Best Products to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Labor and Delivery

Your phone will come in handy for a ton of major delivery day moments: texting your family important updates, snapping photos, playing music and more. While you can certainly just pack your standard charger from home, several moms said that having an extra-long charger or an extension cord meant not having to get up from the hospital bed to use their phone. This 10-foot long charger fits the bill perfectly.

Length: 10 feet

Bringing your favorite water bottle or thermos from home can prevent a bunch of trips to refill the tiny paper cups the hospital provides. Plus, it’ll keep your water colder for much longer. Some moms were especially thankful they brought a Yeti water bottle to keep their water extra-cold.

Size: 36 ounces

When is packing this not a good idea? One of the most popular recommendations from experienced moms, lip balm is a must-pack that's easy to forget about. This four-pack of Burt’s Bees Lip Balm will keep your lips moist in the dry hospital air. Keeping lip balm on hand is especially helpful for moms that have a C-section, since the oxygen mask can potentially dry out your lips.

Size: Pack of four 0.15-ounce balms

After giving birth, new moms experience postpartum bleeding, and having plenty of postpartum pads or adult diapers like these will help you stay comfortable and protect clothing. However, there’s a good chance your hospital provides these for you, so it’s a good idea to call and ask ahead of time to see if you really need to pack them.

Size: 32 pairs

While most moms recommend stocking up on the heavenly mesh underwear that the hospital usually provides, several moms also recommended bringing a large pair of regular postpartum underwear to put on over the mesh undies to keep everything in place. Frida Mom Postpartum Underwear will do the job well (plus, they’re disposable!). Even if you don’t use them, they won’t take up much room in your bag and you can use them at home.

While the hospital bed will come with a pillow or two, a ton of moms recommend bringing your own. Hospital pillows have a reputation for being flimsy, and you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible for delivery. If your current pillow isn’t cutting it, this Casper Sleep Pillow will give you both support and comfort when you need it most.

Dimensions: 26 x 18 x 5 inches

Weight: 3.5 pounds

After welcoming your baby to the world, you’ll (understandably!) be exhausted. It’s good to get plenty of sleep and recover from the delivery (you just brought a brand new human into the world, after all). That being said, your newborn might be extra fussy, making it next to impossible to get any Zzzs. Moms recommend bringing a pacifier so that you can get a little bit of rest. The Philips Avent Soothie is a great choice for your newborn.

The hospital will give you socks to wear, but trust us, having your own pair will feel glorious (especially after a day or two). You want to pamper your feet with the fluffiest socks you can find, because that is what mama deserves. These are soft, warm, non-skid and come in a two-pack so you can wear one each day you’re at the hospital.

While leggings might have been your loungewear uniform before you were expecting, you’ll want to prioritize total comfort right after giving birth. Moms swear by wearing as-loose-as-possible clothing for the trip home to go easy on your body. If you’re in need of a new pair of loose bottoms, these cozy terry Hanes sweatpants are a tried-and-true comfy option. Some moms also recommend bringing an extra change of clothes or two, in case you get extra sweaty or leak extra fluids on your clothes after delivery.

Hospital food doesn’t exactly have the best reputation, and several hospital cafeterias aren’t open round-the-clock. To make sure you have plenty of fuel on a day when you’ll surely need it, make sure you pack plenty of your favorite snacks. These Kind Bars are an easy, healthy option to stock up on.

Size: Box of 12 40-gram bars

While a car seat is an obvious must-pack, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of delivery day and forget. A bunch of moms recommend installing your car seat far in advance. That way, when the big day comes, you’ll already be set to take baby home safely. If you haven’t bought your car seat yet, consider the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat — it was voted a 2019 What To Expect award winner!

Weight/height limit: 4 to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches tall

Weight: 9.6 pounds (without base)

Dimensions: 27.5 x 17 x 24 inches

While the movies make it seem like delivery is a chaotic, fast-paced process with a lot of screaming, that’s not always the case. Sometimes labor can last for days, and a lot of moms say it’s good to be prepared with your favorite entertainment options to fill the time enjoyably. Having a book, tablet, laptop or even a deck of cards can help you pass the time while waiting for baby.

