Packing your hospital bag shouldn't be stressful. But because labour and birth can be unpredictable, many parents end up packing everything but the kitchen sink "just in case"!
The good news? You don't need four suitcases. Here's a simple hospital bag checklist you can save, print, and use when it's time to get packed.
For the Birth Parent: Labour Essentials
- Comfortable clothes for labour. Button-up nighties or oversized shirts are ideal for skin-to-skin contact and feeding after birth. (Pack two or three options in case things get wet or messy. Choose items you wouldn't be devastated to throw away if needed.)
- If you're planning to use the birthing pool, consider a bikini top, tankini, oversized t-shirt, or nothing at all. Midwives have truly seen it all before.
- Easy slip-on footwear (Flip-flops are particularly useful as they can double up for the shower).
- A bag for dirty laundry.
- A wash bag containing: Shower essentials, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrush, lip balm (a must-have if you're using gas and air, which can make lips very dry.)
- A large towel.
- A refillable water bottle, ideally one with a built-in straw.
For After Birth
- Comfortable clothes that won't sit tightly across your tummy, particularly if you have a caesarean birth.
- A dressing gown.
- Several pairs of extra-large underwear. High-waisted "Bridget Jones" style pants are often the most comfortable option.
- Maternity pads and breast pads.
- Ice packs or cooling pads to help with swelling and bruising.
- Your favourite perfume or body spray. A familiar scent can be comforting and help you feel a little more like yourself.
For Baby
- 3 vests
- 3 sleepsuits or baby grows (built-in scratch mittens are a bonus)
- A cardigan for the journey home
- Nappies (pack more than you think you'll need!)
- Cotton wool pads, water wipes, or your preferred wipes
- A hat for the journey home
- A blanket
- A portable changing mat
- Expressed colostrum, if you've collected any during pregnancy
- Vitamin D drops, if you plan to use them
Partners: Don’t forget you need to pack a bag too!
Partners often get forgotten, but labour can be a long day (or night).
Don't forget:
- A change of comfortable clothes
- Plenty of snacks (arguably the most important item!)
- Phone chargers, preferably extra-long ones
- Headphones or a speaker for music and relaxation
- Basic toiletries to freshen up
