Pregnant women should take frozen peas to hospital - experts

A midwife has revealed the seven must-have items every mum-to-be should have in their hospital bag.

It comes after a study by Asda showed many expectant mums end up taking completely unsuitable items to the hospital. Some admitted to hastily grabbing their gym bag, while others accidentally took their grocery shopping instead of their prepared birthing bag – despite most parents packing their hospital bags 15 weeks ahead of the due date.

The survey discovered that items as bizarre as frozen peas, TV remotes and even toasters had unintentionally been brought to the maternity ward, along with a tube of tomato paste and a pair of black stiletto heels.

READ MORE: 'I ditched white paint from my home and a softer shade looks just as clean'

READ MORE: Water peace lilies with one cup of common food makes them 'explode with flowers'

Asda has teamed up with My Expert Midwife to offer professional advice through their 'Call the Midwife' live chat service, providing real-time reassurance for expecting parents.

In addition to birthing bag blunders, the survey also uncovered a variety of other childbirth mishaps - including forgetting to arrange childcare for other children, needing to refuel the car on the way to the hospital, and accidentally leaving the family dog in the back seat.

One in twenty respondents reported their waters breaking in unexpected places such as the supermarket, a friend's house, in the lift on the way to the maternity ward or during a work meeting, while five per cent ended up taking the wrong motorway exit, reports the Daily Star.

Several fathers nearly missed their child's arrival after popping out for a coffee or sandwich, while others mistakenly shared delivery photos with their workplace WhatsApp chat rather than family members.

Charlotte Hoskin from My Expert Midwife said: "I've seen all sorts of unexpected things pulled out of hospital bags on the big day, some of them quite funny! From corn on the cob to a harmonica. It's no surprise that parents-to-be often feel overwhelmed. There's so much information out there, it can be hard to know what to trust or where to shop to get good value. That's why I've put together my top tips of what to pack and a few surprising essentials you might not have thought of. And remember no matter how much you prepare, things rarely go exactly to plan, and that's completely okay." Asda's Baby Event is running now until September 30, offering discounts of up to 58% across more than 500 products.