What to pack in your hospital bag: a checklist for mother, partner and baby

From some point in the third trimester, it’s wise to have your hospital bag ready, even if you’re planning a home birth: you never know for sure whether a transfer to hospital will be needed. This checklist helps you not to forget anything. You might want to pack two separate bags: one for yourself and the baby that goes with you to the delivery room, and one with extra things for a longer stay, which your partner can fetch later.

• ID and health insurance card: put these on top of the bag together with your birth plan, so you can take them out first
• Your birth plan, so that everyone at the hospital knows straight away what matters to you (see an example here)
• Loose, comfortable clothes and an old, dark nightdress: deliberately choose clothes you won’t mind losing, as giving birth isn’t always a tidy business
• Maternity briefs or large knickers and maternity pads for after the birth
• Toiletries and perhaps your own pillow: you’ll recognise your own pillowcase straight away among the hospital pillows
• Slippers or non-slip socks
• Food and drinks: the hospital doesn’t always provide snacks, so bring something that gives you energy
• Something to lift your spirits: your own music, photos, or something familiar from home

• Extra clothes in case the stay is longer than expected
• Snacks and drinks (hospitals aren’t always well stocked at night)
• A phone charger, ideally with a long cable or an extension lead
• Cash or a debit card for the parking meter and the canteen
• Their own toiletries and an extra pillow, in case you stay a night in hospital

• A set of clothes in the right size, plus a spare: newborns are often smaller than expected, so bring a set in size 50 as well
• A small blanket and a hat
• A car seat, properly fitted in the car before you leave, even if you’re planning a home birth

Around week 36 is a good moment to have your bag ready: not so early that you’re missing things you still need, but well before labour can start. Put the bag in a fixed place your partner knows about, so they don’t have to search for it once the contractions are well under way. Also check whether the hospital or birth centre has its own additional list, as it may differ slightly from this checklist depending on the location.

Besides the hospital bag, there’s more to think about in the last weeks of your pregnancy, such as your birth plan and the final practical matters around kraamzorg (postpartum maternity care) and leave. See the full checklist per trimester here.

Would you like to prepare well for the birth, including all the practical sides? Book a free introductory chat for personal support.