What to pack in your hospital bag

You might wonder what you need to pack in your bag to take to the hospital when you go into labor. 

The following list includes what you, your partner, and your baby will need. 

Pack your hospital bag by at least week 30 of your pregnancy so that it’s ready to go when it’s time to head to the hospital.

Here are the things that I packed or wished I had packed when I went to the hospital to give birth.

Have on hand and toss in your bag when it’s time to go:

  • Phone
  • Wallet with insurance and ID
    • Even if you’ve been to that hospital just a few days before and given your ID and health insurance, they WILL ask for it again when you’re contracting every four minutes and unable to think straight. 
  • Keys

Pack and leave in the bag

  • Birth Plan
    • Be sure to print out an extra copy and put it in your go bag. When I went into labor, I COULDN’T FIND MY BIRTH PLAN. The nurses were very sweet though, and let me email it to them when I got to the hospital. 
    • Please don’t be like me. Print your birth plan and put it in your go bag right now.
  • Phone Charger
    • Pack an extra phone charger with a long cord.
  • Slippers
    • So that you don’t have to lace on sneakers when you need to get up to take care of the baby or go to the bathroom. 
  • Socks
    • To keep warm because you might get the chills after giving birth, like I did.
  • Change of clothes
    • You just need clothes to go home in and maybe a robe, since you can wear the gown they provide in the hospital.
  • Hygiene kit
    • Toothbrush
    • Toothpaste
    • Comb
    • Face wash
  • Snacks
    • I really wish we had brought snacks. The hospital gave me food after I gave birth, but I was so hungry that we also did DoorDash that night.
    • You’ll also probably want snacks in the middle of the night when you’re getting up with the new baby.

Your Partner’s stuff

  • Change of clothes
    • We only stayed in the hospital for one night, so Carsyn only needed one set of extra clothes, but bring more if you’re planning on staying longer in the hospital.
  • Hygiene kit
    • Toothbrush
    • Toothpaste
    • Comb
    • Face wash
  • Phone charger

Your baby’s stuff

  • Going home outfit
    • Make sure that this is weather appropriate: bring a coat if it’ll be in the colder months.
  • Mittens if your going home outfit doesn’t have built in hand covers
  • Blanket

Note: Be sure to also have your car seat installed in the car you’ll take to the hospital. At the hospital, they’ll double check the installation and make sure the baby is buckled in correctly.
I hope this list helps you get organized and feel ready to meet your little one. Good luck and have a safe and healthy delivery.

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