Hospital bag checklist

Packing your hospital bag is one of those jobs that feels much calmer once it's done. Aim to have it ready by around 36 weeks, just in case baby decides to arrive a little early. Lots of people find it easiest to pack three smaller bags, one for labour, one for after the birth, and one for baby, so your birth partner can find things quickly without unpacking everything.

Keep your maternity notes (your green notes or app/online record) somewhere you'll grab them on the way out, along with your phone, charger and any regular medicines. If you're planning a home birth, your midwife will talk you through what to have ready at home instead, but it's still worth packing a bag in case you need to transfer in.

Think about comfort and dignity. Loose, dark, breathable clothes are kind to your body afterwards, and an old or dark nightie is handy for labour itself. Lip balm, a hair tie, a fan or water spray, and your own pillow from home can make a clinical room feel a lot more like yours.

A quick note on what to watch for once baby is here: in the first days, midwives will check baby for jaundice (a yellow tinge). On brown and Black skin this can be much harder to spot in the skin itself, so the clearest places to look are the whites of the eyes, the gums and inside the lips, and the palms and soles, press gently and look for a yellow tone. Pack a muslin and you can check baby in good natural daylight near a window. Always tell your midwife if you have any concern, however small.

This is a placeholder checklist for the Bump Circle team and will be reviewed by our midwife, Dumebi, before launch.