What Every New Mother Needs to Take to Hospital with Them

What to take to hospital when having a baby

Having a baby, especially your first is an exciting but often an anxious time. Wondering what to pack in your hospital bag is just one of the many questions you may have. I have listed many of the helpful items but remember to check in with your hospital and ask what they suggest and what they provide for you when you’re in labour and during your stay, every hospital is different.

Click here to get my hospital bag checklist and other bonus checklists and flowcharts to help you prepare for your baby.

For Labour:

 

• Toiletries: hairbrush & elastics, shampoo/conditioner, shower gel
• Lip Balm
• Nightie or large t-shirt (comfy clothes to labour in)
• Heat packs (hospital may provide)
• Massage oil if wanted, you may like a labour blend with essential oils
• Snacks, lollypops for both of you
• Water spray bottle – refreshing when hot
• Phone & charger, ear buds/headphones
• Labour playlist on phone – relaxing music
• Labour app on phone
• Updated contacts – ready to send the birth announcement
• Extra clothes for partner, shorts if supporting you in the shower

For Your Postnatal Stay:

• Light weight sleep wear as hospitals are quite warm
• Slippers & light weight dressing gown
• Comfortable dark coloured underwear – as this often becomes stained
• Breastfeeding bras, breast pads (disposable or fabric), lanolin nipple cream if using
• Toiletries & cosmetics
• Hairdryer
• Book/magazine
• Ear plugs- hospitals are often noisy
• Gift/activities for older sibling/s
• Small amount of money for snacks or newspapers
• Comfortable clothing for day wear (consider front opening if breastfeeding) and for going home -most are still wearing maternity wear to begin with.

For Your Baby:

• Clothes- 4 singlets and onesies
• Socks, mittens and hat
• Wraps to swaddle baby
• Dummy if wanting to use
• Baby soap free wash for bathing- try a more natural type
• Baby wipes
• Nappies- large pack of newborn size
• Nappy bag and small change mat
• Infant formula, bottles & teats if choosing to bottle feed
• Going home outfit
• Fitted car restraint

Your partner can often bring anything in that you may have forgotten. Ask your friends and family what they took with them to hospital and what they wish they had taken.

Most new mothers are only in hospital for a few days, so try to pack only the essential items. Try to have your bags packed at least a month before your due date, even if you just make sure you have all the requirements in your house, ready to pack if you go into labour earlier. As you know, your due date is really a window of time, a few weeks before and after, that your baby may come, however some decide to come earlier.

I hope you find this list helpful, let me know in the comments below what else you’re packing for your hospital stay. If you’ve already had your baby, what did you find helpful? What could I add to this list?

Click here to get a hospital bag checklist as well as a bonus bundle of checklists to help you prepare for your new baby, including: baby equipment checklist, nappy bag checklist, childcare bag checklist, travel checklist, sleep & feed tracker, newborn sleep flowchart and more.

You may be interested in ‘What to put in your nappy bag” or ‘What equipment and accessories do I need to breastfeed my baby?’

My book ‘Survive and Enjoy Your Baby, How To Find Your Path to Parenthood’ has all the information you need for your baby’s first year of life. The book is available in all good book stores or from my online shop.