Looking for a pregnancy hospital bag checklist and birth plan template? Our easy-to-use downloadables can help get sorted with all the things you need to ensure a smooth labour and delivery.
The hospital may not be an ideal getaway destination, but packing your hospital bag for the maternity ward is one of the highlights of late pregnancy. Though you’ll be eagerly tempted to overpack, you will find that you don’t use much of what you have packed. That’s why we have made an easy-to-use hospital bag checklist that’s available for download.
We have divided things into essentials and optional items, along with some things for the Papa-to-be. Because we know that giving birth in a public hospital is quite a different experience, we have additional items that you will need if you’re taking that route. Plus, we’ve put together a handy downloadable birth plan template to help make your labour as fuss-free as can be.
Tips For Packing Your Hospital Bag For Labor And Delivery
Have everything packed by 35 weeks into your pregnancy. Resist the urge to wait until the last minute!
Be sure to ask the hospital what is already provided to keep your baggage light. Also, check the hospital’s policies regarding what you can bring. Public hospitals, for instance, specify the size of the hospital bag you can carry.
Whether it be a backpack, suitcase, or duffel bag, your hospital bag should be whatever makes you feel most comfortable. However, choose something in which it’s easy to find things, especially when you need your partner to locate them for you.
If you plan to drive (or have someone else drive) your car to the hospital, keep your bag in the trunk or backseat, once packed. Otherwise, leave it in an accessible location of your home if you plan to taxi it.
If you have ideas on how you would like to give birth, don’t forget to fill out a birth plan and discuss it in advance with your midwife or doctor. Even in public hospitals like Queen Mary, where you don’t have a fixed doctor, you will have the opportunity to present your birth plan when you reach the pre-labour ward. Make sure you pack multiple copies of this in your hospital bag so that everyone from the nurses, midwives, doctors and your birthing partner are all on the same page. Because we want to help you be as relaxed as possible (so you can concentrate on the hard work of giving birth!), we’ve made this downloadable birth plan template. You’re welcome!
Editor’s Note: “Your Pregnancy Hospital Bag Checklist And Birth Plan Template” was most recently updated in June 2023 by Najuka Redkar. Special thanks to Kristen Tadrous and Anita Balagopalan for their contribution.
Main image courtesy of Getty, other images and downloadables by Sassy Media Group with illustrations from Getty Images.
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