What's in your birth bag?

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What’s in your birth bag? Have you started to get it ready? Are you super organised and it’s sitting in a safe and easy to reach place in case you need it urgently?

If you’re planning a hospital birth, you need to ensure that you have everything that you need in your birth bag? What could it look like? Here’s a few suggestions for a useful birth bag:

  • Snacks - in case you need a burst of energy

  • Water and a couple of high energy drinks to keep you hydrated and for a super-quick burst of energy

  • A re-useable straw - so your partner can hold your drink while you continue to push

  • A couple of nighties/pairs of PJs in case you have to stay in hospital

  • Slippers - as above

  • Big pants - you’ll need these after you’ve birthed. Not big steel girder pants, just comfy big pants

  • Sanitary pads - you’ll probably bleed for a short while

  • Breast pads - as even if you don’t breast feed, you may well have leaky boobs

  • First size nappies for baby nappies

  • Water wipes/reusable wipes for baby

  • Hair brush and possibly hair ties if you have long hair

  • Bed socks - hospitals can sometimes be a bit chilly at night

  • Wash bag - cleanser, toner, moisturiser, shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm

  • Baby clothes including hat and booties

  • A muslin or two

  • Your phone and charger

  • Mini fan - to keep you cool during labour

  • Essential oils - if you’re using them

  • Massage oils - for stretch marks or for use in labour

  • Baby blanket - to wrap your newborn in when you leave hospital

  • Comfy going home clothes

It’s also a good idea to ensure you’ve got the right parking app on your phone if you have to park on the street and a playlist to listen to during labour, including any hypnobirthing MP3s.

What if you’re planning a home birth? It’s still a good idea to have a bag ready just in case but, if you’re at home, depending on the birth you are hoping to have, in addition to having a bag ready it’s also a good idea to have these to hand:

  • Birthing pool - inflated and ready to fill with water as soon as you’re in stage 2 labour (depending on how you’re going to fill the pool up)

  • Mattress protectors

  • TENS machine

  • Plenty of towels

  • Hot water bottle for use in stage 1 labour

  • Food and drinks for you and your partner

  • Ice cubes to suck on

  • Birth ball

  • Bin bags for rubbish

  • Tea/coffee and biscuits for your midwives

Are you ready? What do you think is essential for your birth bag?

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