Breast pump through insurance
Most private health plans must cover a breast pump. Check which pump your plan covers and have it shipped before your due date.
Hospital Bag Checklist for Labor & Delivery
Pack by about 36 weeks. For mom: ID and insurance card, birth plan, long phone charger, lip balm, non-slip socks, nursing bra, postpartum underwear, toiletries, and a loose outfit to go home in. For the partner: clothes, pillow, snacks, and charger. For baby: an installed rear-facing car seat and a going-home outfit.
Tick the boxes as you pack. Print with Ctrl+P / ⌘P. As an Amazon Associate, BlushMom earns from qualifying purchases.
For Mom
For Your Partner
For Baby
Check Your Hospital's Rules
Some items, like plug-in diffusers or candles, aren't allowed. See what you can bring to Labor & Delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I pack my hospital bag?
Many parents pack by about 35–36 weeks so the bag is ready if labor starts early. Keep the car seat installed by then too.
What does the hospital provide?
Most hospitals provide gowns, mesh underwear, pads, ice packs, diapers, and wipes for your stay. Ask on your maternity tour what your hospital supplies.
Do I need to bring a car seat?
Yes. Hospitals generally will not let you drive your baby home without a rear-facing infant car seat. Install it before your due date.
🌸 Before Your Due Date
Getting Ready to Deliver at your birthing hospital
Things worth sorting out in your third trimester. We don't collect your details; each link goes straight to the provider.
Baby registry
Build one registry for everything, including your hospital bag items. Many registries add a welcome box or completion discount.
Hospital bag essentials
Battery LED candles, a labor gown, a clip-on fan, long phone cable. See our list of what you can bring to Labor & Delivery.
Cord blood: bank or donate
Private banking needs a kit from the bank in your hospital bag. Public donation is free but only offered at some hospitals. Decide by your third trimester.
Find a birth doula
Ask any doula you interview whether they have attended births at your hospital and how it handles doulas and visitors.
Childbirth classes
Many hospitals run their own classes; online courses work if the dates don’t fit. Aim to finish by 36 weeks.
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