When its time to start packing your hospital bag, take a moment to think about what items you’ll genuinely need. This usually includes items that are not available in the maternity ward or items that are available but may not necessarily meet your standard. Think about items like your comfy slippers, a magazine or favourite candy.
Your hospital bag should be small but comprehensive. The average length of a hospital stay for child birth is 2-4 days. Use this as a guide when deciding exactly how much of everything to pack. Here is a breakdown of items that you should consider bring
Comfortable clothing
Bring your own change of comfortable clothing that includes the following
- Nightdress for sleeping (choose a front-opening one if you plan to breastfeed)
- Bathrobe
- Comfy socks (1 or 2 pairs)
- Maternity bra
- Underwear (bring a few pairs)
Toiletries
Most basic hygiene items will be available on the maternity ward but there is a chance they may not be to your liking. So having your own shampoo or body lotion may be something to consider. Don’t forget the following
- Small toothbrush/toothpaste and face cloth
- Maternity pads (some super-absorbent sanitary pads or maternity-specific pads)
- Wet wipes
Comfort items for yourself
There will be a lot of sitting around and waiting. Bring along some items to help pass the time.
- A laptop or iPad with preloaded movies, TV shows or ebooks
- Magazines, puzzles, games
- Books
One or two non-perishable snacks
Pack some non-perishable snacks that you enjoy such as crackers, hard candy, dried fruit or chocolate granola bars. Make sure it’s nothing that will spoil quickly.
Baby items
- A set of clothes for the baby’s trip home
- A baby blanket
Other essentials
- Phone or laptop charger
Ideally, all these items should fit in one weekend-bag. Remember, most of the amenities that you need during childbirth will be available to you at the clinic. Your hospital bag should only contain essential items and just a handful of extras. Lastly, try to finish packing your hospital bag by Week 35 of pregnancy if you can. Hopefully the baby arrives exactly when scheduled but be prepared in case they make a slightly early appearance!
Happy packing!
