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Preparing for the Big Day: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

As you’ve likely spent the last few months carefully selecting baby gear, stocking up on baby essentials, and lovingly preparing the nursery, there’s one task that may have been hovering on your to-do list the art of packing your hospital bag.

Table of Contents hide
1 So let’s dive into what to pack in your hospital bag.
1.1 For mum in labour and after
1.2 For baby
2 Download your Hospital bag checklist below.

I remember procrastinating a lot on this task. Even pondering the very basics of bag choices. Should I bring a trusty trolley or opt for a soft, more versatile option? The struggle was real! You see, packing, whether for a big adventure like this or a simple holiday, has never been my cup of tea. It somehow triggers a dose of anxiety I can’t quite explain.

The dilemma was all too real when it came to packing my hospital bag. I constantly found myself asking, “What on earth should I bring?” I feared leaving out essentials but also didn’t want to become an over-packer extraordinaire.

And I knew the hospital wasn’t that far away in case I needed something but should we talk about husbands and finding things? Exactly, I thought so. I know, it’s not a myth. They seem to have a knack for not seeing things, let alone finding them when they’re not part of their daily routine. So yes, make sure you have all you need!

That’s why, I thought to write this blog post for those who are like me and need a bit of guidance. Keep in mind that this is based on my experience.

Relater article: Are you ready for the Third Trimester?

So let’s dive into what to pack in your hospital bag.

graphic for the blog post. Photo of pregnant mum preparing her hospital bag and title of the post "Preparing for the Big Day: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag"

A few general considerations.

  • Pack It Early: First things first, let’s talk timing. Pack that bag early, preferably around the 34/35-week mark. Why so soon, you ask? Well, it’s all about dodging the last-minute chaos or the nail-biting scenario of someone else attempting a hasty-packed job while you’re deep into labour land. Trust me, you want this in the bag (pun intended) well before the big day arrives. Plus, once is done, your mind is free – procrastination in this case keeps a tab of your brain always open which is not good!

  • Keep a Checklist: It’s very helpful to have a checklist in your bag. This will help you to track what you packed already and what are those last-minute additions, like your trusty phone charger. You can find a downloadable checklist to guide you through the packing. Just click and grab it! From toiletries to baby items, make sure you tick them all!

  • Your Hospital Notes: Your hospital notes and birth plan are your lifeline during this journey. After each prenatal appointment, place your notes in a safe place. They are, without a doubt, the most crucial item on your checklist and could easily slip your mind in the rush to the hospital.

  • Comfort Is Key: Your hospital stay can range from a day to a few, so it’s crucial to pack comfortable clothing. On average, if you deliver vaginally you will stay in the hospital for 1-2 days. If you have a C-section, it’s likely you will stay for a bit longer, so keep that in mind when you pack your bag. Think loose-fitting pyjamas, cosy socks, and comfortable maternity bras. Also remember, when you leave the hospital, your body may still be tender after the miracle of childbirth. Opt for comfortable, loose-fitting clothing—nothing that cinches around your stomach, especially if you’ve had a C-section; that area will need extra tenderness.

For mum in labour and after

  • 3 nighties/Pjs – preferably open front so you can breastfeed if that’s your choice
  • flip-flops or shower shoes
  • tank top/sports bra in case of water birth
  • 2 large T-shirts or 2 sets of loose clothes
  • soft non-slip socks a couple of pairs- you can use them as slippers too
  • cotton undies, big, comfy the grandma style (not fancy, lacey…) /disposable knickers
  • maternity pads 2 packs
  • toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, hairbands, deodorant, face cream, haemorrhoid cream)
  • bath towel
  • 2 Nursing bras or if you haven’t bought them yet sports bras
  • breast pads a few just in case but your milk won’t come straight away
  • nipple cream
  • going home clothes (comfy maternity clothes and comfy flat shoes)
  • phone charger
  • phone
  • hospital notes/birth plan
  • ID
  • wet wipes
  • water bottle

Treat Yourself: Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to include a little treat for yourself. Whether it’s your favourite chocolates or your face cream, make sure it’s something that brings a smile to your face. After all, these little indulgences can go a long way in making you feel good during your hospital stay

For baby

  • baby clothes: 3 body vests and 3 sleepsuits (more if you plan a C-section)
  • hat
  • blanket
  • consider a matching hat and swaddle for the must-have first photo!
  • going home clothes
  • muslins
  • a pack of nappies
  • water based wipes
  • vaseline/Sudocrem ( any nappy barrier cream)
  • bottle/formula/dummy if you are not planning to breastfeed
  • car seat

As a newborn photographer, I always think in pictures, so think about the baby outfits you pack in your bag. They will be in the very first photos!!

