What I packed in my hospital bag for my still birth

Well, there’s a title I never envisaged writing a post beneath. But it’s something I found myself desperately searching for when I discovered that this was our path. I could find plenty of blogs, Instagram posts and even Tik Tok’s about all the essentials for a live birth- but for a still birth? NOTHING. And given that this list is one I’ve been asked for by more people than I ever imagined, it’s obviously a post that I need to publish. This is what I packed in my hospital bag for my still birth.

Hospital bag essentials

Let’s start with the essentials for you, and your birthing partner. It’s worth packing the bag together or using labelled packing cubes so it’s easy for someone else to grab anything you might want.

• 2 pairs of PJ’s / nightie. (One for birth and one for after)
• Dressing gown & slippers (remember you’ll be wearing stockings)
• Your own pillow or pillow case
• Several pairs of comfy knickers with a soft waistband
• Comfy clothes with a soft waistband for coming home
• PJs/ spare clothes for your birthing partner

• Bobbles / hair bands / clips
• Lip balm
• Shower gel, face wash and moisturiser
• Any make-up you feel you may want- very personal decision, but I know for some of us this helps at times
• Maternity pads (Tena Lady pants were my preferred type)
• Tissues
• Fan
• Spritz for Bits by My Expert Midwife is a soothing spray for vaginal and c-section births.
• Any scent that reminds you of home / happier times. I swear by Liquid Yoga Space Spray by Mio.

• Favourite snacks / teabags / foods (some bereavement suites have stocked kitchens, but it’s worth packing your favourites for before, during and after labour)
• Phone charger
• Camera
• Headphones, for both you and birth partner
• A journal or notepad, if you find it helpful to write
• Laptop / IPAD with your favourite films or shows downloaded. These will act as a welcome distraction when you need it most.

I also packed a few things that helped me during my first birthing experience, albeit a different one, with my living son. This included affirmation cards and the Freya app which features an affirmations playlist- I asked my partner to listen to these in advance to ensure there was no triggering language. My hospital provided a birthing ball and TENs machine, and it’s worth asking in advance if yours does too.

Packing for your baby

Packing for your baby will be a very personal choice and you might want to discuss your plans with your partner in advance, if possible. Some hospitals have specially made clothes and hats that you can choose to dress your baby in when they arrive. These often range in sizes and should be suitable for all gestations.
You should also be provided with a memory box with teddies, keepsakes and memory making activities. Some hospitals have a library of books you can read to your baby and often take home with you too.

We had three weeks to prepare for our son’s arrival (you can read more about our story here-I had a TFMR – Flicks and Red Lips) which meant we had time to shop and prepare certain things. If you don’t have time on your side, perhaps a family member or close friend could purchase & deliver to hospital any items you feel would support you.

Items that were important to us were:-

• Blanket (I bought two- one stayed with him and one with us)
• A name plaque
• A teddy
• A letter I’d written to him
• Photographs of us as a family (this and the letter stayed with him)
• A book I wished to read to him
• Anything from home we wanted to be photographed with us

I made a playlist of songs for my son’s birth and these songs were also played at his funeral. I selected songs that I had connected with during my pregnancy and ones that had links to baby loss, which I had discovered during our period of testing. One of these songs was Winter Bear by Coby Grant, a beautiful song about loving our lost babies.

edit: what i wished I’d packed for my second tfmr and still birth

29/9/2025- I didn’t expect to be updating this post with further lived experience, but here we are! The following list is items I wish I’d packed in June 2025 when I unfortunately had a second TFMR and still birth.

• Soft bath towel/ sheet from home (small, rough NHS towels are NOT the one!)
• A nice outfit/s to have multiple pictures with my baby
• A handheld mirror- turns out I wanted my make-up bag this time but I didn’t have a mirror to do much!

What I packed in my hospital bag for my still birth

I hope you found this post helpful. And I’m so incredibly sorry that this is a post you’ve had to find, I so wish you didn’t need it. If you would find it helpful to read a ‘positive’ still birth story, you can find mine here- Our still birth story – Flicks and Red Lips

If you feel you need support, please do reach out to the many national baby loss charities out there. They all are linked below. Don’t face this alone.

Sending you all my love,

Sian x

Sands | Saving babies’ lives. Supporting bereaved families.

Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) – non-directive information and support before, during and after antenatal screening (arc-uk.org)

Saying Goodbye – support for miscarriage and baby and infant loss

Petals, The baby loss counselling charity – Petals Charity

Ellie’s Gift | Baby Loss Support & Resources