Congratulations!! You are almost at the end of your partner’s pregnancy and are now getting closer to the due date. This is the ideal time to pack the hospital bag, not just hers, but yours as well. Use our Hospital Maternity Bag Checklist to make sure you pack everything you’ll need for the big day.
However, don’t leave it to the last minute! We advise having your hospital maternity bag packed and ready to go a minimum of four weeks in advance of the due date.
The Hospital Maternity Bag Checklist
Labour Bag for Mom
- Have your partner’s Aadhaar card, details of the hospital delivery package, payment details, insurance details, and your partner’s medical file / history.
- Ensure that the medical file contains a recent medical report indicating the blood type.
- Bring a hot water bag to help with contractions and during the labour.
- Ensure you have change of clothes for 2-3 days.
- Make sure to pack a pair of panties for the new mom that she is okay with being discarded. The first couple of panties worn right after the delivery are usually too blood soaked and are best thrown out.
- Ensure you have heavy flow pads. Your partner hasn’t menstruated for a while, and it is likely you won’t have these lying around at home. Better yet, pack disposable maternity panties / heavy period panties. No, hospitals won’t just give you these.
- Pack a yoga ball and inflater for use during the labour – sitting on one helps immensely during contractions.
- Carry knee pads – they help immensely kneeling on the floor / using the yoga ball during labour.
- Carry a bluetooth speaker to play music preferred by the mum to be. This may be hymns, instrumental, meditative, or any other kind that works for her.
- Make sure you have a sipper water bottle to keep her hydrated. During labour and after delivery, your partner is likely going to be too tired to drink from a normal bottle. A sipper helps tremendously.
- Carry a peri bottle / perineum cleaning bottle for your partner to wash the perineum postpartum.
- Make sure to carry gowns for the mother to wear in the hospital. They make the mother walk around the hospital especially after a vaginal birth. It really helps to have good comfortable clothing that is easy to put on and take off.
- Carry a pair of comfortable slippers for your partner to wear.
- Carry Nursing Pads and pack a couple of Nursing Bras.
- Carry a ‘Sitz Bath Tub‘ for your partner. A Sitz bath tub is filled with warm water and disinfectant and your partner is required to squat to soak stitches / vulva in it. While the hospital will usually provide a metal one (for easy disinfection), it is strongly recommended you carry a plastic one that sits in the western commode – this way your partner will not need to squat and can sit on the commode. You’ll find these online.
Labour Bag for Dad
- Pack a change of clothes for Dad for 2-3 days, including towels.
- Pack spare bedsheets and a thin blanket, if you can.
- Carry your Aadhaar and insurance details.
- Carry any medications you need.
Hospital Bag for Baby
- Pack a piece of clothing to receive your baby in. Make sure it’s been washed a few times and is soft to touch. You’ll want to save this for later!
- Pack clothing for the baby to wear in the hospital and for the baby to go home in.
- Pack a diaper bag that includes diapers, wet wipes, poop bags, and puppy pads. Yes, the hospital will give you a few packages relating to babies, but these are not complimentary. You will be billed for them. Thus, we suggest you carry baby products that you prefer. This way, you have a choice instead of being billed for the ones provided at the hospital. Plus, you get to choose the quality you like.
- Make sure you have bought and installed the right car seat. Check out our post on types of car seats in India!
General Items
- Pack snacks and drinks that you both enjoy, as labour can be lengthy. Try to make sure the smell of the snacks is not off-putting.
- Bring chargers and power banks for your devices.
- Pack your standard toiletries bag.
- Pack a couple of spare towels.
Conclusion
We hope this Hospital Maternity Bag Checklist has been of help to you as you prepare for the big day. While some items are usually available at stores nearby, it’s best to buy them and prep the bag in advance.
Do make sure to pack this bag at least a month in advance of the expected due date. Keep it in the car along with the car seat.
