This information leaflet has been produced by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Unit to provide information to pregnant women about what they could bring if they choose to have their baby at this hospital.
We look forward to welcoming you for your labour, birth and postnatal care at Gateshead.
We recommend you have your hospital bags packed and ready from 37 weeks of pregnancy. The following are suggestions for items to pack for yourself, your baby and your birth partner for labour and your postnatal stay in hospital.
Please encourage your birth partner to familiarise themselves with the items in each bag as they may be asked to find things you need.
Labour and Birth
- Birth plan
- Any regular medication
- Something cool and comfortable to wear during labour
- Maternity pads x 1 pack
- Breast pads
- Supportive, comfortable bra
- Comfortable, full brief stretchy knickers
- Slippers and dressing gown
- Nightwear – a nightie rather than pyjamas for the immediate postnatal period
- If planning a water birth, you may wish to bring an extra set of clothes, or swimwear if preferred
- Towel
- Flannel or wipes
- Phone and charger
- Books / magazines
- Toiletries including toothbrush / toothpaste, shower gel or soap (you may prefer unperfumed for sensitive skin after labour), hairbrush, hair bobbles or clips, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, lip balms.
- Water bottle or isotonic drinks
- Snacks
- Music playlist
- Warm socks
- Your own pillow if you would prefer this
Baby Items
- Newborn nappies 1 x small pack
- Wipes or cotton wool
- Bottles, and ready-made formula (either starter packs or larger bottles which we can refrigerate for you once opened) NB. Please do not bring powdered formula as we cannot provide boiling water to make up feeds
- Newborn vests and baby-grows x 5 of each
- Hat, cardigan, mittens, socks
- Muslin square
- Blanket
- Something warm to wear for going home
- Car seat – only needs to be brought at point of discharge home
Birth Partner
- Snacks and drinks
- Tablet, book, phone and charger
- Their own medication if required (including analgesia as we are unable to dispense medication to birth partners)
- Toothbrush / toothpaste
- Change of clothes
- If planning water birth, set of clothes suitable for this, and a towel
- Overnight stay items (if wishing partner to stay overnight, and side room available on postnatal ward)
Contact Numbers
Delivery Suite
Maternity
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Queen Elizabeth Avenue,
Sheriff Hill,
Gateshead,
NE9 6SX