Pregnancy - packing for hospital

About packing for hospital

Packing for hospital is an exciting part of preparing for the birth of your baby.

Depending on your hospital, how long you will stay in hospital, and your birth plan, the items you need may vary.

The main considerations are what you and your baby need after the birth.

When to pack for hospital

Early in your third trimester (after 29 weeks and until you have your baby) is a great time to get organised. Think about what you might want to take with you, and set these items aside.

Doing this early is helpful because in your last few weeks of pregnancy, you may feel too tired or distracted or busy to buy or collect what you need. And sometimes babies arrive early.

At around 36 weeks, pack your bag so you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Even if you are planning a home birth, it’s a good idea to have a bag packed in case you need to go to hospital for a premature birth, or if you have pregnancy or birth complications.

As well as packing your bag, you need to plan:

• having petrol in your car for driving to the hospital
• standby babysitting for your other children or pets
• the route you will take to the hospital
• a safe and comfortable space for your baby to sleep at home
• some stores (for example, toilet paper, nappies and paracetamol) for when you come home from hospital
• some frozen pre-cooked meals that you can use when you come home
• having enough credit on your mobile phone.

Hospital policy and what to pack

Different hospitals have different policies on what they provide for your baby (such as blankets and nappies) and for you (such as maternity pads).

They may also differ in what they allow you to bring from home (such as pillows and valuables). So, check what the hospital provides and what you can bring yourself.

If you’re planning to give birth at a midwifery-led birth centre, your midwife will probably give you a list of what you need to pack.

Update your mobile phone contacts. If you don’t have a mobile phone, make a list of vital phone numbers to keep in your bag (such as those of your partner, your birthing partner, and whoever will be looking after your other children).

What to pack for hospital

The following items are listed as a checklist, for you to print and tick off.

For hospital admission (to give to the maternity unit’s admission desk)

• Your antenatal records (if you have them)
• Your obstetrician’s details
• Your Medicare card and, if you have private health insurance, your insurance membership number
• Any hospital paperwork that you have completed in advance
• Money (possibly a credit card) for hospital parking.

For the birth room

• Your birth plan – that is, a written list of what you’d like to happen when you are in labour and how you’d like to give birth
• A light dressing gown, for early labour when you may walk around the hospital corridors
• Slippers or non-slip socks
• An old nightdress or a t-shirt that you don’t mind getting messy, to wear during labour
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during labour
• Any labour-helping devices, such as a birthing ball, heat pack or TENS pain relief machine
• Items such as books, magazines, games or knitting to help pass time in early labour
• Glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them (note: your glasses may fog up during labour, and you cannot wear contacts during a caesarean)
• A hairband and brush
• Extra pillows
• Toiletries (including lip balm) and tissues
• Music. Some hospitals will not let you use the hospital powerpoints due to electrical Health and Safety rules. If you plan to use the music on your phone – consider a battery-operated Bluetooth speaker and bring a battery charger to charge your phone
• Aromatherapy oils and burner – check whether you can use an electric burner at your hospital (you won’t be permitted to use one with a naked flame)
• Your phone (with credit) and a charger (though you may not be able to plug your charger in until you have moved to your room or ward)
• A camera
• Face washers
• Snacks
• Sport drinks, lemonade or diluted juice
• Spare change for vending machines
• A watch with a second hand, to time contractions.

For after the birth

• Family phone numbers
• Your glasses or contact lenses, and contact lens solution
• Plenty of disposable undies, or several pairs of large, comfortable cotton undies
• Two or three comfortable and supportive bras, including maternity bras if you plan to breastfeed. Avoid bras with seams or wires (sports bras are great)
• Sanitary pads – either ‘super’ size or maternity size (available at the supermarket)
• Books, magazines or music
• Front-opening or loose-fitting nighties or tops if you plan to breastfeed
• A few sets of comfortable day clothes, including something to wear home
• A dressing gown and slippers
• Ear plugs
• Breast pads
• Toiletries, including your hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner
• A notepad and pen for tracking your baby’s feeding sessions, writing down questions for your midwife or doctor, noting what the paediatrician says, jotting down memories of your baby’s first few days and starting to fill out the birth registration paperwork
• A bag for sending dirty clothes home for washing.

For caesarean births (in addition to the main list)

• Large undies that don’t sit on your wound
• Clothing with no waistline, such as comfortable dresses that won’t irritate your wound
• Comfort food – whatever makes you feel good
• Yoghurt – to get good bacteria into your stomach
• Mouthwash and dry shampoo – if you want to freshen up but can’t get out of bed
• Sugar-free chewing gum – many hospitals are encouraging recovery by starting you eating and drinking early after surgery. Chewing gum can help get your bowels working properly.

For your baby

• Nappies and cotton wool or disposable cloth wipes (such as Chux, not commercially available baby wipes) and bottom cream (although check whether your hospital will supply these items). Refer to the Royal Women’s Hospital’s fact sheet on Skin care for your baby
• Different sized jumpsuits for your baby (some 0000 and some 000) – a few sets
• Two baby blankets (not heavy)
• A few baby singlets
• Baby socks
• A few muslin squares for wrapping your baby
• Bags for soiled nappies, if you are using cloth nappies
• A baby capsule in the car. Be sure that you know how to fit your baby capsule properly into the car
• A baby carrier, in case you decide to go for a walk. The hospital will not let you walk around holding your baby: you must use a baby carrier, a hospital baby trolley or a pram
• Bottles, a breast pump for expressing breastmilk, formula (if you do not plan to breastfeed exclusively or at all). Check whether your hospital will supply these items.

What not to pack for hospital

It’s a good idea to leave jewellery, cash and other valuables at home.

Ask your doctor about medications, including vitamins. The hospital may provide everything that you need.

Ask your hospital whether you need nappies and bottle-feeding equipment, or whether everything will be provided for you.

Your hospital may not have much storage space. A large suitcase will need to stay on the floor, and the cabinet by your bed is likely to be small. So pack only what you need (and a few things that you really want).

Where to get help

• Your hospital or birthing centre
• Your GP (doctor)
• Your pharmacist
• The Royal Women's Hospital