Hospital Bag Checklist: What to Pack for Labour & Birth

Most care providers recommend having your hospital bag ready by week 36 — babies don't always wait for their due date, and roughly 1 in 10 arrive before 37 weeks. Pack it in one bag (or a small trolley bag for a longer stay) and keep it somewhere visible so you can grab it quickly once labour actually starts.

When to actually pack it

Week 36 is the standard advice, but the honest reasoning behind it matters more than the specific number: from that point on, birth is medically considered close enough that "I'll pack it next week" stops being a safe bet. If you are pregnant with twins, have a history of preterm labour, or your care provider has flagged any reason birth might come earlier, packing by week 32–34 is the more realistic target — ask directly at your next appointment rather than assuming the general guidance applies to your specific situation.

Packing early does not mean the bag has to be finished in one sitting. Building it gradually over a few weeks — a few items each time you're already out shopping — is far less overwhelming than trying to assemble everything the night contractions start. Keep a running list of anything you use daily right up until the end (phone charger, glasses, medication) so it gets added last rather than forgotten because it was packed too early.

For Mum — During Labour

Front-opening tops matter more than they sound like they would — skin-to-skin contact right after birth and early breastfeeding attempts both need quick, easy access, and fumbling with a regular nightgown in that first hour is a genuinely avoidable frustration. "Old" or disposable underwear is not a suggestion to cut corners: postpartum bleeding is heavier than a period, and clothing you don't mind discarding removes one small stressor from a day that has enough of them already.

A TENS machine — a small device that delivers mild electrical pulses through pads on your lower back — is worth trying in mid-to-late pregnancy before labour itself, since the sensation takes some getting used to and it's easier to learn what setting works for you without contractions happening at the same time. It is not a replacement for other pain relief options, just one additional tool some people find genuinely useful in early labour specifically.

For Baby

Pack a size up alongside the newborn-sized items if you can. Average-sized babies often outgrow "newborn" clothing within the first week or two, and a baby who measures large — something sometimes flagged in a late-pregnancy growth scan — may need the bigger size from day one. Having both on hand avoids a same-day trip to the shops while you are still recovering.

For Your Partner

Labour can genuinely run long, and a partner running on no food and a dead phone battery is not able to be as useful a support person as one who planned for the practical basics. A change of clothes matters more than it sounds — labour wards are warm, stays can stretch well past a single day, and nobody plans well while uncomfortable.

The bag is only half the preparation — our newborn shopping list covers what to have at home, sorted by when you actually need it.

What not to pack

Overpacking is the more common mistake, not underpacking. Valuables — jewellery, large amounts of cash, anything you would be genuinely upset to lose — are best left at home; hospitals are busy, rooms are often shared or have limited storage, and postpartum wards are not designed as secure storage. A full going-home wardrobe "just in case" rarely gets used and just adds weight to a bag you need to be able to carry easily on the day it matters. Most hospitals also provide basic nappies and pads for the first day or two, so bringing an enormous supply of either is rarely necessary — check with your specific hospital if you want to pack lighter.

Don't Forget — Before You Leave

• ✓ Infant car seat — fitted correctly before due date (check with your local fire station if unsure)
• ✓ Pram or carry cot ready at home
• ✓ Moses basket / crib made up with clean sheets
• ✓ Route to the hospital planned — including night-time route and parking

Most hospitals will not let you leave with your baby without a properly fitted car seat already installed — it is worth having this done and checked well before your due date rather than adding "figure out the car seat" to the list of things happening on your discharge day. If you are due to give birth at a birth centre or at home rather than a hospital, most of this list still applies for the labour and baby items; only the "leaving the building" logistics genuinely differ.

FAQ — Hospital Bag Checklist

Sources

• NHS — Hospital Bag Checklist
• NHS — Week 36 of Pregnancy
• American Academy of Pediatrics — Car Seat Safety Recommendations