Your Postpartum Hospital Bag Checklist (The Bits Everyone Forgets)

Most hospital bags are packed lovingly for the baby: tiny sleep suits, wraps, a going-home outfit. Then mum realises her own half of the bag is a phone charger and a toothbrush. Here is the list we wish we had, for the hours and days after birth.

For your body

• Maternity pads, more than you think you need
• Comfortable high-waisted undies (cotton or disposable), especially after a caesarean
• Nursing pads, because your milk can arrive while you are still there
• Nipple balm for the first feeds
• A loose nightie or button-front pyjamas for easy feeding and skin to skin
• Socks and slippers, hospitals can be chilly

For comfort

• Your own pillow in a coloured pillowcase (so it does not go home with the laundry)
• Lip balm and a hair tie
• An extra-long charging cable
• Snacks and a refillable water bottle with a straw
• A comfy going-home outfit that fits your six-months-pregnant shape

For the paperwork

• Medicare card and any private health details
• Your pregnancy health record and birth preferences
• An installed and checked car seat, ready in the car

Little extras that make a big difference

• An eye mask and earplugs for the busy ward
• Your favourite face wash or a soothing body oil for the first shower
• A notebook for feed times and questions for your midwife

This article is general information, written by mums for mums. It isn't medical advice. If something doesn't feel right, trust that feeling and talk to your GP, midwife or child health nurse.