What should I pack in my pregnancy hospital bag?

The article was updated and reviewed by Angie Willis, Specialist Midwife.

There’s a lot to do as your due date draws near – from preparing the house to stocking up on baby supplies, it’s a challenge to get everything finished in time.

Hopefully, this maternity hospital bag checklist means that packing your maternity bag for hospital becomes one less thing to think about.

What should I pack for Mum?

Keep it simple. A maternity ward has space for patients but not excessive luggage. Having a bag for you as the mum, a bag for your baby and one for your birthing partner can be most useful way to organise and make anything you need easier to find.

Make sure to remember your birth plan and maternity notes in your maternity bag for hospital, as well as other essentials like comfortable clothes and a wash bag.

You may not feel like watching TV or reading a book during labour but it’s handy to have some kind of entertainment at hand, especially if you are staying overnight either before or afterwards.

What to pack in your bag;

• Your maternity notes if these are not electronic.
• Payment methods for parking.
• Birth preferences.
• Pyjamas.
• Maternity or non-wired bras.
• Breast pads – reusable pads are softer with no sticky backing on nipples.
• Going home outfit for you – think comfort.
• Cotton pants or period pants to prevent leaks.
• Socks.
• Maternity pads – how many maternity pads for the hospital bag?  Either 10-20 single-use or 10-20 reusable pads (important to change pads 2-3 hourly).
• TENS machine.
• Headphones or compact speakers.
• Eyemask.
• Washbag: Deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, towel, moisturiser, lip balm, hairbands, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush.
• Phone charger.
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding pillow.
• Refillable water bottle.
• Battery operated tealights.
• Aromatherapy oils if you know what to take in and use depending on the indication.

Optional items for maternity bag for hospital

• Cord tie
• Nightdresses or maternity leggings if you are having a caesarean birth.
• Swimwear if you are having a water birth.
• A birthing ball if your hospital does not supply these.
• Hot water bottle/wheat bag.

What to Pack For your birthing partner

• Change of clothes.
• Toiletries.
• Phone charger.
• Pillow.

Food to pack in your maternity bag for hospital

• Snacks (high energy like bananas, cereal bars, flapjacks, crisps, sweets). 
• Isotonic drinks.
• Dietary requirements (i.e oat or soya milk).
• Peppermint tea if you are having a caesarean birth.
• Chewing gum if you are having a caesarean birth.

What should I pack for baby?

• 5 Outfits a day for baby (you can always keep an emergency small back up bag in the car with additional clothing)
• Blanket for going home
• Hats
• Nappies (10-12 a day either single use or reusable)
• Wipes (either single use or reusable)
• Muslins
• Car seat or travel system
• Antenatal expressed milk if you have done this and your hospital has a milk fridge or freezer
• Some hospitals ask parents choosing formula to bring formula starter kits in with them – check with your midwife.
• Your Stem Cell Collection Kit…

When should I pack my hospital bag?

Generally, it is advised to pack your hospital bag at around 35 weeks of pregnancy unless you are advised to do so earlier.

No need to stress, though. Your birthing partner, family or friends can always pick up any last minute items that you may have forgotten.

Don’t forget to pack your Cells4Life Collection Kit in your hospital bag…

At Cells4Life, we recommend keeping your Collection Kit close to your hospital bag at all times so that you remember all of your essential items in the rush to leave the house.

Our Collection Kit is designed to protect your baby’s cord blood sample on its way to our laboratory in Sussex and is equipped with everything needed to collect cord blood and tissue. It also contains a monitoring probe so that we can ensure your sample has remained at the right temperature while in transit.