What’s In My Hospital Bag {+ Free Printable Packing List}

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{Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Roper St. Francis but all opinions are our own. We would not promote something we didn’t believe to be true.}

The nursery is complete, you attended your Childbirth Preparation class, you toured the hospital, the car seat is installed. All that’s left to do now is wait for baby! He or she could come at any time and as your due date approaches it’s a great idea to pack your hospital bag with all the necessities you’ll need for labor and delivery. 

For my first pregnancy I packed at least three weeks before my due date and then had my baby a week late. My bag sat waiting for baby to come for a long time! This time around I created my list around 38 weeks and made sure I had everything I needed readily available. I packed a day or two before my scheduled induction. I was able to eliminate some items I had brought along with me for my first delivery but hadn’t needed, making my bags much lighter this time around! 

I used one bag for myself and baby, my husband carried a backpack, and we brought an extra reusable shopping bag for anything we accumulated during our stay.

Hospital Bag

Here are a few of my must-have items that I packed in my bags::

  • My new mom uniform – a comfy sweater, leggings, nursing top, fuzzy socks. Chances are if you see me during the first few weeks after giving birth, I’ll be in some variation of this outfit.
  • Going home outfit for baby
  • Pillow – The hospital will provide pillows for you but I chose to bring one from home for added comfort.
  • iPad – My labor with my first baby took over 24 hours so this time I came prepared with entertainment in case I had a similar experience this time around
  • Toiletry Bag – The one thing I wouldn’t have survived labor without was my chapstick! I would also suggest facial cleansing wipes and hair ties, in addition to your normal every day toiletries.

We’ve created this Hospital Bag Checklist that you can print and use for reference when packing for your hospital stay. This checklist is based on a 24-48 hour stay but if you’re scheduled for a c-section you’ll want to pack extra outfits for you and baby.

hospital-bag-checklistIf you’re delivering at Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital there are a number of things you won’t need to worry about packing because they will provide them for you. This includes all the items you’ll need for healing post-delivery: mesh panties, cold packs, and maxi pads. They’ll provide baby with receiving blankets for use during your stay as well as diapers and wipes.

One thing my husband and I chose to do was bring a little thank you for the nurses and staff. We felt it was the least we could do after they took such good care of us and our baby during our stay. If you’d like to do the same, this could be as simple as a card, sweet treat, or snack. 

What were your must-have items in your hospital bag?


In the next part of our series with Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital I’ll be sharing my birth story!