A Realistic Hospital Bag Checklist for UK Parents: What to Pack for Labour

Why where you're giving birth changes what you pack

Before you start filling bags, it helps to think about where you're planning to give birth, because this genuinely changes what's worth bringing. If you're booked for a hospital birth, which is where most people in the UK give birth, you'll likely have access to a wider range of pain relief and specialist support on site, so your bag can focus on comfort and practicality rather than equipment.

If you're planning a home birth or a stay in a midwife-led unit, it's still sensible to have a bag ready. Labour doesn't always go to plan, and if you need to transfer to hospital, having your things packed already means one less thing to think about in the moment. Your midwife can talk you through what's realistic for your specific birth setting and any local guidance for the unit you've chosen.

The labour bag: what actually gets used

This is the bag you'll want within reach during labour itself, so keep it separate from anything for after the birth. The aim is comfort, practicality and things that help you feel a bit more like yourself, rather than trying to anticipate every possible scenario.

• Your maternity notes and any birth plan you've discussed with your midwife
• A few old or dark-coloured nightdresses or a big t-shirt you don't mind getting messy
• Socks and slippers, since hospital floors can be cold
• A hairband or clips if you have longer hair
• Snacks and drinks for you and whoever is supporting you
• A phone charger with a long cable, plus a portable charger if you have one

After the birth: the postnatal bag

This bag can wait in the car or by the door, since you won't need it until after your baby arrives. It's worth packing for a longer stay than you expect, even if you hope to go home quickly, because plans sometimes change and it's easier to have too much than too little.

Think comfort over anything else here. Loose, easy clothing that works if you're feeding your baby, and enough of the practical basics that you're not relying on someone bringing things in later. If you're unsure what your specific hospital or unit provides, such as maternity pads or nappies, it's worth checking with them directly or asking your midwife at an antenatal appointment.

• Maternity pads, several packs rather than one
• Comfortable, loose clothing for the days after birth
• A dressing gown for moving around the ward
• Nipple cream and nursing bras if you're planning to breastfeed, or bottles and formula if that's your plan
• Going-home outfit for you, ideally something loose

What partners and birth supporters often forget

Support people sometimes focus entirely on the birthing person's bag and forget their own needs, then end up uncomfortable or hungry during a long labour. Labour can take hours, sometimes longer, so it's worth packing as though you're settling in for a while.

A change of clothes, snacks that don't need heating, a phone charger and something to pass the time during quieter moments, like a book or downloaded shows, are all genuinely useful. Cash for parking or vending machines is a small thing that's easy to forget until you need it.

For your baby: keeping it simple

Babies don't need much in those first hours, and it's easy to overpack this part. A few sleepsuits in different sizes, since newborns vary, along with vests, a hat, and a going-home outfit cover most of it. Muslin cloths are useful for all sorts of small clean-ups.

If you're bringing your own car seat, it's worth having it fitted and ready in the car before you go into labour, since you'll need one to bring your baby home whichever way you travel.

Practical tips for packing without the stress

Aim to have your bags ready from around 36 weeks, though there's no single right time, and your midwife can advise based on your own pregnancy. Keep the labour bag and postnatal bag separate so you're not rummaging through baby clothes while you're focused on labour itself.

If any of this raises questions specific to your pregnancy, such as what your local unit provides or whether a home birth is realistic for your circumstances, your midwife, GP or maternity triage team is the right place to ask, since they know your individual situation. For more general reading on preparing for labour and life with a new baby, you can browse further guides on the Bump Circle journal at /blog.