What to take with you to the maternity hospital? A complete checklist for mom and baby!

Anticipation is growing, your belly is big, and birth is approaching – now is the right time to pack your hospital bag! We recommend packing your bag already by 36-37 weeks of pregnancy, so that everything is ready when the moment arrives

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For Mom

Documents and Papers

• ID card
• Maternity record (paper or digital form)
• Health insurance card (EHIC)
• Birth plan (if you have one)

Clothes and Comfort

• It's definitely worth bringing your own nursing nightgown — it makes feeding the baby at night much more comfortable
• Comfortable bra (nursing bra)
• High-waisted underwear – these will be the most comfortable after birth
• Warm socks – maternity wards can be chilly
• Definitely bring slippers or flip-flops!
  
• Going-home outfit – something comfortable and loose to wear home

Hygiene and Care

• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel
  
• Hair ties and clips
• Makeup (optional, but many mothers want to look good in the first photos)
  
• Deodorant

Postpartum Hygiene

• Postpartum sanitary pads (thick and long – regular ones won't do)
• Disposable underwear
• Nipple cream (e.g., Lansinoh), the first few nights nipples can be very sore after feeding, so a good cream is a true lifesaver! 
• Nursing pads
• Nipple shields (silicone) – help if nipples are tender or the baby doesn't latch well. Very useful to bring!

Nutrition and Energy

• Easy-to-eat snacks – nuts, dried fruit, chocolate
• Isotonic drink or electrolytes for during labor
• Favorite drink and tea in a thermos
• Lunch for your birth partner 

Entertainment and Comfort

• Phone + charger (with a long cable!)
• Headphones
• Book or tablet
• Massage ball or roller for labor pain
• Nail file (a small detail, but useful!)

For Baby

Clothes

• 2–3 bodysuits (size 50–56, open at the neck), the hospital provides baby clothes, but if there are many expectant mothers in the maternity ward at once, clothes might be scarce — so it's wiser to definitely bring your own baby clothes!
• 2–3 jumpsuits or pajamas
• Socks and hat (even in summer!)
• Going-home outfit – something cute and comfortable for their first venture into the world

Hygiene

• Diapers (newborn size, approx. 20–30 pcs)
• Wet wipes (fragrance-free and alcohol-free)
• Diaper cream

Other

• Baby blanket or sleeping bag
• Breast pump – the hospital has a manual pump, but for convenience, you can bring your own electric breast pump.

Don't forget!

Before leaving the hospital, make sure the car seat is correctly installed in the car – without it, the baby will not be allowed home.

Final Tip

Pack your bag in two parts: one smaller bag for the delivery room (documents, snacks, charger, hygiene) and a larger bag for the ward (clothes, baby items). This way, everything is easy to find even when your mind is elsewhere. 💛

Baby Cuddles wishes you a calm and beautiful birth!