Time For Hospital
Hospital Bag Checklist
For Mum
Documents and Paperwork
- Your birth plan and maternity notes
- Pen, paper/notebook
Clothes
- An old nightdress or a T-shirt to wear in labour
- PJ's or nightgown ( one that opens in the front if you're planning on breastfeeding )
- Robe or dressing gown; lightweight as hospitals are typically warm
- Plenty of comfortable underwear
- Warm socks
- Slippers or flat slip-on shoes
- Breastfeeding bras
- Clothing for trip home: make sure they are roomy and comfortable
- Casual clothes with front opening tops for breast feedings (don't expect to get into your pre-pregnancy clothes straight away, take loose fitting or materninty clothes)
Toiletries
- Toiletry bag - hairbrush, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, deoderant, toothbrush, toothpaste
- Lip balm
- Face cloth/ face spray
- Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during your labour
- A hair band if you have have long hair
- Eye glsses ( contact lenses may need to be removed prior to a C-section )
- Contact lenses and accessories
- Plenty of maternity sanitry pads
- Absorbant breast pads
Additional
- Medicare card and/or private health insurance company card
- Camera and/or video camera - with batteries/charger
- Snacks and drinks for you while you are in labour
- Things to help you relax or pass the time, such as music, books, magazines
- List of important phone numbers - family, freinds, older children's carers/school
- Change for parking, snacks and phone ( mobile phone use is not permitted in most hospitals )
- Plastic bags for dirty clothes
- Clock
For baby
- Sleepsuits or growsuits ( at least 2 per day in hospital plus some extras )
- Baby blanket. Take a thick, warm one if the weather is cold. Summer babies will also need a blanket
- Bunny rugs
- Nappies ( plan 10 per day for breast feeding babies )
- Hat or cotton beanie
- Muslin Wraps. Most hospitals and midwives will recommend that newborns are swaddled in breathable muslin wraps.
- Singlets or bodysuits ( two per day in hospitals plus some extras )
- Socks/booties ( one for each day in hospital plus some extras )
To keep newborns warm, ensure they are wearing hats, mittens and warm socks and booties. They can also be worn over growsuits for additional warmth.
- 2 x going home outfits ( in case one is soiled )
Ideally a growsuit, hat, jacket and booties
- Wipes or cotton wool balls
- Face washers
- Baby towel
- An infant car seat. Some hospitals won't let you leave by car without one
For the birth partner
- Comfortable shoes
- Change of clothes
- Watch with a second hand, to time contractions
- Swimwear if you want to join the mum-to-be in a birth pool
DONT FORGET - Your baby MUST travel home from the hospital in a suitable infant car seat which for newborns is a rear-facing capsule. Make sure that you have a capsule correctly installed onto your car in plenty of time.