Hospital Packing List (From a Labor Nurse!)

As a labor and delivery nurse, I’ve had the privilege of assisting countless families as they welcome their newest members into the world. Through these experiences, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of being prepared for the journey ahead. One key aspect of preparation? Packing the perfect hospital bag.

Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, knowing what to bring to the hospital can alleviate stress and ensure a smoother transition into parenthood. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive hospital packing list, tailored to your needs, your partners, and the newest and littlest addition to the family.

*note I have included links to some items as a convenience to you, but they are NOT affiliate links

When Should You Pack Your Hospital Bag?

I recommend packing the most important items around the 32 week mark to give you time to order/wash/prepare anything you don’t already have ready. Aim to have your full bag packed by 35-36 weeks as some babies are so excited to meet you that they don’t wait for your due date (or as I like to call it, your due month)!

For You

• Insurance card and ID 

• Gown – Thinking about bringing your own hospital gown? hospital gowns are not a soft comfy material and sometimes we just want to be cute!  Heres a couple things to note when picking one out.  Choose one that opens in the back and preferably has snaps at the top for skin to skin, you don’t want it to be too long because we need to adjust the monitors so we need access to the tummy Link This gown comes in a ton of cute prints and I love that its designed for easy access to your belly so you dont have to pull it all the way up when you are laying in bed

• Long phone charger – outlets in hospital rooms never seem to be in a convenient place (typically the hospital doesn’t allow the use of extension cords/power strips) 

• Water bottle – Even when we had IV fluids running for you, it’s still important that you are drinking water/fluids (we are only giving you about 4oz an hour). My personal favorite water bottle is Camelbak because you don’t have to turn it upside down to drink, and it has a bite valve so you don’t have to worry about closing caps or it spilling anywhere Link

• Ponytail holders/scrunchies – I keep a pack in my work bag at all times because so many patients forget them and there’s nothing more annoying then having your hair all over the place while working through contractions 

• Chapstick – you are going to be doing a lot of focused breathing especially when it comes time for pushing which tends to dry out your lips. 

• Soft/fuzzy blanket – again hospital linens are typically not super comfy so bring a cozy blanket from home

• Snacks – your body is going to be working hard, so definitely bring some snacks to eat. I recommend high-protein and filling snacks. Something I always like to note is that nausea and vomiting are common in labor. therefore we want to be mindful that what goes down can potentially come back up (looking at you hot cheetos 🥵). Many Drs will place patients on a clear liquid diet so you may want to include some of those items as well. Clear liquids are anything that is liquid and see through at room temperature (think Sprite/Ginger ale, gatorade, green tea, jello, even coffee with no creamer counts!)

• Battery powered or rechargeable fan – pregnancy hormones and labor tend to have my patients feeling a little hot and heavy. Some hospital rooms have individual thermostats, but at some places you are just at the mercy of the unit temperature Link

• Pads/Depends/mesh undies – the hospital provides pads and mesh underwear, but you may prefer to bring depend style or more comfortable high waisted undies to wear with pads

• Toiletry items – toothbrush/toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion,deodorant. The hospital has most of these if you forget them, but very basic generic versions.

• Non-slip footwear – this can be socks with grippy bottoms or slippers that have good traction

• Comfortable outfit for going home – usually your stomach will be around the size you were about 4-6 months of pregnancy 

Optional 

• Speaker – it can be really helpful to set the tone in your room, also hospitals are loud, there are announcements over the loud speakers, equipment beeping, people in the hallway. Music can help drown all of that out and help your mood – even as a nurse im instantly happier when I walk into a patients room thats playing music! 

• Twinkle lights/flameless candles/light projector – again on the mood setting, feeling peaceful during labor is really important and mood lighting can make a huge difference in transforming a hospital room into a more tranquil space. I have this one at home. 

• Heating pad – heat can be a comfort during labor especially for your back. Some hospitals have disposable heat packs, but they dont always last super long and sometimes stock can get low, especially at night and if its been really helping you, it can be frustrating to no longer have them  if there aren’t any more available

• Cooling towel – for when you are working up a sweat!

• Frozen colostrum – If you have been doing antenatal hand expression and have collected colostrum already don’t forget to bring it and a cooler (you can keep it cold with ice from the hospital). If you want to learn more about collecting colostrum and boosting your milk production before delivery check out my One-On-One Hand Expression class that also includes all the equipment you need!

For Baby 

• Receiving blanket
• Outfits 
• Hat
• Mittens/hand covers
• Car seat –  You can leave it in the car until after you have had the baby
• Pacifier – some hospitals don’t give them out/encourage them 😒. If you like to use them bring one just in case! 

For Your Partner

• A few changes of clothes
• Toiletries
• Camera
• Ipad/tablet/books 

I hope you found this list helpful! Be sure to tag me @daniellethemamacoach with a picture of your bag packed and ready to go!