We understand how overwhelming it can be in those final weeks and months of pregnancy with so many decisions to make and things to organise. One of those important tasks is packing a hospital bag to ensure both the parents and baby have everything they need for labour, birth, and recovery.
To help make things a bit easier for you, we have put together a simple list of what you’ll need when giving birth at one of our hospitals. We recommend packing it all in one overnight bag to ensure you still have space to move around your hospital room. It’s a good idea to have this all packed from 36 weeks so you’re ready to go at short notice.
Sunshine Coast Health checklist of what to bring to hospital when you give birth
Paperwork
- Medicare card
- Pregnancy Health Record
- Birth plan (if you have one)
Labour
- If you would like to listen to your favourite music, have a playlist ready and pack a small speaker
- Snacks and drinks
- Lip balm
- A TENS machine if you’re planning to use one
- Acupressure combs or spiky balls
Mum
- Comfortable, feeding friendly clothes for around three days (button up cotton pyjamas work well)
- Several pairs of loose, comfortable underwear
- A maternity bra
- Nursing pads for when your milk comes in
- Slip on shoes
- Socks
- Maternity pads (at least 2 packets)
- Toiletries including your toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and hairbrush
- Phone charger (one with a long cord works well)
- Hair ties
Baby
- A small pack of newborn nappies
- One packet of baby wipes or cotton wool
- Warm clothing (around 3 singlets and long onesies)
- Any frozen expressed colostrum (make sure to give this to a midwife when you arrive to ensure it can be stored properly)
- Swaddles
Support person
- Board shorts for water birth if desired
- A change of clothes
- A jumper (it can get chilly in the aircon)
- Closed in shoes (will be required in theatre)
Download a printable version of our 'What to bring to hospital when you give birth' checklist.
During labour we can provide cold washers and heat packs to help with discomfort, and once you are on the maternity ward our midwives can provide paracetamol and ibuprofen to assist with pain relief - so you won’t need to pack any of this. Your support person will also be able to grab peri ice packs from the communal freezer on the maternity ward to help with pain and swelling.
Remember if you do forget something – don’t worry! Our staff are always here to help where they can, and you can always ask a loved one to drop things off to you.