

Hospital bag

Hello everyone,

I wanted to post my list that I have for my hospital bag as I’m planning to get it organised this week. If anyone can recommend anything I have missed or any must haves please let me know :)

Thank you in advance

Labour and Birth -

Identification including Medicare and health care card

Comfortable clothing, singlet or T-shirt

Birth plan and maternity record

Aromatherapy oils and lavender salve

Water bottle including straw




Phone and phone charger

Wireless speaker and charger

Bather top/sports bra

Hospital Bag for me -

2 Pyjama pants/nighties

2 button down pyjama tops or maternity singlets

1 warm loose jumper

2 supportive breast feeding singlets/bras

2 pairs of socks

5 High waisted knickers, throw away

1 packet of maternity nappies/pads

Hair comb

Lib balm


Travel shampoo/conditioner

Nipple cream



Laundry bag

Squirt water bottle

Expressed colostrum

Hospital Bag for baby -

5 full length zip onesies

5 newborn singlets or onesies



Packet of nappies


2 swaddles/Muslim wraps

1 blanket

2 Dummies

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That’s a lot. Does your hospital not provide supplies?


Great list! One thing I would say is probably less baby outfits. The nurses come in and out allllll day and night to check on you and baby. They will likely bathe, check diapers, check weight, do any tests etc. My first babe was only in a diaper and swaddle until we left the hospital so they could access. It was also best for lots of skin to skin time. And, the hospital usually provides diapers and wipes... which almost everyone even suggests you bring home any extras from your room! So you may save room in your bag if you take those out.

And just out of curiosity, do you plan to attempt to express colostrum prior to birth? I’m just interested as I haven’t heard that before.

Home stretch mama! I’m getting my bag ready also. Surreal.


I have purchased an antenatal colostrum expressing kit, my midwife recommends starting from around week 36-37 😊


Agree with PP- it’s easiest for everyone is baby is just in a diaper and swaddle blanket for assessments, diaper changes, etc. Otherwise it takes an extra 5 minutes to get baby back into a onsie 😆 The hospital should provide wipes, diapers, blankets, underwear for you, a squirt bottle, ect. For the babe I’d bring a going home outfit and a blanket for going home but that’s about it


Please check with your hospital for what they provide. Hospitals in the US provide items - hospitals in Canada, at least in Ontario do not. I did not get a single diaper from my hospital and had to bring every single supply myself. The only thing they provided was the first diaper/ blanket they put baby in, and a cheap peri bottle for me with a few pads, even then not enough pads to last me the hospital stay.


As a second time mom, wont need half of that. I was in the hospital gown one full day as it was messy and bloody. Then put on pjs during the day stay and then my home outfit. I really dont think youll use half of it. In Canada hospitals will

Provide mesh undies, bottle, pads only They do want you to bring wipes and diapers. As for baby 1-2 sleepers is sufficient as youll be skin to skin more than likely most of the time and they will do alot of checks for baby. youll have a swaddle blankets etc but your choice.. just feel like thats wayyyy too much stuff

Also what I heard, its not ideal to express before birth.


That's A LOT of stuff. I would scale it way back. I would also suggest checking with your hospital to see what they provide. It sounds like maybe you aren't in the US, so maybe things are different, but most hospitals I'm familiar with provide everything mom & baby need outside of clothing and personal comfort. My hospital provided all diapers/wipes for baby, as well as an newborn tee and swaddling blanket. They also had hospital gowns for mom, as well as all the "after care" items like mesh undies, pads, peri bottle, tucks pads, etc. 

With my first I way overpacked, and didn't use 90% of what was in my bag. I was in the hospital gown the entire time in labor, and most of the following day until I finally took a shower and got into my own stuff. I am scaling way back this time. I 

For me:

2 Nursing Nightgowns + Robe

Slippers + Socks

Oversized PJ Pants + Nursing Tank

Nursing Maxi Dress + Nursing Bra (coming home outfit)

XL Phone Charger

Pillow & Boppy

Belly Binder

Toiletries (travel size of shampoo/condition, body wash, face wash, contacts/solution, chapstick, toothbrush, toothpaste)

Manual Breast Pump

For baby:

2 Newborn Sleep Gowns + Hat

2 Swaddle Blankets

NB Coming Home Outfit + 3m Coming Home Outfit


this is about what I’m planning on packing as well. The less things I have to haul around the better.


Yessss! And the hospital rooms where I deliver are tiny (L&D rooms are large, but then you get moved) and there's honestly just not enough room for a ton of luggage/bags! I still laugh at how my crap I brought to my last delivery and never even touched! 


For my first I hardly used anything from my bag. I was either naked or using the hospital gown most of my stay since I was struggling learning to breastfeed and recovering from a cesarean. Things I used: toothbrush/paste, glasses, hair tie, pillow, shampoo/conditioner, water bottle, phone and phone charger. To go home I used a oversized shirt, nursing bra, sweatpants, slip on shoes, jacket (winter). For baby: she was in the hospital blanket and diaper the whole time and I only used a fleece sleeper to bring her home in. That’s literally it. I walked around my room in just the mesh underwear and topless. The hormones will make you hot and you just want to have easy access for lots of skin to skin bonding. You’ll be surprised how much modesty will go out the window when nurses are grabbing at your boobs to help you with breastfeeding. Keep it simple.


I’m based in the UK and this is pretty similar to what I’ve packed. I’m having a C-section and gynae operation combined too so I know I’ll be in for several days and Covid visiting rules mean my husband can’t be in and out regularly. I’d say that you are well covered.


My bags look the same, because I’m planning on a c-section. Asked my doctor what to bring and he said nothing, hospital will have everything. Like okay, they won’t have a phone charger!! 😸 knowing I have a long stay in bringing my Roku, a small makeup bag, compression socks, nursing bra, nursing tank, extra pillow/blanket, slippers


Forget the diapers wipes and underwear


Agree on the undies. With my first as soon as I arrived at delivery unit they made me change into mesh undies and a hospital robe and that’s how I stayed until I went home. Didn’t actually wear real undies again until about 4 days post birth.