Hospital Packing Bag & Labor Bag Checklist
With the help of our Pink Newborn Services team we’ve have created this suggested hospital packing list for labor, mom and baby.
Different hospitals provide different equipment, so it’s always a good idea to ask your hospital what they have available for you during labor and once the baby is born.
You can also consider keeping some additional supplies in a handy bag at home for your partner or family to bring in the day after the birth rather than trying to lug a really heavy bag in with you while you are in labor!
Print out our Hospital Bag Checklist and ‘customize’ it to suit your needs.
For Labor
• Hospital paperwork – registration card/health record or similar
• Medicare card and/or private health insurance company card
• Lip Balm/chapstick
• Hair ties
• Ice bags
• Water bottle
• Phone
• Phone charger
• Computer
• Computer charger
• Phone calling card/credit
• Camera • Camera battery charger
• Video camera
• Face washer
• Gatorade/Powerade/Lemonade
• Snacks, drinks and spare clothes/swimmers/towel for your birthing partner – in case they want to get in the shower with you.
• Snack food
• CD or ipod etc if you want (or think you will want) music!
• Heat pack
• Socks
• Baggy shirts
• Mints/gum
• Birth plan
• Stress balls
• List of phone numbers
• Massage oil
• Spare change For Mom
• Shampoo/conditioner/shower gel
• Shower luffa
• Towels
• Clothes
• A book to read (maybe a breastfeeding book)
• A pen/notebook
• Your own pillow
• Nice clothes to wear home/wear in photos
• Moisturizer
• Soft toilet paper/flushable wipes (hospital toilet paper can be rough, post-birth)
• Maternity pads
• Cheap pack of black undies/men’s undies
• Pajamas/nighties – ones with easy access for breastfeeding
• Empty spray bottle(fill with water) – will help take the sting out of your pee
• Ear plugs
• Hairbrush
• Maternity bra
• Snacks/chocolate/fruit drink, snack bars
• Dressing gown
• Slippers
• Nursing pads
• Spare change
• Nice clothes that make you feel good, don’t dig around your waist and are easy to breastfeed in
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Makeup
• Deodorant
• Plastic bags for dirty clothes (for you and bub)
• Maternity shirts (you wont shrink back down to your old size overnight!)
For baby
Check what your hospital provides before you pack for baby …
• Nappies
• Onsies x 3
• Nightgowns x 3 (at least) – in at least two sizes!! take some newborn clothes and some 0-3 months even a preemie if you like, that way whatever size your bundle of joy is they will have something to wear
• Beanies
• Mittens
• Blankets
• Nice going-home outfit for baby
• Muslin wrap
• Socks
• tub of wipes
Tips:
The best thing a client had, which I thought was a little strange but her Mom insisted on getting her, was men’s underwear. All our client did was rant and rave about how they were so much more comfy than ladies when you have those horrible pads to wear and if you get stiches there is enough room in them for the icepack to sooth your privates.
Take a spray bottle – good for spraying your private part when you use the restroom as it diluted the urine and makes it sting much less!
Also, I know earplugs are great! The nurses or newborn care specialist at times will take your child during the night for you (after five days of labor you are exhausted!) and the earplugs allowed you to sleep.
One mom claims this was “My best ever investment was the WOMAMA wrap. Even though I was induced this hospital still let me wear my wrap (3rd labor) it was the best thing ever! I wouldn’t never birth without it again.”
Your own pillow …I have gotten feedback that some mothers hate the plasticy types of pillows in the hospital! Your own pillow makes you feel like you’re more at home.
Having your own nail kit so you can repaint and file your toe and fingernails … and also facial mask. You will feel like a million bucks after doing this!
I suggest taking your own towel too, their towels are white and when bleeding so much it feels “odd” using a white towel after a shower.
A tennis ball. Another great suggestion for your husband to roll around your back during labor, saves his hand getting sore!
Lovely smelling bathroom products purchased JUST for this occasion to make you feel special afterwards. Like shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, perfume, lip balm, soap.
Dry shampoo. (You may end up with a c-section or be bed ridden after a vaginal birth. Both of these mean you can at least freshen up from your bed.)
Pack a nappy bag like you would to go out, who knows what will happen on the drive home.
DON’T FORGET!!
Your baby MUST travel home in as safe car seat.
You can find a nursery shop selling infant car seats or take your car seat to a local fire department for assistance but make sure you have it correctly installed into your car with plenty of time.
