In the Bag with Jessie Wong: The Baby Bag Edit
Hospital bag packed ready-to-go in the Landscape Tote and Large Organiser.
A hospital packing list from new mum—founder and creative director, Jessie Wong.
Pregnancy was a steep learning curve. The first thing I googled was, “What to do when you’re pregnant?” The strange thing about being pregnant for the first time is how information is drip-fed to you over nine months. At my 37-week appointment, my midwife wanted to discuss two topics: first, had I finished up at work yet (no), and second, had I packed my hospital bag?
For someone who has made a career and brand out of the ‘Art of Packing; I was slightly embarrassed to say I hadn’t. “What do I pack?” I asked. Not much, was the answer—and definitely not a suitcase worth. My midwife referred me to the list on the Domino Midwives website.
Here is my spin on the Domino’s list alongside a few extra things I picked up from other mums at Calmbirth and antenatal classes. All of the below has been organised into a set of UTILITY by Yu Mei pieces: The Landscape Tote and Large Organiser, which were designed as a baby bag set (before I had any idea I’d be using them so soon), layered with the Pouch Envelope and Cable Ties to keep all the small things easy to find. You might also need an extra bag for bulky stuff like track pants, speakers, and change of clothes for your partner.
Mum gear for the hospital, the essentials:
A comfortable, loose-fitting nightie or T-Shirt that you can labour and give birth in—I've been wearing Jack’s oversized T-Shirt all pregnancy
A pair of warm socks as your feet may get cold during labour—Perino socks, courtesy of Brigette Thomas for tramping the Abel Tasman a few years back
5-10 pairs of cotton underwear (big enough to hold a maternity pad)—Uniqlo
Pyjamas, nighties, maternity singlets or T-Shirts that will be easy to use while breastfeeding x 3—The Gentlewoman x Tekla PJ’s
Track pants—Entire Studios
Clothes to wear home—Yu Mei cashmere jumper, Entire Studios singlet and track pants, socks
Maternity bras x 3 (no underwire): I was recommended (but have yet to use) the SKIMS Maternity Bra. Something in me trusts that Kim will be looking out for your shape while also being practical for feeding
Personal toiletries (shampoo and conditioner, soap/body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush and hair ties, lip balm, moisturiser)—Aesop travel bottles, Hana Akari essential oils, Mason Pearson Travel Brush, Rationale Ceramide Balm, Embrolisse Moisturiser, all in a UTILITY Pouch
Nipple cream and breastfeeding pads—I got these from The Sleep Store
Massage oil—Nature Baby and Sans Ceuticals
Water bottle
Wheat pack
Snacks for after birth—cashew nuts and peanut slabs for me… and 2 x frozen Patricia's potato top pies for Jack. I’ve asked a friend to pick the fresh and healthy things for after birth (thank you Danielle), but these are what you can have ready ahead of time
Woollen cardigan, booties, socks, newborn hats and cotton baby clothing from Nature Baby and Babu.
Baby gear for the hospital:
2 x Cotton domed singlets
3 x Merino or woollen vests
3 x Suits or gowns—I packed the Nature Baby pointelle sleeping gown, which was recommended because you don’t have to undress the baby to change nappies, and it features wee fold-over mittens to stop the baby from scratching itself
1 x Woollen cardigan
Booties and socks
2-3 x Newborn hats
1 x Swaddle and 1 x merino/wool blanket—all from Nature Baby and Babu, who have done very well out of the generosity of my friends and family this pregnancy
Nappies and wipes—Terra Nappy, ordered online in bulk, a recommendation of Jhana Millers
Labour and baby gear, these things were not on the Domino’s list, but I heard would come in handy:
Labour combs—Tibetan Combs to get through contractions, given to me by my Auntie, who is also a midwife
Shakti Mat / Swiss Ball—easy to find online
Tens Machine—ordered online, but can be rented
Hand pump and cap—I bought the Haakkaa set, but also a Spectra Portable Pump for later on
Milk storage bags—The Sleep Store
Colostrum + spare containers—My midwife gave me syringes, but I also have some spare Haakkaa containers
Change of clothes for Dad—he maintained he will not need this, but I packed it anyway
Essential Oil Diffuser—Muji
iPhone charger—with 3m cord (all cords are secured with Cable Ties in a UTILITY Envelope)
Speaker + playlist
Birth plan
Anti Nausea / Ginger Chews—Thank you to Claudia Batten for introducing me to Ginger Chews when I had 24/7 morning sickness at Toru last year
Tibetan Combs and labour / baby gear.
Recommended reading—Cribsheet by Emily Oster
Also important:
Add your a Car capsule and base—we chose the light and portable Pipa Nuna
Pram—you potentially don’t need this for the hospital, but I went with a Yoyo Zen, which is good for travel, a recommendation from Georgia Currie
Also not for the hospital, but a special mention to Cribsheet by Emily Oster. Simply presented data to help you frame up your pregnancy and parenting decisions. I wish I’d discovered her series of books earlier. Thank you, Brooke Roberts and Toni Moyes, for the recommendation.
