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Hospital bag for labour – don’t leave these at home!

It’s worth packing your hospital bag by week 36. It might still be a month before you need it, but once it’s ready you can relax - you won’t be scrambling at the last minute.

Below you’ll find the essentials to take with you so you have everything you need in the delivery room and during your stay on the postnatal ward, both for your baby and for yourself.

We’ve kept this list quick to scan so you can easily check whether you’ve missed anything.

It’s best to prepare two bags: a smaller one for the delivery room and a larger one for the postnatal ward.

What to pack for the delivery room

You may spend many hours in the delivery room. You’ll need toiletries, food and drink, a change of clothes, and any items you plan to use to help with labour. If your partner will be with you, plan for them as well.

Expectant mum packing a small bag for the delivery room

What to have in the smaller bag:

Towels: one large for showering and one small for hands and face.
Intimate wash and shower gel or soap: ideally fragrance free because strong scents can bother the baby.
Plastic flip flops suitable for the shower.
Disinfectant wipes for the toilet and toilet paper: public hospitals often don’t supply these, so bring your own.
Tissues.
Two to three nursing nighties you won’t mind staining. Choose styles that allow breastfeeding. There’s a good chance baby will be put to the breast immediately after birth.
Large maternity pads and two to three pairs of underwear you won’t mind spoiling. Cheap high waisted cotton or disposable is best. We don’t recommend washable pads in hospital because you can’t keep them hygienic there. Expect bleeding that is heavier and longer than a period.
Food and drink: labour and milk production require lots of energy and plenty of fluids. Take sports cap still water that is easy to drink even semi reclined and a larger bottle for refills. An isotonic drink can also help. Pack non perishable high energy snacks that take little space and keep for weeks, like energy bars or good quality cereal bars. Chocolate is fine now. If you are not allowed solid food, ask whether you may have glucose tablets and pack those too.
Perineal massage oil and any other oils you plan to use during labour. Some people like clary sage and many like lavender.
Cord blood collection kit: if you are arranging stem cell storage, you must have the kit with you in the delivery room.
Camera or phone for photos: fully charged.
Muslin cloth: dampen it to wipe your forehead. It feels lovely.
Warm socks and a blanket for mum: your temperature regulation can swing in labour and you may suddenly feel chilled. Warm socks and a blanket can make you more comfortable.

Have all required documents in the delivery room too, for example:

ID card, address card, national health insurance card, tax number, and copies of the father’s ID, address card, tax number and health insurance card if required
Marriage certificate or acknowledgement of paternity
Maternity notes and all pregnancy test results

Let’s think of partners as well. They also need to be prepared for long hours. These items are useful even if someone other than the father is your birth companion. The following do not take much space and usually fit into the small delivery room bag.

Partner’s mini kit for the birth

“Dad at birth” set: most hospitals sell a kit that includes gown and mask in case a caesarean is needed. Buy it in advance and pop it in the small bag.
Flip flops and a spare T shirt.
Food and drink for them too: quick non perishable high energy options such as bars and chocolate.

Now let’s move on to what you’ll need on the postnatal ward, where you’ll likely spend at least 3 to 4 days with your newborn.

What to take for the postnatal ward

This will make up the bulk of your hospital bag. It’s quite a list, so it helps to know what’s essential and what’s not. Don’t worry, you won’t need a removals van.

Pregnant woman with a wheeled suitcase

Must haves:

Clean bath towel for each day so at least 3 to 4. Bleeding is heavier, so take older well washed towels you don’t mind staining.
Shower flip flops and bedroom slippers and a dressing gown.
Maternity pads: they are much bigger than regular sanitary pads.
Socks and knickers: choose cheap sturdy high waisted pants or disposables. They should sit above a possible caesarean scar and be roomy enough for big pads. Comfort first.
Nighties: 3 to 4 that you won’t mind staining and that allow breastfeeding.
Toiletries: intimate wash, soap, shower gel, deodorant, comb or brush, toothbrush and toothpaste. Pack shampoo and hairdryer if it reassures you, but most mums don’t end up washing hair in hospital. Choose fragrance free products because strong scents can confuse babies who locate the breast by smell. Avoid perfume even natural ones.
Toilet paper, disinfectant wipes or spray, tissues: hospitals don’t provide these.
Cutlery, plate, cup, napkins: bring your own.
Non perishable snacks and juice: hospital meals probably won’t be enough. Ideally family can bring a hot meal daily. A bit of cash for the hospital café helps too.
Nursing bras: sizing is tricky as breasts change a lot. Buy a couple of cheaper ones first. You’ll likely need a larger size than now.
Breast pads: once your milk comes in, leaks happen. Reusables are great at home and disposables are easier to manage in hospital.
Breast pump: manual or electric. Manual pumping can be tiring on hands and tendons.
Milk collection cup or storage bags for expressed milk.
Nursing pillow: bulky but actually very helpful for finding a comfortable feeding position in those first days.
Nipple cream: 100 percent lanolin creams are great and do not need washing off.
Feeding cup: if breastfeeding is not smooth immediately, you may need expressed milk or formula which the hospital provides. Bring a breastfeeding friendly tool because bottles can cause confusion. Many pairs do well with a Swedish feeding cup.
Newborn mittens and a thin cotton hat for baby: newborn nails shouldn’t be cut for 2 weeks, so mitts help prevent scratches. Hospitals usually don’t supply hats.
Newborn nappies, baby wipes, nappy cream: plant oil based barrier creams help keep the sticky first poo from adhering to skin. Bring two packs of wipes. How many nappies: worst case for 4 days at 8 a day is 32 nappies.
Five to six muslins: line the changing mat with one and drape another over your shoulder for burping.
Phone and charger: make a habit of keeping the charger in the suitcase whenever you’re not using it. Two chargers are even better.
Going home outfits for you and baby: hospitals usually provide baby clothes for the stay. You only need weather appropriate clothes for discharge. Pack maternity clothes for yourself because your tummy won’t shrink back immediately.

A little emotional luggage for the big adventure

While you’re packing your hospital bag, tuck one more thing into your heart: whatever anyone says on the ward, don’t let anyone shake your confidence.

It’s perfectly natural to feel uncertain at first. The first breastfeed doesn’t always go as expected. You’ll be learning nappy changing and coping with sleep deprivation and fatigue. Alongside the joy, the first days can feel hard.

Be prepared that not everyone working in the hospital speaks kindly to new mums. If it happens, remember that the problem isn’t you. Let unhelpful comments go and focus on keeping yourself and your baby calm. It is only a few days.

Because you want the best for your baby and you’re giving so much love, know this: you will be a good enough mum even if you feel unsure at first. That feeling can crop up with a second or third baby too because no two babies are the same and life always brings new situations.

Make sure you have at least one person you trust whom you can turn to if needed. A mother’s heart needs support too. That isn’t weakness. It is a natural need.

Sources:

NHS (Wales): Hospital bag checklist

Tommy’s: Making your birth plan