Everything you actually need, and the things you can leave at home
Most hospital bag lists online are padded out to look thorough. This one is built from what midwives actually tell mums to bring, split into three bags so nobody has to rummage at 3am.
Quick answer
Pack three separate bags: one for labour, one for after the birth, and one for the baby. Have them ready by around 36 weeks, because roughly one in ten babies arrives before 37 weeks. The genuine essentials are your maternity notes or hospital app details, ID, a going-home outfit for you and the baby, maternity pads, dark comfortable clothing, phone charger with a long cable, and a rear-facing car seat fitted in advance. Almost everything else is comfort rather than necessity, and most hospitals supply nappies, blankets and basic pain relief. Check your own maternity unit's list too, because policies differ.
is when most maternity services suggest having your bag packed and by the door.
works far better than one: labour, postnatal, and baby. Your partner can find things without unpacking everything.
is what the printable Mumma Glow checklist costs if you would rather tick boxes than scroll a page at 39 weeks.
Bag 1: the labour bag
This is the only bag that needs to come into the birth room. Keep it small. If you end up in a birth pool or theatre, someone else will be moving it for you.
- Maternity notes, or your login details if your trust uses an app
- Photo ID and your hospital reference number
- Lip balm and a water bottle with a straw or sports cap, because sipping while lying down is awkward otherwise
- Hair ties, a hairbrush, and a flannel for your face
- Something loose and dark to labour in, an old nightie or an oversized shirt you will not mind ruining
- Flip flops for the shower
- Snacks for you and considerably more for your birth partner, who cannot leave to find food
- Phone and a charger with a cable at least two metres long, since sockets are rarely near the bed
- Your birth preferences, printed on one page so a midwife can read it in ten seconds during a handover
That last point matters more than people expect. Shift changes happen mid-labour, and a single readable page gets your preferences across far better than a laminated booklet. If you have not written one yet, our guide to writing a one-page birth plan walks through it.
Bag 2: the postnatal bag
This one stays in the car or with your partner until after the birth. You will be in it for anywhere from six hours to several days.
| Item | How many | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity pads | 2 to 3 packs | The single most underpacked item. Postnatal bleeding is heavier than a period and lasts weeks. |
| Dark, high-waisted underwear | 5 to 6 pairs | High-waisted matters enormously after a caesarean, because a low waistband sits directly on the wound. |
| Nursing bras or soft crop tops | 2 | No underwire in the early days while your milk comes in. |
| Loose going-home outfit | 1 | Aim for what fitted you around six months pregnant, not your pre-pregnancy jeans. |
| Toiletries and a towel | 1 set | Hospital towels are thin and sometimes in short supply. |
| Nipple cream | 1 | Easier to have it and not need it than to send someone out on day two. |
If you are planning to breastfeed or pump, it helps to know roughly what the first fortnight looks like before you are in it. We cover the normal pattern in newborn feeding schedules week by week.
Bag 3: the baby bag
- Bodysuits and sleepsuits in newborn and 0 to 3 months, two of each, because babies arrive in different sizes and one of them will get soiled immediately
- A hat, scratch mitts and a cardigan or jacket depending on the season
- Muslin squares, at least four
- A going-home outfit and a blanket for the car seat
- Nappies and cotton wool or water wipes, though many units supply these, so check first
- A rear-facing car seat, fitted and practised before the day
Fit the car seat weeks in advance and do a dry run with the straps. Plenty of parents discover in the hospital car park that they cannot work out the base, and it is a miserable place to learn.
What you can safely leave at home
Newborn nappies in bulk, a full make-up bag, more than one going-home outfit for the baby, bulky pillows, and anything valuable. Most maternity units have limited storage next to the bed and no secure place for jewellery or laptops. Bring less than you think and let your partner ferry anything you turn out to need.
When to pack it
Around 36 weeks is the standard advice, and the reason is simple. Term is defined as 37 to 42 weeks by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a meaningful minority of babies arrive before that, so a bag packed at 39 weeks is a bag that sometimes never gets packed. Put it by the door or in the boot of the car rather than in a loft.
Keep a short list on your phone of the last-minute items you cannot pack early: your phone charger, glasses, any regular medication, and your notes. Tape it to the outside of the bag if that is easier.
Want it as a tick-list instead of an article?
The Mumma Glow Hospital Bag Checklist is a printable, three-part list for mum, baby and partner that you can tick off on paper or on your phone. Use code GLOW20 for 20% off. Get the printable checklist.
If you are booked for a caesarean
A planned caesarean changes the list slightly. Bring high-waisted underwear a size or two up, loose trousers or a nightdress rather than anything with a waistband, and expect a longer stay, often two to three nights, so pack accordingly. Getting in and out of bed is harder for the first day, so a water bottle you can reach one-handed is worth more than it sounds.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pack my hospital bag?
Most maternity services suggest having it ready by around 36 weeks. Term is 37 to 42 weeks, so packing earlier simply means you are not doing it in a hurry if things start sooner than planned.
How many maternity pads do I need?
Two to three packs is a sensible starting point for the hospital stay alone, and you will need more at home. Postnatal bleeding is heavier than a period at first and continues for several weeks. This is the item mums most often run short of.
Does the hospital provide nappies and blankets?
Many units do, but policies vary considerably between hospitals and countries. Check your own maternity unit's list, because it overrides any general checklist including this one.
What should my birth partner pack?
Snacks, a refillable water bottle, change or a card for parking and vending machines, a phone charger, a light layer because birth rooms are kept warm, and a pillow if they may be staying overnight. They usually cannot leave easily once labour is established.
What size clothes should I bring for going home?
Roughly what fitted you at around six months pregnant. Your bump does not disappear at delivery, and comfortable, loose, high-waisted clothing is the priority, particularly after a caesarean.
Sources: NHS guidance on preparing for labour and what to pack; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) definitions of term pregnancy; Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) antenatal guidance.
This article is general education, not medical advice. Every maternity unit has its own list and policies, and your own midwife or obstetrician's guidance takes precedence over anything here. Experiences vary from mum to mum. Contact your maternity unit straight away if you have bleeding, reduced fetal movements, waters breaking, or any concern about your pregnancy.