Packing your hospital bag
The time is drawing closer for the much anticipated birth of your baby and you are starting the preparations for the impending arrival.
What to pack and how much is largely dependent on where you are having the baby, how long you stay in hospital, your birth plan, etc.
Packing the hospital bag, and having it on hand ready to go is recommended to do prior to the last minute.
It is recommended to start planning and packing your hospital bag around the beginning of the third trimester (anytime around or just after the 29 weeks mark).
Having a bag prepared can provide a small piece of mind that it is completed and ready to go should you go into labour early, or just on hand for when you do go into labour. It is also helpful getting it organised around this time as the longer into the pregnancy the more tired you become as well as you often become busy or distracted.
A packed hospital bag by 35 weeks is advisable.
This is applicable even if you are planning a home birth. Having things on hand and easily accessible during birth is important. It is also helpful should you need to go to hospital due to complications or in the event of an emergency.
Everyone’s bag will look a little different, and that is ok. Everyone’s birth plan and preparation for their new arrival is different.
A well packed hospital bag does, as silly as it may sound, play a role in the comfort of your stay. Having said that, it is generally not the end of the world if you have forgotten something.
Of course your hospital bag is individual to you but we have devised the ‘basic’ list of items.
Try to take the bare minimum. You can always request additional items from partner or family as required.
The hospital may not have very much storage so also be mindful of what you pack in and how much you pack. A large suitcase may be troublesome to store in your room for example.
If at all possible, limit the valuables you have on your person for security reasons.
Additional to the hospital bag
As part of the birthing preparations it is recommended:
- The route to the hospital is planned.
- There is petrol in the car.
- There are basic supplies such as toilet paper, milk, nappies, paracetemol, etc for your return home.
- Some pre-prepared and/or frozen meals to help in those first few days of exhaustion so you can really soak up your newborn and bond.
- A safe space for the baby to sleep when you return home.
- A plan for the care of your other children during the labour and your stay in hospital.
- Your phone has credit if you are pre-paid.
Our top tips
- Find out what is needed from the hospital (Not all hospitals provide the same. Some may provide nappies while others may not for example).
- Pack a small bag that covers all you will need for the labour so that it is light and compact for arriving to hospital. That way you can have an additional bag that has everything else needed for your stay in the car so your partner can easily retrieve it after the baby is born.
- Be security aware. It is best to leave valuables or sentimental items at home. You are only at the hospital for a short period and you know you will be
devastated if something happens to them.
Packing suggestions
Check with your hospital as different hospitals have different policies on what they provide and may differ on what they allow you to bring from home (pillows, valuables, etc).
- Medicare card and/or Private health cover details.
- Birth plan (if you have one).
- Phone charger.
- Any labour-helping devices, such as a birthing ball, heat pack or TENS pain relief machine.
- Toiletries (deoderant, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, etc)
- Birthing ‘props’- such as pictures, song list, candles, etc.
- Specific snacks & drinks.
- List of contacts for your partner to contact once baby is born (to make sure no-one is missed in all the celebration and excitement).
- Sleepwear. A few sets.
- Comfy clothes- nothing tight around your belly. A few outfits.
- Maternity bras. A few that have been tested to be comfortable.
- Slip on shoes of some kind or slippers.
- Breast pads.
- Maternity pads.
- Underwear- that is super comfortable and suitable for after birth. 4 or 5 pairs.
- Spare clothes for your partner for during labour.
- Reading material, dowloaded games/ebooks, etc for resting periods or down moments during a long labour.
- Phone for photos or specific camera/recording devices to capture the precious moments (don’t forget the chargers as well).
- Socks.
- Laundry bag to store dirty clothes.
- Earplugs (if you are a light sleeper to get some sleep and rest while the baby sleeps without the hospital distractions).
- Head phones or ear buds for listening to music, audio books, etc and for privacy and hands free when chatting on the phone.
- Any medications, although check with the hospital or your Dr as these may be provided for the duration of your stay for safety reasons.
- Spare change for parking and vending machines. Not all places take card so small amounts of cash is handy.
- Note pad and pen. This can be useful for noting down baby’s feeds, questions to ask the Dr or midwife, first day memories, etc.
- Nappies of choice (disposable, cloth, etc).
- Cotton wool and disposable cotton wipes (such as Chux) and/or commercial wipes.
- Bottom cream.
- Face washers.
- Towel.
- Singlets (at least 3).
- Jumpsuits/outfits (at least 3). A few different sizes is recommended such as 0000 and 000.
- Beanie/mittens, etc (if winter).
- Wraps.
- Blankets- a couple of not too heavy ones. The hospital may supply some during your stay.
- Swaddling items.
- Bibs.
- Socks.
- Bottles & formula.
- Dummy.
- Laundry bag for nappies if using cloth nappies.
- Baby capsule for the hospital and for transporting your baby safely home. Be aware that most hospitals will not let you walk around holding your baby. They will need to be in a capsule or the hospital baby trolley.
- Breast pump if breast feeding.
