Hospital bag: what to pack for the birth

Pack your hospital bag at least 3 weeks before your due date, around week 36, so you're ready even if your baby comes early. Ask your maternity unit too what they provide and what you need to bring, as it varies from one hospital to another.

Updated 7 October 2026

In short

Pack it around week 36 and leave it by the door.
Don't forget your ID and your pregnancy notes.
The baby car seat should be fitted before you leave the hospital.

Documents

ID card or passport.
Pregnancy notes or file, test results and scans.
Health card or insurance documents.
Birth plan, if you have one.
Phone numbers of your doctor and the maternity unit.

For you

A comfortable nightdress or gown for labour that you don't mind getting stained.
2–3 nightdresses or pyjamas that open at the front, for breastfeeding.
A dressing gown and slippers or sandals that are easy to put on.
Warm socks.
2–3 nursing bras, soft and without underwire.
Breast pads for leaking milk.
Nipple cream.
Several pairs of comfortable, high-waisted knickers, or disposable ones.
A pack of large maternity pads for after the birth.
Toiletries: toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, soap, shampoo, towel.
Hair ties and lip balm, as hospital air is often dry.
Glasses or contact lenses, if you use them.
Any medication you take regularly.
Phone and charger with a long cable.
Water and light snacks, such as dried fruit, biscuits or cereal bars.
Comfortable clothes for going home. Your tummy will still be big, so choose something loose.

For your baby

4–6 long-sleeved bodysuits.
3–4 sleepsuits.
A soft hat.
Small socks and scratch mittens.
Newborn nappies, size 1 or newborn size.
Wet wipes or cotton wool for cleaning.
A blanket or swaddle.
A going-home outfit, suited to the weather.
A newborn car seat, fitted in the car beforehand.

Wash your baby's clothes before the birth with a mild, fragrance-free detergent.

For your birth partner

A change of clothes and toiletries.
Water, snacks and some cash.
Phone charger, headphones and something to pass the time.
A camera or phone for the first photos.

What to ask your maternity unit

What do they provide: nappies, baby clothes, pads, nightdresses?
Is a birth partner allowed during and after the birth?
Do they accept colostrum collected before birth and how should you bring it?
How many days do mothers usually stay after a vaginal birth and after a caesarean?

Track it with Ditari i Bebes

Once your baby arrives, Ditari i Bebes helps you log feeds, sleep and nappies from day one, even in the middle of the night, with one tap.

See the app

Sources

NHS: Pack your bag for labour

This guide is for information only and doesn't replace advice from your doctor, midwife or lactation consultant. Every mother and every baby is different. If something worries you, talk to your doctor.