What to actually pack in your hospital bag

Pack light, pack two sections, and prioritise the boring things: a long phone charging cable, huge comfortable knickers, snacks, and a going-home outfit that fits a body that still looks pregnant. Hospitals supply more than most lists suggest, and almost nobody regrets underpacking.

When to pack it

Have it ready around 35 to 36 weeks. Keep it somewhere someone else can find and describe over the phone. Ask your hospital what they provide, because it varies a lot. Some supply pads, mesh knickers, nappies and towels. Some supply almost nothing.

For labour

A long phone cable. Two to three metres. Sockets are never near the bed. This is the single most mentioned regret.
Your notes, ID and any paperwork. Whatever your hospital asks for.
Lip balm and a water bottle with a straw or sports lid. Labour rooms are dry and you will be lying down.
Hair tie and a fan or handheld mister. Rooms run hot.
Something loose to labour in. An old nightdress or a big t-shirt you do not mind ruining. Do not bring anything you want back.
Flip flops or slides. For showers and walking the corridor.
Snacks for you and your partner. Nothing that needs refrigeration. Overnight food options are usually poor to nonexistent.
Headphones and a playlist or something to watch. Early labour can be long and dull.

For after

Five or six pairs of high-waisted cotton knickers, a size or two up. The waistband must sit well above a c-section incision, not across it. Dark colours.
Maternity pads. Bring more than feels reasonable. No tampons and no cups.
Two nursing or soft non-wired bras, plus breast pads. Wired bras are uncomfortable while your milk comes in.
Two loose, dark, front-opening nighties or pyjama sets. Front opening matters for feeding and for skin to skin.
Toiletries in travel sizes, plus a proper towel if the hospital does not provide one.
A going-home outfit that fits your six-month bump. Soft waistband, nothing that sits on a scar. You will not leave in pre-pregnancy clothes and that is normal.
Any regular medication, in its packaging.

For the baby

Three or four sleepsuits and vests, newborn and one size up. Babies arrive in different sizes.
Nappies and cotton wool or wipes, if not provided.
A hat, a cardigan or jacket, and a blanket.
An installed, checked car seat. Practise the straps before the day.

For a partner

A change of clothes, a toothbrush, their own charger, cash or a card for parking and vending machines, and a pillow. Hospital chairs are unkind.

If a c-section is planned or possible

Knickers that clear the incision line by a good margin. This matters more than anything else on the list.
A dressing gown, because you will be encouraged to walk sooner than you expect.
Peppermint tea or capsules for trapped wind, which is a genuinely common complaint after surgery.
Leave abdominal compression at home for now. Compression across a fresh incision needs provider clearance, typically two to four weeks, and it is not something to start on the ward unless you are told to.

What to leave at home

Jewellery, valuables, a full make-up bag, nice pyjamas, a nursing pillow the size of a car tyre, and enough outfits for a week. You are not going to a hotel. Most people come home in two or three days, and someone can bring you anything you have missed.

One thing worth doing

Write a short list of what is in the bag and tape it to the inside. If someone else has to fetch you a clean top at three in the morning, they will thank you.