Download your Hospital bag checklist below.

Related article: 5 Tips to Enjoy Your Newborn Session | Newborn Photographer Richmond

big brother touching mum'a pregnant belly

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She almost didn’t come.

She told me she wasn’t feeling confident.
That she didn’t know how to pose.
That maybe I should photograph someone else.

I hear this more than you’d think. From women who are more reserved and introvert but also the ones who are funny and so alive in person. Women who have simply spent too long seeing themselves in a fixed way.

We spent a morning together. Just her, the light, and a space where nothing needed to be fixed or hidden.

The woman in these photos? She was there all along.

If you’ve been telling yourself a similar story, I’d gently ask you this: what if you’re wrong too?

39 9
Open post by by_valentina with ID 18093137645180251
She almost didn’t come. She told me she wasn’t feeling confident. That she didn’t know how to pose. That maybe I should photograph someone else. I hear this more than you’d think. From women who are more reserved and introvert but also the ones who are funny and so alive in person. Women who have simply spent too long seeing themselves in a fixed way. We spent a morning together. Just her, the light, and a space where nothing needed to be fixed or hidden. The woman in these photos? She was there all along. If you’ve been telling yourself a similar story, I’d gently ask you this: what if you’re wrong too?

This is the part that gets me every time.

Seeing the images inside the album, in print, held in your hands, is completely different to seeing them on a screen.

They become real in a way a digital file never quite manages.

This little one will grow so fast.

But these pages will stay exactly as they are.

Newborn photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

20 6
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This is the part that gets me every time. Seeing the images inside the album, in print, held in your hands, is completely different to seeing them on a screen. They become real in a way a digital file never quite manages. This little one will grow so fast. But these pages will stay exactly as they are. Newborn photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

It never gets old.

Every time one of your albums arrives at my door it feels a little like Christmas morning. There is something about holding it for the first time, knowing what is inside, knowing what it meant to be in that room with you.

If I feel this way, I can only imagine what it feels like for you.

Follow along, the next reel shows what’s inside.

Newborn and maternity photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

18 0
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It never gets old. Every time one of your albums arrives at my door it feels a little like Christmas morning. There is something about holding it for the first time, knowing what is inside, knowing what it meant to be in that room with you. If I feel this way, I can only imagine what it feels like for you. Follow along, the next reel shows what’s inside. Newborn and maternity photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

Every mum knows this feeling.

I know it too. I still remember the first time I held my daughter.
So tiny. So new.
And yet somehow, already familiar. Like I had always known her, in some place deeper than memory.

She is 14 now. And I would give anything to hold that small weight against my chest one more time.

This is why I do what I do.
Not just to make beautiful images. But to give you something to hold onto, long after those first days have passed.

48 1
Open post by by_valentina with ID 18100098043823330
Every mum knows this feeling. I know it too. I still remember the first time I held my daughter. So tiny. So new. And yet somehow, already familiar. Like I had always known her, in some place deeper than memory. She is 14 now. And I would give anything to hold that small weight against my chest one more time. This is why I do what I do. Not just to make beautiful images. But to give you something to hold onto, long after those first days have passed.

There is something about photographing a woman at this stage of life. The way she holds herself. What she carries inside. All of the things that are about to change.

And then, months later, she sits with her album. And she remembers.

This is why I photograph maternity. Not just to document a bump, but to give you something you will reach for years from now.

Something your child will one day hold and say, look how beautiful you were.
Because you were.
You are.

If you are expecting and wondering whether to book a session, this is your sign.

Maternity photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

18 1
Open post by by_valentina with ID 17945098178997149
There is something about photographing a woman at this stage of life. The way she holds herself. What she carries inside. All of the things that are about to change. And then, months later, she sits with her album. And she remembers. This is why I photograph maternity. Not just to document a bump, but to give you something you will reach for years from now. Something your child will one day hold and say, look how beautiful you were. Because you were. You are. If you are expecting and wondering whether to book a session, this is your sign. Maternity photography in Richmond and Twickenham.
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VALE@PHOTOGRAPHYBYVALENTINA.COM

07577 978246

LONDON NEWBORN & MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Richmond, I work with families across London to capture life’s most meaningful milestones through portrait photography.