The best postnatal products for your hospital birth bag 2024

When packing your hospital bag or preparing for a home birth it’s not just about what’s needed for labour or for your baby. There are some post-birth items that will be essential or very useful for you. These products will help you manage the bleeding and postnatal pain or soreness. Here are the best to buy.

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• Maternity pads

• Incontinence pants

• Disposable knickers

• Soothing/cooling pads and sprays

• Peri bottles

This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:

• Consumer reviews

• Best-seller lists 

• Recommendations from industry experts

• Award-winning products

• Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.

The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 5 January 2024. 

If you buy through a link, I may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.

What to pack for post-natal bleeding

Maternity pads are probably the most essential post-birth item and you’ll definitely need some of these in your hospital birth bag. Most recommend packing two packets as they need to be changed every few hours to prevent infection. And it may be even more frequent than that in the first few days after the birth.

Maternity pads are different from sanitary towels as they are bigger, more absorbent and don’t have any mesh or plastic coating that could irritate any stitches you may have had.

Boots maternity pads are extra long and thick for post-birth bleeding. They come in a pack of ten.

Natracare Organic Maternity Pads are also very popular as the pads and packaging are 100% plastic-free and biodegradable. They have an organic cotton cover and are both chlorine and perfume-free so perfect for newly sensitive skin.

Lil-Lets Maternity Pads have wings for extra security. They are contoured to fit your body for extra comfort and protection and are soft and un-perfumed for delicate skin.

Some new mums prefer to absorb bleeding with the kind of pants that are usually designed for urinary incontinence.

Tena ProSkin are slim-fitting pants that are soft, breathable and very absorbent.

Always Discreet Underwear are also comfortable and highly absorbent with a triple-layer core.

If you are taking maternity pads, remember to pack a few pairs of dark-coloured knickers in a size bigger. If you are having a C-section, they’ll need to have a high waistband so as not to irritate your scar. Alternatively, some new mums opt for disposable knickers in their hospital bag, like the Emma Jane disposable maternity briefs.

FridaMom disposable underwear are soft, stretchy and seamless and do a great job at keeping pads in place.

What to pack for soothing any pain

If you’ve had a vaginal birth, it’s likely you will experience some soreness and tenderness. There are a few items you can pack that can help with this.

First Days Perineal Cold packs are absorbent pads that can be placed in your underwear instead of a maternity pad for 20 minutes. They are like an ice pack but with no risk of freezer burn and are perfect for a hospital bag as you don’t need to keep them in the freezer. You just squeeze and shake them to activate the cooling effect. They are award-winning and great for reducing pain, swelling and bruising.