What should you pack in your hospital bag?
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Pack your maternity notes, ID and birth preferences; a phone with a long charger, snacks, a water bottle with a bendy straw and lip balm for labor; maternity pads, comfortable underwear and front-opening nightwear for after the birth; and a car seat, a going-home outfit, a soft hat and newborn diapers for your baby. Many people pack a few weeks before their due date.
Documents and plans
- Maternity notes or prenatal records
- ID, and health insurance card if you have one
- A copy of your birth preferences
- Important phone numbers, written down, in case your phone dies
- Route and parking planned
- Medications you take, in their original packaging
For labor and comfort
- Phone and a long charger cable (outlets are often far from the bed)
- Snacks and drinks, and a water bottle with a bendy straw
- Lip balm and hair ties
- Glasses, or a contacts case and solution
- Something loose to labor in
- A TENS machine, if you plan to use one, with fresh pads and batteries
- Warm socks, slippers or flip-flops, a robe and your own pillow
- Headphones and a calming playlist, an eye mask and earplugs
- Unscented massage oil or lotion
After the birth
- Maternity pads: pack more than you think you need
- Comfortable high-waisted underwear
- Nursing bra, breast pads and nipple cream
- Nightwear that opens at the front, for skin-to-skin and feeding
- Toiletries, a dark towel and a small squeeze bottle
- Loose, comfortable going-home clothes and a couple of laundry bags
For your baby
- Car seat, installed before labor
- A going-home outfit (a bodysuit and a sleepsuit, and a second size)
- A soft hat and a baby blanket (over the car seat straps, never under them)
- Newborn diapers, wipes or cotton pads, and burp cloths
- Formula and bottles, if you plan to use them
For your birth partner
- A change of clothes
- Their own snacks and drinks
- Any medications they take
- A card or change for parking
- Swimwear, if you plan to use a birth pool
- Something for quiet stretches
Tick it off in Popzy
Popzy's Prepare tab has this checklist for a hospital, a birth center or a home birth, grouped the same way, with a short note on why each item helps. Ticking items off is free. Adding your own items is part of the paid plan.
Related questions
When should I pack my hospital bag?
Many people pack a few weeks before their due date, so the bag is ready if labor starts early. Keep the car seat installed at the same time.
What do I need for a home birth?
Waterproof sheets, plenty of old towels, a warm room, a lamp or flashlight, large trash bags, a clear path for your midwife, a plan for other children and pets, and a packed bag in case you transfer.
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Popzy is not a medical device. It times contractions and does not replace advice from your midwife, doctor or maternity unit. If you are unsure, or if your waters break, you notice bleeding, your baby moves less or anything feels wrong, call them.