Packing your hospital bag is one of those tasks that sounds simple until you actually sit down to do it. What do you really need? What will just take up space? After three hospital births, I have a pretty clear picture of what actually gets used and what stays buried at the bottom of the bag.
This checklist covers five main areas: check-in documents, labor support, postpartum recovery, baby items, and supplies for your support person. Working through each section ahead of time means you won’t be scrambling at the last minute, and you won’t arrive at the hospital missing something important.
Check-in items
The check-in process at a hospital can be fast and a little chaotic. Having all your documents in one envelope or binder makes a real difference. You want to be able to hand things over quickly without digging through a bag while you’re having contractions.
Bring your driver’s license, health care card, and health insurance card. Pack any hospital paperwork you filled out in advance, along with your birth plan and a few extra copies. A written list of your medical team with contact information is helpful, and so is a note about who is and isn’t allowed in your room. Don’t forget any prescription medications you take regularly.
Labor support items
Labor is not the time to pack light. I have never once regretted having a big plastic cup with a straw, a hair elastic that actually stays put, or lip balm. These small things matter more than you’d expect.
Phone and tech
Bring your phone with a contraction timing app already downloaded. I used Contraction Timer by Penguin Apps and found it easy to use mid-contraction. Pack your charger with a long cord so you can reach it from the bed. A Bluetooth speaker or headphones for music can do a lot to keep you calm and focused.
Drinks
A large plastic cup with a straw is genuinely one of the most useful things you can bring. Add a reusable water bottle and electrolyte drinks if your provider has given you the go-ahead. Gatorade, Nuun tablets, or homemade labor-aid ice cubes all work well for keeping your energy up.
Clothing
A robe is worth the bag space. A dark-colored sports or maternity nursing bra is also a good call, since it will survive whatever happens during labor without you worrying about it.
Toiletries
Hair elastics, a headband, and lip balm are the three things I reach for most during labor. Pack them where you can find them easily.
Comfort and support tools
An essential oil diffuser, massage oil or lotion, and a birthing ball with a pump are all worth packing if you plan to use them. A TENS machine can also be helpful for pain management in early labor. If you are doing cord blood banking, make sure your kit is packed and ready to hand to your care team.
Postpartum items for mom
After delivery, whether vaginal or by cesarean, you will want basic self-care supplies within reach. The hospital provides some things, but having your own familiar products makes recovery more comfortable.
Recovery and hygiene
A FridaMom postpartum recovery kit covers a lot of ground in one purchase. Beyond that, pack a disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, hairbrush, comb, and a few hair elastics. Bring your usual face wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, lip balm, and deodorant. Pack whatever you need to feel like yourself again, including makeup if that matters to you. If you wear glasses or contacts, don’t forget those along with your lens solution.
Nursing supplies
Pack a maternity or nursing bra and nursing pads. Nipple cream is a must, and a nipple shield and Haakaa breast milk collector are worth having on hand even if you’re not sure you’ll need them. A nursing pillow makes feeding much more comfortable and is easy to bring along.
Clothing for your hospital stay
Loose, soft pajamas or a nightgown are the right call. A warm robe or sweater and sweatpants will get a lot of use. Cozy socks with grip soles or slippers are important since hospital floors are cold and smooth. For going home, pack something baggy and soft sized as if you were about six months pregnant. Flat, slip-on shoes are easiest when bending over is uncomfortable.
Underwear and pads
The hospital will provide disposable underwear and pads, but reactions to them vary. Some people love them and others find them uncomfortable. Bring a few pairs of maternity underwear you don’t mind ruining, along with some overnight disposable period underwear. If you are planning a cesarean birth, look for low-rise postpartum styles that sit below the incision. Giant maxi pads from your preferred brand are also worth tossing in.
Comfort items and extras
A pillow from home in a pillowcase you don’t mind staining makes a real difference for sleep. Pack snacks and drinks you actually like, since hospital cafeteria hours don’t always line up with when you’re hungry. Bring small bills or change for vending machines. A list of nearby restaurants that deliver is surprisingly useful during a longer stay. Empty tote bags help you organize the extra items you’ll accumulate, and you’ll want a bag for all the things the hospital sends home with you. If you have older children at home, packing a small gift from the new baby to give them during their first visit is a sweet touch that many kids respond well to.
Baby items
I like to pre-pack the baby’s diaper bag and use it for the smaller items. The car seat can stay in the car until after delivery.
Bring two outfit options for going home, one in newborn size and one in 0-3 months, along with socks, booties, and a hat. Scratch mitts are useful, and a pair of nail clippers won’t go to waste. Pack baby lotion, diaper cream, and a few newborn diapers, though the hospital will supply plenty. A swaddle sleep sack, receiving blanket, and a couple of burp cloths round out the basics. Warm blankets for the car ride home are easy to forget and very necessary.
If you plan to bottle feed or are unsure, bring a few bottles. Pack your pacifiers, keeping in mind that plain ones photograph better if that matters to you. If you have a baby book, this is a good time to bring it along to record those first details while they’re fresh. Any small photo props for hospital newborn photos can tuck into the bag as well.
Support person items
Your partner or support person will be at the hospital for a long stretch of time. Keeping their supplies separate means they won’t be digging through your things when they need something.
They should bring their own snacks and drinks, ideally in a small cooler with ice packs. Cash and change for parking and vending machines is helpful. Pack a full set of toiletries including a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and anything else they use daily. Travel-sized versions work well here. A change of clothes, flip flops, a phone charger, and any prescription medications round out the basics. If they are a light sleeper or need specific conditions to rest, a sleeping bag and pillow make the pull-out chair or cot much more bearable.
What to leave at home
A few things are better left out of the bag entirely. Jewelry and valuables can get lost or damaged in a busy hospital environment. More than two or three baby outfits is more than you need for a short stay. A large stash of diapers and wipes is also unnecessary since the hospital supplies both in abundance.
Packing your hospital bag a few weeks before your due date gives you time to add things as you think of them and adjust without stress. If you’re still in the planning stage, our baby book guide and nursery organization tips are good next steps. You can also browse our full list of child care resources for more practical guidance as your due date approaches.
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