Hospital bag checklist: what to actually pack

Pack your hospital bag by 36 weeks. Premature labour and induction don't always give you time to assemble things on the day. Two bags work better than one: a smaller labour bag and a second postnatal bag for if you're staying overnight. Keeping them separate means whoever is grabbing the bags in a hurry gets the right things.¹

For the birthing parent

During labour:

• Loose, comfortable clothing you won't mind ruining — an old nightgown or large T-shirt
• Dressing gown and non-slip slippers
• TENS machine if you plan to use one (rent it before the due date; hire kits get snapped up)
• Headphones and a charged device, or a small Bluetooth speaker
• Lip balm — gas and air dries lips badly; almost no one tells you this in advance
• Snacks and drinks, including isotonic drinks or sweets for energy in a long labour
• A small fan — delivery rooms are warm

Comfort:

• A pillow from home (hospital pillows have crinkly plastic cases; bring your own or a spare pillowcase)
• Massage oil or lotion if you'd like back massage during labour
• Anything that helps you feel calm: music downloaded offline, a printed birth preferences page

Toiletries and postpartum:

• Maternity pads — bring more than you think you need. Lochia (postpartum bleeding) is heavier than a period, especially in the first days, and many people run short
• Disposable mesh knickers or several pairs of cheap large knickers you don't mind discarding. Hospitals often supply some but not always enough
• Comfortable, loose post-birth clothing — button-up or wrap-style tops are useful if you're feeding
• Nursing bras or soft bras (bring 2–3)
• Nursing or breast pads
• Standard toiletries: toothbrush and paste, hair ties, shower gel, dry shampoo
• Towels — hospital towels are sparse

For the support partner or birth partner

• Snacks and drinks that need no preparation — labour can last many hours and hospital cafeterias close
• Phone charger and a portable battery pack
• A change of clothes and basic toiletries in case you stay overnight
• Cash or a payment card for car parking and vending machines
• Your own pillow if you'll be sleeping there
• Something to read or do during slow phases — you may be waiting a long time
• The documents (see below)

For baby

• A going-home outfit — one size larger than newborn if possible, since many newborns bypass newborn sizing. A vest underneath in cooler weather
• A warm hat and scratch mittens
• A light swaddle muslin or cellular blanket for the journey
• Car seat — fitted in the car before you leave for hospital. You won't be allowed to leave without one, and fitting it correctly while exhausted in a car park is not something you want to discover you have to do.²

Don't pack the Moses basket, bedside crib, or pram. Baby will sleep in a hospital cot on the ward.

Documents

• Your maternity notes or handheld records (bring the full folder if your trust uses them)
• Printed birth preferences (two copies — one for your notes, one for the room)
• NHS number or insurance card, depending on your country
• Identification
• Contact numbers for midwife, doula, and anyone you want to call

What's overrated

• Elaborate snack hauls. One good box of snacks beats a heavy bag of provisions you'll barely touch.
• Multiple outfits for baby. One going-home outfit plus a backup is enough.
• Aromatherapy diffusers. Many hospitals don't allow them in rooms shared with other patients.
• A full pillow nest. Space on the ward is limited, especially in shared bays.

What most people forget

• Lip balm — seriously, pack it now
• Enough maternity pads for 2–3 days (most people bring far too few)
• Food to eat immediately after birth — you will be ravenous
• Shower flip-flops for hospital showers
• A portable battery pack
• Snacks for the support partner (not just the birthing parent)
• The car seat

← Back to the complete guide: Expecting and new parents

Also in this cluster: Essential baby gear · The first two weeks

Sources

1. NHS. "Pack your bag for labour." NHS, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/preparing-for-the-birth/pack-your-bag-for-labour/
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. "Going Home with Your Newborn." HealthyChildren.org, 2024. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Going-Home-with-Your-Newborn.aspx