What's In My Hospital Bag...

So with 3 days to go until I give birth I thought I would start this blog off with a 'what's in my hospital bag' post. With my last pregnancy I was constantly reading and looking up what other people had packed in theirs to give me some ideas.  Since then Iv composed lists for my a few of my closest friends and my brother when his fiancée was pregnant, from what to pack in the hospital bag to a baby shopping list. 

When I had my first pregnancy, I was so prepared that my hospital bag was packed and ready go along with a birth plan as soon as I hit my third trimester. With this baby I've been slightly less prepared, lets just say this baby was very much a surprise! So from working, moving from one side of London to the other all with an energetic little 2 year old, I've had a crazy few months. 

Took a while but I finally got prepared.. 

I was out pram shopping with my brother and his fiancée at John Lewis earlier this year and he picked up a Laessig neckline changing bag. I was sold. 

I didn't want to get the exact same colour as him... actually rephrase that HE didn't want me to get the same colour. Anyway I ended up getting the Choco Melange colour.

Not only is it made sustainably from using non-toxic and environmentally-friendly components.. it's also ridiculously comfy, no matter how much crap you pack inside it. Its also got an endless amount of pockets and sections, so for some one who's a bit of an organisational freak, it was perfect. 

Laessig Choco melange- you can purchase this colour from Amazon.

Okay so I feel like I've rambled enough... Lets get to the point of this post and show you what's IN the bag :) 

I live literally right next to the hospital.. (seriously I could walk there in about 5-10 Minutes... well there's no way in hell I'll be walking down the road with contractions grunting like a crazy woman)  So I didn't want to over pack and considering my last labour was so quick I guess I'm hoping this labour will go the same way.. if I do need anything I can always send my husband back home. 

    What I packed for myself: 

• Tens Machine; I really wanted to try this with the other labour but I never got round to getting one. I plan to use this for the early stages and then the birthing pool for active labour.
• Water and sweets.. I didn't bother packing any other food as last time I didn't want to eat anything at all during the labour. Last time I baked myself some nice biscuits and packed them.. well whilst I was contracting in the birthing pool my husband, his mum and sister ended up munching them and telling me how nice they were haha  **This packet of Haribo is of course opened and half the pack is now gone... Will have to re-up on some more. 
• Breastfeeding shawl, I think this one is from Bebe Au lait. 
• Extra Plastic Bag.. for any wet/ruined clothing/towel
• A towel and flannel. I referred myself to the birthing centre like my last labour, it was so nice to be able to shower after, especially since I didn't have a chance to wash for days when I got home! #newmummyflo
• Toiletries; rock salt deodorant, some natural anti bacterial spray (from vital baby this is great for on the go with little ones you can clean dummies and kiddies hand with it) bb cream so I don't look like complete crap when those first pictures are taken, palmers body oil, hand ties and clip *a definite must*. I also put some face and eye cream into little jars, some Lavender essential oil, one midwife advised this after my last labour she told me to put it on the sticky side of your maternity pad to help with healing, it also helps during labour. Some mama mio nipple cream and Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and then maternity pads and some lansinoh boobies pads and arnica 30c to help with healing/swelling after. Popped some of these into the little Laessig pouch that came with the changing bag. 
• Change of clothes; leggings vest and easy-to-nurse top. Extra knickers and nursing bra.
• My purse, Although to be fair I don't really need this. As long as my husband has his ;) haha
• And of course my pregancy folder and birth plan. I printed off a template from the Hipp baby website. 

  Now for the baby stuff.. Like I said Im so close to home I didn't pack as much for baby as I did the first time round: 

• Baby blanket. 
• 2 Bamboo muslins, I bought a pack of 10 of these on Amazon and they are sooo lovely and soft. Also popped a Aden & Anais bamboo burp cloth I picked up from Tkmaxx, this one is uber soft too. 
• Cotton wool, beaming baby bio-degradable nappies(these nappies are AHH-MAZING theyre wipes are the bomb too.. you wont want to go back to those horrible pampers after using these)  and some bottom balm. 
• Newborn sized sleepsuit, matching hat and mittens and socks. 
• X2 H&M conscious kimono vests.. I love these.. the poppers are on the side so you don't have to pull the vest over bubba head. 
• I also picked up a cute little fleecy outfit from H&M. I had a mamas and papas snowsuit when I bought my first daughter home but this time I have a maxi-cosi carseat footmuff.