Despite repeated warnings from my midwife, I was the one who never managed to get the hospital bag packed. Instead I arrived at the hospital on foot carrying a reusable Marks & Spencer's bag stuffed with random crap I'd grabbed in the five minutes I had to get ready. According to The Man the branding poshed up my entrance somewhat. When the baby arrived my mother was dispatched to the shops to buy babygros. Don't be this person. We asked the HerFamily.ie readers what their hospital essentials were and got some awesome tips: "5 days in dry labour disposable underwear was quickly disposed of!!! Primark cheap stuff then dispose. Phone and charger, loads of energy bars and I didn't need anything else." – Coralea Logan Robinson  "Lip balm and moisturiser. The air in the hospital was so drying and those things made me feel human!" – Melissa Conlon-Flynn  "Snacks/food for after they forgot to give me my tea and toast after my baby, cafe was closed in hospital and little shop round the corner didn't have any sandwiches or anything was starving had to settle for a packet of biscuits and chocolate!" – Laura O'Toole  "Your favourite snack chocolate etc, I didn't have much of an appetite for proper food so was grateful for my snacks to keep my energy up! As for disposable pants I just bought big knickers in Tesco cheap as the disposable and much more comfy! Dark towels for your first shower and dry shampoo and shower cap instead of washing your hair!" – Paula Reilly  "Ear plugs." – Ann Mchenry  "Loads of socks my slippers wouldn't fit on my feet as they were so swollen so buy bigger sizes and also disposable underwear it's much handier." – Nat Harmon  "I brought a pillow and a blanket (not planned) but it was snowing that night and I was shaking so wrapped it around me and had been clinging onto the pillow all day. They were life savers. Such a home comfort." – Sarah Isabella  "Witch hazel for your pad it's heaven after giving birth, you can't use if you have stitches though I don't think and loads of snacks especially if you are breast feeding, hospital doesn't give you enough..." – Sabrina o'Toole  "Pillow cases, the hospital didn't have enough sheets for the little cots so if baby throws up or there's a nappy changing disaster you won't have to bother the nurses for clean cot sheets. Loads of gluten free everything if you're coeliac, they just couldn't cope making food if you'd special dietary requirements where I was." – Jenny Hughes  "Freeze maternity pads for after they help with the swelling and tracksuit bottoms in dark colours." – Linda Gregg  "Arnica tablets, a handheld fan (it gets HOT with all the pushing), hair bobbins and vaseline for the lips and witch hazel for the pads!" – Mountians Nì Cionnaodh