What to pack in your hospital bag

If your due date is just around the corner, make sure your hospital bag is packed with everything from nursing pads to newborn diapers. That way, you can be sure you’ve got what you’ll need during delivery and once your baby arrives.

You're in the final stretch, with a few weeks to go until your due date. Now's the time to gather all the essentials you'll need during labour and birth and for after your baby is born. Even if you're not planning a hospital birth, you may need to go in, so it's a good idea to have a bag packed by the time you’re 36 weeks pregnant.

Hospitals and birthing centres vary in what you’re allowed to bring with you when you have your baby. You may want to take a few things from home, such as your own pillow, to make it feel less clinical. Check what they provide and what you can bring, but keep in mind that birthing rooms can be short on space.

You could pack two bags: one for labour and the hours just after your baby is born, and another for a stay on the postpartum floor, should it be required.

If you're driving to the hospital, you could leave the second bag in the car with the newborn car seat until you need it. If you have a straightforward birth, you may be discharged within 24 hours (CPS 2018), so you might not need the second bag at all.

See our list for what to take for the big day.

And we've made it easy for you to be organized. To make sure you don’t forget anything, print out our handy checklist.

What to pack for labour

• Your provincial health card and hospital card (if applicable), birth plan and prenatal medical records if you have a midwife.
• Robe, dressing gown, wrap sweater. This will be useful if you end up pacing hospital corridors in early labour, and you'll need one if you’re staying overnight. Hospitals can be very warm, so a lightweight one may be best.
• Slippers.
• Socks. Believe it or not, your feet can get cold during labour.
• An old nightgown or T-shirt to wear in labour. It might get a bit messy, so don't buy anything new to wear in hospital.
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during your labour.
• Lip balm.
• Snacks and drinks for you while you are in labour, as well as for your birth partner.
• Things to help you relax or pass the time, such as books, magazines, games and so on.
• A headband or elastic. If you have long hair, you might want it tied up.
• Pillows. The hospital might not have enough to make you really comfortable.
• Toiletries.
• A loose bra top you can wear in the shower, tub or jacuzzi, if you plan to use them during labour.
• Music. You may want a pair of headphones and a Bluetooth speaker. Some hospitals and birthing centres provide speakers in the birthing rooms, so check what’s there before you pack.

For the birth partner

• Water spray, or a hand-held fan to keep cool while in labour.
• Comfortable shoes. You may be pacing the corridors or running to the cafeteria!
• A change of clothes.
• Watch or smartphone with an app to time contractions.
• Swimwear for the birth pool, if you’re using one.
• Your choice of recording device, be that a smartphone or a camera.
• Address book or a list of phone numbers and email addresses for sharing your big news.

For after the birth

• A going-home outfit. You'll need loose comfortable clothes to wear while you're in hospital, and for the journey home.
• Nursing bras. Take two or three.
• Breast pads.
• Maxi pads. Bring a couple of packs.
• Nightshirt. Ideally, a wrap or T-shirt. Front-opening shirts are great in the early days of breastfeeding.
• Toiletries and flip flops for the shower.
• Towels, hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Old or cheap underwear, or disposable panties. Don't bring your best ones as they will get messy.
• Ear plugs, in case you end up in a shared room.

For your baby

• An approved infant car seat with the base installed in your vehicle. Some hospitals won't let you leave by car without one.
• One outfit for the trip home (all-in-one outfits are easiest).
• Two or three sleepers for baby to wear while you are in hospital.
• Baby blanket. Take a warm one if the weather is cold.
• Diapers.
• One pair of socks or booties.
• Hat.
• Jacket or snowsuit for winter babies.
• Burp cloths or receiving blankets.

Once you've got your hospital bag organized, remind yourself of the first signs of labour so you know when it's the real thing!