergic to tea-tree, amongst other ingredients found in many skin care products. Luckily though, this is a product Alex can use, so he’s delighted that he’s got something out of the box and hasn’t been left out! The cleansing bar includes a mesh bag for storage, and I’m told that the bar itself is great for treating breakouts!

6. Miss Patisserie Pride Bath Ball

It’s that time of year, and Pride month is just around the corner, so we were expecting that there would be a Pride-themed product in the box somewhere! I’m a big fan of bath bombs, and not only does this one from Miss Patisserie look lovely, but it also smells lush! I also really like that Miss Patisserie’s bath bombs are cruelty-free and suitable for vegans.

Thoughts

Overall, I really like most of the products in the Little Fawn Box subscription box. Not only are the products useful for both parents and baby, but you can see that thought has gone into the selection of the box contents. Of course, there is always a danger with subscription boxes that you run into the slight problem of receiving something you don’t like or can’t use; however, the Little Fawn box, in particular, is good value for money. We worked out that the box contents at the time of writing this post are worth over £45, which is much more than the £30 that Little Fawn Box claims the boxes to be worth.

Have you brought a Little Fawn Box? Let us know what you received and what your thoughts on the box are in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products when you click on a link. This does not affect you as the consumer or the price of the product or service. It is also not a paid for promotion or a collaboration/advert.

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Photo of a white pregnant persons midriff, with blue and pink elastic bands holding 2 grey discs to the stomach area with grey colour wires going off to the right of the photo.

Our High Risk Pregnancy So Far: Movement Worries!

Firstly, this would have been a post about how things have changed between weeks 20 to 25, but that one will have to wait for a bit as one particular matter kept overtaking the majority of the post whilst I was writing – movements! 

To help people understand why I feel the way I do, we first have to talk about both how and why we track little one’s movements is a little bit unconventional. My condition means that from the top of my belly button down, I have no sensation and can’t feel fetal movements. The fact is that so far, the only time I’ve been able to ‘feel’ was last week when little one took one good swipe at my ribs and dislocated two of them! Because of my condition, Alex was the first to feel little one’s movements, and it’s something I’m super jealous over as it’s usually the person who’s carrying that gets to feel movements for a few weeks before anyone else can! 

So instead of going about my day whilst tracking them, my life has revolved around putting my hands on my stomach (Alex often joins in at home to cover more ground) every 90 minutes for 10-15 minutes each time since the day Alex felt bumps first movement. So essentially, we’re palpating for little one’s activity and seeing what they’re up to in there! It’s something I knew we’d have to do, but nothing could have prepared me for how complex tracking movements via this method can be since it’s only giving us a snippet of their routine. So imagine the panic we go through each time we don’t get anything when we are palpating. 

Reduced movements

The one thing that is drummed into you when you’re pregnant is to track movements, that they are how you know your little one is well, and that episodes of reduced movements should be reported to your hospital. Of course, there are plenty of varying opinions on how much activity is normal, but only you know your little ones routine.

For most, spotting reduced movements is pretty easy but for us, only being able to feel movements by palpating them means that it’s challenging to decide when to pick up the phone. My first episode happened just shy of 24 weeks, so I phoned my midwife, who quickly decided a trip up to the hospital was needed. Since then, I’ve had four more episodes of reduced movement, three of those being in the last week. The difficulty in knowing when to phone about movements is made more challenging, especially as when I’ve asked about when Alex and I should be worrying, none of those I’ve asked has a concrete answer, and the difficulties in monitoring don’t end there. 

CTG Nightmares

Photo of a white pregnant persons midriff, with blue and pink elastic bands holding 2 grey discs to the stomach area with grey colour wires going off to the right of the photo.
All hooked up to the CTG monitor

Anyone who’s had a CTG or knows what one is will probably know that there are set criteria you have to meet for the monitor to return a normal result. Unfortunately, it can be tricky for a CTG to produce a normal result between 26 and 28 weeks, from what various doctors have told us. However, my condition makes it even more likely for monitorings not to meet the criteria.

Firstly, having to palpate for movements is difficult when the monitors are one your tum! But it’s the only way I can feel movement, and when I do, taking my hand off to press the button linked up to the machine often interferes with the monitoring to the point that we’ve had a loss of contact on some occasions. 

Secondly, my heart rate tends to run high – something that not only does the monitor not like, but it’s resulted in the monitor thinking that it’s picking up little one when it’s my heart rate that it’s picked up. It’s often picked up pretty quickly, but when little one shifts away, the monitoring ends up picking up my heart rate again, which means a lot of moving the monitoring plates around! 

Not meeting criteria always means having to see the doctors before we can go home, and visits during pregnancy have become so regular that I’m on first name terms with half of them, especially as there were many hospital trips at the height of my battle with hyperemesis gravidarum. The silver lining is that my history doesn’t need to be explained as they already know about me, but it gets to a point where it starts to run you down, and no amount of people telling you it’s ok to be worried can stop you from feeling like you’re becoming a nuisance. 

Feeling like a nuisance

Even if it shouldn’t, going back and forth to the hospital for the same thing gets me down. But, luckily, most of the staff are extremely understanding of the rather unique situation I’m in, even if it’s not something that they come across on a day-to-day basis which I feel lucky for because I know that’s not the same for everyone.

However, there’s been one time where I have felt dismayed by the response I received when I told one of the midwives how I have to palpate for movement. Not only were they confused on the phone, but they also continued to be either confused at or not able to accept the fact that because I have no sensation from the top of my belly button down, I’m unable to feel movements when I was at the hospital. It wasn’t until the doctors saw me that they changed their attitude and realised that I was serious about how my condition affects my ability to track little one. 

Thankfully, since that incident, I haven’t felt disbelieved, but it’s left me feeling like a nuisance even more than I would’ve felt. I even said to one midwife in day assessment that I’m hoping my consultant can organise a plan of action regarding movements. I know the almost daily hospital visits to be monitored if little one gets into a position that makes it impossible to palpate will wear me down further and cause more stress. After all, the ongoing problems with tracking movement almost constantly remind me that I’m in a very different situation to most pregnant people. 

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