The hospital bag checklist

For labor and for you

• Photo ID, insurance card, and any hospital paperwork
• Your birth preferences, printed, a few copies
• Phone and an extra-long charging cable
• Lip balm and a hair tie or two
• A warm robe and grippy socks or slippers
• Glasses, if you wear contacts
• A loose, dark going-home outfit
• Snacks and a refillable water bottle
• A small toiletry kit: toothbrush, deodorant, face wipes

For postpartum recovery

• Five to seven pairs of high-waisted disposable underwear
• Two or three nursing or sleep bras
• Your own peri bottle (the angled kind beats the hospital one)
• Maternity pads, more than you think you need
• Nipple cream, if you plan to breastfeed
• A comfortable pillow from home, in a colored pillowcase

For the baby

• An installed, rear-facing car seat (do this before labor)
• A going-home outfit in newborn and 0 to 3 month sizes
• Two muslin swaddle blankets
• A hat and a pair of socks or mittens
• A pack of newborn diapers and fragrance-free wipes

For your partner or support person

• A change of clothes and basic toiletries
• Their own phone charger
• Snacks and cash or a card for the cafeteria
• A pillow and a light blanket for the chair-bed
• A list of who to call and when

If a C-section is planned or possible

Births do not always go to plan. Pack these even if you are hoping for a vaginal delivery.

• Extra-loose, high-waisted clothing that sits above the incision
• A longer-stay supply of toiletries and underwear
• Loose, long nightgowns or robes for easy movement
• Slip-on shoes you do not have to bend down for

Practical and paperwork

• Pediatrician name and contact details
• A car-seat install you have double-checked
• Pre-registration with the hospital, if they offer it
• Pet or older-sibling care arranged and confirmed