What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Birth: The Complete Checklist
🌸 The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist for Labour, Birth & Postpartum
Preparing your hospital bag is one of the final steps before meeting your baby. Exciting, emotional, and yes… slightly overwhelming. With so much to think about, it’s easy to worry that you’ll forget something important.
This guide combines practical essentials, birth-suite must-haves, postpartum comfort items, and baby necessities, all in one place. It’s intentionally thorough so you can pick and choose what suits your birth, your hospital, and your preferences.
First things first though.
When do you pack my hospital bag?
It’s often suggested by midwives to start packing your hospital bag by 34-36weeks. This allows plenty of time for you to purchase anything you might need, and just takes that bit of stress away to be organised early, and is just easier to do when you that bit more mobile too!
If you are high risk, having multiples, or have a history of early labour, then packing at around the 30–32week mark is recommended.
Once the bigger items are packed, it is often handy to keep a smaller bag ready with all the day-to-day essentials that you still need, making it easy to still use them, but quicker to grab when it is go time. Alternatively,keep a list of the last-minute things you still need to pack on your phone, that way you can send it to your birthing partner if they need to grab those last few essentials, which did happen to me with my 2nd birth.
Also try to pack your items and baby’s items a bit separate. Maybe on different sides of the suitcase for example. This makes it easier to find things, especially if someone else is grabbing something out for you.
Talk your birthing support person through what is in your hospital bag and show them where things are packed. Not that they will necessarily remember everything, or that things stay in the exact same place throughout your hospital stay, but it can help to familiarize them with it that little bit.
I’ve also added tips from midwives and experienced mums to make your list a complete and inclusive list
Let’s dive right in!
In the quiet preparation, love grows. In the moment of birth, it overflows.
🚗 On the Way (Car Essentials)
Keep these ready by the door or packed in the car ahead of time:
Comfortable underwear and maternity pad or adult diaper to wear in case of waters breaking on the drive
Two old towels (for waters leaking or unexpected messes)
A container or bag in case of car sickness
Installed infant car seat — fitted well in advance
A grab-and-go folder with:
Hospital paperwork
Antenatal record
Medicare card
ID
Private health fund card (if applicable)
A spare pair of underwear and pads (just in case)
A puppy pad or towel for your seat in the car
A water bottle for the drive
Phone and charger/power bank to charge in the car
🏥 In the Birthing Suites
For Mum
Documents & Essentials
Medicare card
Private health insurance card (if applicable)
Antenatal record
Birth preferences/plan
Hospital paperwork
Phone + extra-long charging cord (so you can use your phone on the bed and still charge it)
Clothing
Loose nightie, oversized T-shirt, or labour gown
Robe or dressing gown
Warm socks
Slip-on shoes or thongs
Bikini top (if using water for labour)
Comfortable dark undies
Comfort Items
Essential oils & diffuser (double check your hospital’s policy)
Music playlist
Portable speaker or headphones
Lip balm
Hair ties, clips, or headband
Massage oil or lotion
Birthing affirmations and blue tack
Personal pillow (labelled)
Cooling face mist or small fan
Comfy blanket or shawl
Birth ball (if hospital doesn’t provide one)
Pain & Coping Aids
TENS machine + spare batteries
Heat pack (microwavable, as they don’t allow hot water bottles)
Birth comb
Spiky massage ball
Counter-pressure massage tools
Hot/cold packs
Birth ball (if the hospital doesn’t provide one)
Snacks & Drinks
Labour is a marathon — pack slow-release energy foods:
Water bottle with straw (VERY important)
Hydrating drinks, electrolytes, coconut water
Dried Fruit
Muesli bars
Bliss balls or protein bites
Crackers, nuts, trail mix
Chewing gum or mints (great if you are feeling nauseous or your partner hasn’t had a chance to brush their teeth recently)
Toiletries (Labour-Friendly)
Deodorant
Face wipes
Hand sanitiser
Tissues
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Hairbrush & hair ties
