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Getting readyWeeks 32–40

What Should You Pack in Your Hospital Bag? For Labor, After and Baby

Pack for labor, for after the birth and for your baby, plus a car seat. Have it ready 3 weeks before your due date: only 1 in 20 babies arrive on the day.

  • MyPregnancy editorial
  • Updated
  • 2 min read
  • 4 sources

Not yet medically reviewed. This article sums up published guidance from the sources at the end. It is not medical advice: follow your own midwife or doctor.

On this page
  1. For labor
  2. For after the birth
  3. For the baby
  4. For your birth partner
  5. Using the bag in the app
A brown duffel bag on a wooden floor beside a white chair.
Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash

Only about 1 in 20 babies is born on the estimated due date. Pack your bag well ahead and keep it where you can grab it quickly, like a hall closet or your car's trunk.

For labor

  • Your birth plan and any hospital paperwork
  • Loose, comfortable clothes to wear in labor
  • A robe, plus slippers or flip-flops that also work in the shower
  • Snacks and drinks. Ask your provider whether you can eat during labor, as some advise against solid food
  • Lip balm, hair ties, and a fan or water spray to stay cool
  • Your phone and charger, with an extra-long cable or a battery pack
  • Music, podcasts or a book to help you relax
  • Your own pillows

For after the birth

  • Loose nightwear that opens at the front if you plan to breastfeed
  • 3 changes of comfortable clothes, and socks
  • 5 or 6 pairs of underwear; disposable ones can be handy
  • 2 or 3 comfortable bras, nursing bras if you plan to breastfeed, and breast pads
  • 2 packs of super-absorbent maternity pads
  • A toiletry bag: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hairbrush, hand sanitizer
  • Towels, and an eye mask for sleeping in a bright room
  • Any medicines you take, and spare glasses or contact lenses

For the baby

  • Bodysuits and sleepers
  • An outfit to go home in, with a hat, mittens, and socks or booties
  • A snowsuit if it is cold
  • Diapers, wipes and burp cloths
  • A blanket

You also need a rear-facing infant car seat. Without one, you cannot take your baby home. Get it well before your due date and check that it is installed properly.

For your birth partner

Your birth partner may want a bag of their own with a change of clothes, toiletries, a phone and charger, snacks and drinks, and any medicines they take.

Using the bag in the app

The app's list has the same three sections: for labor, for after the birth and for the baby. Check off each item once it is in the bag, and add anything else you want to take as your own item.

Sources

  1. NHSHospital bag checklist: what to pack for you and your baby
  2. ACOGHow to Tell When Labor Begins
  3. ACOGA Partner's Guide to Pregnancy
  4. Office on Women's HealthLabor and birth

Last checked .

Written by the MyPregnancy editorial team from the sources above.

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