Along with any other items you consider essential to your daily routine, don’t forget your toothbrush! A simple brush can make you feel all the better, and sometimes labor can take way longer than anticipated.

For all the long-haired moms-to-be, it’s good to stash a ponytail holder or two in your hospital bag. They barely take up any room, and can be a game-changer in terms of comfort when you sweat or just want your hair out of the way.

Size: 37 elastic bands

If you’re walking the halls in labor, you’ll appreciate wearing these easy-on slippers. Made of faux fur, they're impossibly comfy (not to mention, actually cute!).

For moms planning to breastfeed and pump, it can help to bring your breast pump to the hospital. Most moms said that the lactation consultant and nurse team at the hospital helped them get used to pumping and even helped set it up. Having the professionals assist you while you’re already at the hospital will take one to-do off your list once you go home. Still need to buy your pump? We love the Medela Pump in Style with Max Flow Breast Pump.

While your baby will be wrapped in a swaddle for most of her time at the hospital, don’t forget to pack an outfit or two for her to wear home. This adorable unisex outfit is both cozy and cute, perfect for taking your newest arrival home. Some moms recommend bringing multiple outfits, just in case an accident happens before it’s time to go or if you plan on taking professional photos at the hospital. Some moms also say it’s not a bad idea to bring an extra blanket or sleeper.

You’ll be getting a bunch of documents and valuable papers from the hospital before you go home with your newest addition to the family. While not necessary, having a designated folder like this one to put them in can help you avoid losing or wrinkling anything important.

Whether or not you decide to put on makeup in the delivery or recovery room is up to you. Whatever your choice, these cleansing wipes come in handy. They’re soaked in micellar water to remove dirt and sweat, and are fragrance-free to avoid irritation. Swipe once for an instant refresh.

Size: Pack of 50 wipes

One of the best parts of this travel set is the three individually wrapped shower sheets. Take one out and use it to wipe down your body for an instant cleanse, and being able to do that without hopping into the shower is going to be everything to you. The kit also includes a calming aromatherapy mist (a must-have during labor), hand and body cream, and a no-rinse body cleanser. 

Sizes: 1 ounce (mist); 1.7 ounces (cream and cleanser)

If your hospital allows it, bringing a portable speaker into the delivery room with a playlist of songs you love can go a long way toward making the space feel a little more comfortable. This speaker is particularly great — the compact size (it's just a touch bigger than a smartphone) won't take up tons of room in your hospital bag, and it has Bluetooth streaming and 10 hours of play time.

Weight: 7.84 ounces

Dimensions: 4.33 x 2.17 x 4.30 inches

That first shower after delivery is going to feel amazing. Many new moms say hospital towels can be thin and scratchy, though, so you may want to have your own with you. If you'd prefer not to bring your regular towels to the hospital, stock up on one of these affordable, 100 percent cotton bath towels ahead of time. They're sold as a set of four and each one is fairly oversize so you'll have plenty of coverage—another bonus of bringing your own.

Dimensions: 27 x 54 inches

If you’ve chosen to breastfeed, you’ll want a good nursing bra for comfort as you two get acquainted. This popular style from the much-loved brand has snap-down straps for easy access, is stretchy and supportive, and soft enough to sleep in.

Whether you're having a winter baby and need more coverage or want something that can keep you cool on hot summer days, this nightgown does it all. It's made of super soft stretch fabric and, if you'll be breastfeeding, allows for easy nursing access.

Available in a ton of colors and sizes small through 3X, you’ll want to slip into this robe to freshen up after that first shower post-delivery. The bamboo material feels good on your skin. Besides, let’s not forget how cute your first pics with baby will be.

While this isn’t a must-have, a ton of moms said bringing your own shampoo can make you feel exponentially better. Smelling nice and feeling like yourself by means of your favorite shampoo, like this great-smelling choice from Herbal Essences, is a small item to pack with a big pay-off.

Size: 13.5 ounces