Having an obsessive need to keep everything organized, I was glad to have packed my Hospital Bag 2 weeks prior to the due date! The whole process of delivery and recovery was so much easier when I didn’t need to worry about whether something was packed, and where it may have been put. Now, courtesy the pregnancy brain, I was so glad I had my The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist which made the entire process such a breeze and a last-minute no-brainer!
I split my packing into 5 Main segments:
- Paperwork
- Labour Bag
- Recovery Bag
- Baby
- Dad
Paperwork
- Hospital Files
- Aadhar Card/ ID:
- Insurance Papers:
- Birth Plan:
- Cord Bank Kit
Your hospital will require you to produce a valid form of ID and carry all your maternity files with you at the time of check-in. In my case, I had traveled to my hometown for my delivery, so I had all my files from when I was in Hyderabad as well as all the additional reports done through the 1st & 2nd Trimester. In most cases your current hospital would have taken all the necessary details into their records but, it never hurts to have a copy at hand.
So, I suggest carrying your Aadhar Card, Hospital file, Insurance Papers and Birth Plan together and have all the other files in a separate folder.
Cord Banking is quite debatable as it’s really a personal choice whether you wish to opt for it or not. Speak with your doctor if there’s a family history of illness. Your cord bank coordinator will provide you with a kit that you need to carry with you at the time of delivery to be handed over to the hospital. I chose Life Cell for Nyraa.
Labour Bag
- Labour Outfit
- Socks
- Pillow
- Blanket
- Music
- Reading Material
- 2 Slippers (Bedroom & Bathroom)
This was definitely a gamechanger for me. I had packed my Labour Bag items and Recovery Bag items in separately. This meant I didn’t need to unpack my entire suitcase immediately on arrival. My C-section was scheduled during the morning hours so I opted for a comfy maternity dress to show off my bump for the last time. However, if you’re scheduled for later during the day or are having a normal delivery, I’d suggest wearing comfortable maternity tracksuit, pajamas or maxi dress. By the end you would be so uncomfortable that the last thing you need to worry about is clothes.
Toiletaries Bag
- Nursing Pads
- Nipple Cream
- Large Sanitary Pads
- Hair Brush
- Hair Ties/ Headband
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Face Wash
- Face Cream
- Body Wash
- Body Lotion
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Hair Dryer
- Deodorant
- Lip Balm
- Glasses
- Contact Lens
- Contact Solution
- Make Up
- Mist Spray
- Laundry Bag
- Nursing Pillow
I bought this hanging toiletry organizer for my Hospital Bag. It kept all my items organized and made it easy to hang behind the door for easy access as well as to keep everything clean.
Recovery Bag
- Bath Towel
- Bathrobe
- Socks
- Maternity Clothes
- Nursing Bras
- Disposable underwear
- Large Sanitary Pads
- Nightgown
- Going Home Outfit
- Flip flops (Or the footwear you wore to the hospital)
This bag consisted of all the items I would require post my delivery. Normally, when packing I like to put all the items together that go together. E.g. Nursing bras, underwear and sanitary pads would all go in one section. This was a tricky one and I actually had to re-pack this bag after I realized that my usual way of packing wouldn’t be ideal for when I want to just grab things and go. So, for my hospital recovery bag, I packed everything in sets, i.e. that my entire outfit was folded together with my nursing bra, underwear and pad folded within my outfit. This made it a lot easier than to shuffle around the bag with the C-Section stitches when needing a hot shower.
The ULTIMATE Hospital Bag Checklist
Baby
- Nursing Pillow
- Diaper Caddy
- Footed Bodysuit
- Onesies
- Extra Layers if Cold
- Going Home Outfit
- Caps & Mittens
- Muslin Swaddle
- Receiving Blanket
- Bath Towel
- Burp Cloth
- Blanket
- Pacifier
- Baby carry bed
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Vaseline
- Diaper Rash Cream
- Infant Formula
- Car Seat
I think by far one of the best and most essential buys for me has been a Diaper Caddy which is super easy to wash and probably few of the items that I still use. The various compartments keep all my bubs essentials neatly organized and easily accessible. It’s an absolute MUST HAVE! Also, I stuck to footed bodysuits with mitts for pretty much the first month to avoid having to match mitts and socks. We did however play dress up and have an iPhone photoshoot every evening lol;)
Dad
- Mobile Phone
- Phone Charger
- Camera
- Camera Charger
- iPad/Laptop
- Change of Clothes
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Comfy Shoes
- Snack
- Money/cash
- Pen & Paper
- Pillow
- WhatsApp Baby Announcement
This list was another one of my important ones, because guess what if the husband forgets something, he takes mine! So yes, I made sure he had his backpack packed the night before to ensure that he wouldn’t be taking my chargers! Now, although my husband went back home to shower so he didn’t exactly use his towel or toiletries, it’s always good to have a backup of spare set of clothes and towel for those little accidents. Oh, and most importantly don’t forget to have the WhatsApp Baby Announcement ready to be sent out to your loved ones!
PS: I had one made for each sex and had the Baby Girl message sent out once Nyraa was born.