For the Birth Partner
Essentials
Change of clothes (don’t forget a top that is easy to undo part way for skin-to skin with baby)
Closed-in shoes (required for theatre)
Warm jumper/hoodie
Toiletries: toothbrush, deodorant, face wash
Phone + charger
Pillow (labelled)
Headphones
Entertainment (podcasts, laptop, book)
Wallet (hospitals often don’t supply food for birthing partners, so they’ll likely need to hit up the on-site cafes or vending machines)
Comfort Items
Snacks and drinks
Refillable water bottle
Power bank and phone charger
Spray bottle or handheld fan
Board shorts/swimwear for shower or bath support
Other Useful Items
Contact list of people to update
Camera (if using) with charged batteries and SD card
Notepad to record timings, details, questions
🧡 On the Ward (After Birth)
For Mum
Clothing
2–5 sets of button-up pyjamas or nursing nighties
A robe
Slippers or soft slip-on shoes
High-waisted daytime clothes (especially if C-section)
Going-home outfit (loose, soft, comfy)
Underwear & Nursing
2–3 nursing bras
Several pairs of full briefs or disposable undies
Reusable or disposable breast pads
Nipple balm
Warm/cool breast compresses
Haakaa or milk catcher if needed
Hygiene & Toiletries
2–3 packs of maternity pads
Perineal wash bottle
Body wash
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Shampoo & conditioner
Deodorant
Hairbrush & hair ties
Face cleanser & moisturiser
Wipes (gentler than hospital toilet paper)
Towel if you prefer a big one since hospital ones are small
Shower thongs
Simple and easy to apply makeup if you are getting Fresh 48 photos done in hospital
Comfort & Recovery
Perineal ice pads
Recovery spray or foam
Stool softener, like Movicol (every mum swears by it as no one wants to be straining down there after giving birth)
Urine acidity decreaser, like Ural (so it stings a bit less if you’ve had an episiotomy or torn)
Daily medications or supplements
Belly band (if using)
Eye mask & earplugs
Pillow or breastfeeding pillow
A keepsake book or notepad
Phone charger with long cord
Heat pack (afterbirth pains and postpartum back pain is real)
Food & Hydration
Healthy snacks for late nights:
Bliss balls
Crackers & hummus
Dried fruit
Nuts
Bone broth packets
Water bottle with straw
For Baby
Clothing
Pack for 2–5 days (birth stays vary):
3–6 singlets or bodysuits
4–6 zip-up onesies (preferred by midwives)
Socks or booties
Mittens
Beanie
Warm jacket/cardigan (remove for car seat)
Going-home outfit
Include both newborn (5x0) and 0–3 months (4x0) sizes, (even a 3x0 set if baby is looking extra big) as you never quite know baby’s size!
Essentials
Around 20 newborn nappies
Gentle wipes or cotton wool
Muslin cloths / burp cloths
2–3 swaddles/wraps
Baby blanket
Vaseline (great for putting on baby’s bottom so the meconium wipes off easier)
Nappy cream
Pacifier/Dummy (pack one whether or not you are planning on continuing to use it as you never know and baby may need something to comfort suck.
Feeding
Frozen expressed colostrum (give directly to midwife on arrival)
If formula-feeding or combo feeding:
Formula
2–3 bottles
Bottle brush
Microwave steriliser bags
Nice-to-Haves
A small gift “from the baby” for older siblings
Name announcement plaque for photos
Soft toy for photos
💙 For Your Partner (Ward Stay)
They may not stay overnight, but they’ll likely still want:
Change of clothes
Toiletries
Snacks
Wallet/Cash
Phone charger
A warm jumper
Water bottle
Notebook for feed times/baby notes
💡 General Tips for Packing
Leave jewellery and valuables at home
Use soft, zip-up bags instead of hard suitcases
Avoid anything with strong fragrances, both you and your birthing partner — babies bond through scent
Pack for a couple of extra days (birth is unpredictable)
Hospitals provide: towels, nappies (they prefer you bring your own, but in case of emergencies they do have some), blankets, formula (only in emergencies)
Keep your bag in the car or by the door after 36 weeks
Label pillows, fans, chargers, and anything you bring from home
Download playlists, movies/shows, in advance etc.
✨ Final Thoughts
You probably won’t need everything on this list, but with it as a guide, you won’t forget anything important. Birth is thee one time it is definitely better to over pack then under pack.
Packing your hospital bag early helps you feel calm, organised, and ready for the day you birth your beautiful baby!
Wishing you a safe and beautiful birth experience from Luminous Family Photography ✨
