Hospital Bag

Go Bag for Mama, Daddy, and Baby

Updated 5/15/2021

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As you near the end of your third trimester, sometimes way before then haha, you will have an urge to pack your hospital bag. What do I need to bring to the hospital? What will my hospital offer? What if I need (x, y, and z) but I don’t have it? These questions may have crossed your mind. 

With my first I went way overboard with packing and used half of what I brought. I decided to compose a list of things that I thought were useful to me. At the end I’ll add a few things I brought, but didn’t use and you can decide if you might like to pack those items. 


Ask your hospital if you can get pre-checked in a few weeks before your due date. What you will do is bring in your ID and insurance to the hospital and fill out some paperwork before hand. This way when the time comes you can get checked in right away and you will not have to fill out a lot of paperwork while in labor. Trust me, the last thing you’ll want to be doing is paperwork!


One more thing you might want to pack is a birth plan. I had a very detailed birth plan with my first. Once I arrived at the hospital that plan went out the window. All I wanted was the baby to come out healthy and safely and trusted my medical team to do that and they did. 

Mama’s Bag:

Things I’d pack again

• Hospital paperwork, ID, health insurance card
• Birth plan if you have one
• Face mask
• Cute duffle bag 
• Toiletries 
• Depends - I know what you’re thinking, but trust me these are so amazing! 
• Underwear that you don’t mind getting ruined
• Socks
• Music loaded to your phone
• Phone charger, portable charger
• Nursing bras & Bralettes - These are my favorite ones
• Nursing tanks and/or T-shirt’s
• Robe 
• Sweatpants & Leggings
• Sweater/hoodie - it can get cold in the room
• Going home outfit
• Makeup - I felt up for putting on a minimal amount of makeup. I did my eyebrows, mascara, and lipgloss. Everyone is different. 
• Dry shampoo 
• Hair brush
• Hair ties
• Slippers
• Pregnancy journal - I had someone write down the details of the birth as it happened.
• Pillow and blanket - It was nice to have things from home to feel more comfortable. 

Things I packed, but didn’t use:

• Nursing pillow
• Hair dryer
• Curling iron
• Straightener
• Swimsuit - I wanted to get in the tub, but didn’t end up getting in there
• Motivational cards I made

Daddy’s Bag:

Don’t forget dad! I packed my husband’s items in packing cubes and put them in my bag. But you could give him his own bag if needed.

• Toiletries bag 
• T-shirts
• Sweater
• Jeans
• Underwear 
• Socks
• Slippers 
• Pajamas 
• Snacks
• Swimsuit, if you want him to join you in the tub and/or shower

Baby’s Bag:

I brought our diaper bag for baby

• Two onesies
• One going home outfit
• Two swaddles
• Cute pacifiers 
• A few diapers and wipes - I didn’t really need these, because our hospital provided them

I hope these lists were helpful! Something to get you started on this exciting adventure. 

Our hospital provided a lot of great items like: a spray bottle for mom, numbing spray for mom, loads of pads and ice packs for mom, snacks for everyone, and diapers and wipes for baby. Feel free to ask you hospital what the have available.