Your due date is coming up and it is time to get ready – when and what should you be packing in your hospital bag? We have come out with a hospital bag checklist below.
Recommendations:
- Pack your hospital bag at least a few weeks before your due date. You don’t want to be scrambling last minute and missing out essential items – after all, you never know when exactly your baby wants to pop!
- Keep your hospital bag near your front door for easy access.
- Some people may want to pack a delivery bag and a separate bag for after childbirth for easy organization – that is entirely up to you.
- Check with your hospital beforehand to see what they provide beforehand, so that you avoid overpacking.
In general:
- Gynaecologist’s letter and pregnancy notes
- Hospital admission form
- Identity cards of both husband and wife
- Original marriage certificate (for birth registration)*
- Receipts of outpatient visits to gynaecologist (if claiming from Medisave)*
- Credit card
- Birth plan (if applicable)
- Cord blood banking box (if applicable)
*only applicable in Singapore
For Mummy:
- Any medications you are on
- Nursing bra and nursing pads
- Extra sets of underwear
- Extra maternity pads
- Dressing gown or robe (front-opening for easy access to breastfeeding)
- Socks
- Sweater
- Comfortable and loose clothing (to wear on discharge)
- Abdominal binder (especially for C-section)
- Personal toiletries (e.g. soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, skincare, lip balm)
- Spectacles (rather than contact lenses)
- Slippers
- Hair ties
- Breast pump and nursing pillow (so that your lactation nurse can work with you on breastfeeding baby)
- Donut pillow (for you to sit on if your perineal area is sore after childbirth)
- Phone charger
- Plastic bags for soiled clothes
For Daddy:
- Snacks
- Change of clothes
- Sweater
- Pillow
- Personal toiletries
- Diversions for a long labour
- Camera and charger
- Power bank
- List of people to call after delivery
For Baby:
- Newborn discharge clothing
- Swaddle blanket
- Burp cloths
- Extra diapers
- Diaper cream
- Baby wipes
- Baby toiletries
- Mittens
- Socks
- Beanie cap
- Baby car seat
It is not compulsory to bring everything on this list but it never hurts to be prepared! Having your hospital bag packed and settled can go a long way in calming those pre-delivery jitters.
