Guide / Hospital bag checklist for labour
Hospital bag checklist for labour
In short
Pack your hospital bag by about 36 weeks. The essentials are your maternity notes, things for you for 2 to 3 days and an outfit for your baby to go home in. Every hospital has its own list, so check your maternity unit’s website.
Documents
- Your maternity notes (paper notes or the app your maternity service uses)
- Test results and scan reports, including your blood group
- Your birth plan, if you have one
- Photo ID and insurance details, if your hospital asks for them
For you
- 2 or 3 front-opening nightdresses or big T-shirts that are easy to breastfeed in
- A dressing gown, slippers and flip-flops for the shower
- Comfortable maternity pads and disposable or loose cotton underwear
- A nursing bra and breast pads
- Toiletries, a towel and a hair tie
- Water and light snacks
- A phone charger with a long cable
- Loose clothes to go home in: your bump doesn’t disappear straight away
For your baby
- 2 or 3 sets of bodysuits and sleepsuits in newborn size
- A hat and socks
- Newborn nappies and wipes, if the hospital doesn’t provide them
- A blanket
- An outfit to go home in, suitable for the weather
- A rear-facing car seat: leave it in the car until you go home
For your birth partner
- A change of comfortable clothes and shoes
- Water and snacks
- A card or change for parking and vending machines
- A charger
When should I pack?
By about 36 weeks. A pregnancy is full term from 37 weeks, and labour can start earlier than you expect. When to go in: when to go to the hospital in labour.
Calm Parent
In pregnancy mode the app counts your week and the days to your due date, and when labour starts you can time contractions with one button. No ads, 14 days of Premium free.
Get it on Google PlaySources
- NHS: Pack your bag for labour (nhs.uk)
This article is for information only and does not replace medical advice. If something worries you, contact a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.