What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag: The Complete Checklist

There comes a point—around the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy—when packing your hospital bag becomes a sweet obsession.

You make lists on your phone. You watch videos. You ask your friends what they regretted forgetting. You can’t decide between the hospital nightgown and your own. You wonder if three pairs of pajamas is really too many—or not enough.

That's normal. It's even healthy. Packing this bag is one of the first practical steps you take to welcome your baby and to take care of yourself during this extraordinary time.

At 23 Mai Paris, we’ve put together the most comprehensive and honest checklist possible. Not some idealized list straight out of a magazine. A real-life list, designed for real moms in real maternity wards.

The short answer: sooner than you think.

The honest answer: starting in the 32nd week of pregnancy. Some premature births happen without warning, and nothing is more stressful than having to throw together a hospital bag in a hurry between contractions.

Pack gradually, without putting pressure on yourself. Start with administrative documents and baby clothes—the least urgent items—and save your personal belongings for last. And keep a list of last-minute items (phone, charger, power adapter) that you’ll place on top of the closed suitcase.

This is often the most overlooked part. We focus on the baby and forget about Mom. And yet, since you’ll be staying in the maternity ward for an average of two to five days, you might as well be well-prepared.

Required documents

First and foremost, the paperwork. Wasting time looking for it on the big day is stress you really don't need.

Your health insurance card and proof of private health insurance, your completed maternity record, a form of ID, your blood type card, current prescriptions, and—if you’ve written a birth plan—a copy to give to the midwife. Put everything in a clear folder and place it at the top of your suitcase.

Maternity clothes

This is where your choice of clothing really matters for your comfort while working, right after giving birth, and during those first few days with your baby.

For childbirth: A loose-fitting shirt or outfit that allows you to move, squat, and bend comfortably. Some maternity wards provide a gown—check in advance. If you’re planning a water birth, a swimsuit top or a lightweight T-shirt may come in handy.

For the days ahead: This is when your Breastfeeding t-shirts come into play. Bring two or three—milk leaks start as soon as your milk comes in, often on the third day—and you’ll be glad to have a change of clothes. Our T-shirts with side zippers are especially handy in the maternity ward: discreet when the midwife enters your room, and easy to open in seconds for those first feedings.

One or two nursing tank tops as a base layer, ideal for skin-to-skin contact in the first few hours. A Breastfeeding dress or a flowy top for days when you have visitors and want to feel a little more put-together. A nursing pajama set for comfortable nights—affordable and pretty enough that you don’t feel like you’re wearing a hospital gown.

After a C-section: avoid anything that’s tight or rubs against your waist. Opt for loose-fitting styles and very soft elastic, and go up a size if necessary. The scar is sensitive—every detail matters.

Comfort accessories

A pair of non-slip slippers—maternity ward floors can be cold and slippery, especially at night when you get up to breastfeed. Plus, some warm socks. A light robe if you’re walking around the hallways. A travel pillow or an inflatable nursing pillow for feedings—some maternity wards don’t provide them.

The toiletries bag

Your usual skincare routine, but keep in mind the specific needs of this time. A moisturizer for your belly and breasts. A cream or lanolin for your nipples—cracks can appear very quickly starting with the first feedings. Disposable nursing pads for the first leaks. Disposable or large, comfortable underwear—postpartum discharge lasts several days. Overnight pads or special postpartum pads. Your makeup remover, your skincare products, and a small makeup bag if you like to look your best for the newborn photos.

Wellness Essentials

A phone charger—or two, if there are two of you in the room. Headphones or earbuds for listening to music while you work. A playlist prepared in advance. A notebook and pen if you like to jot down your feelings. Snacks for you and your partner—the maternity ward cafeteria won’t always be open at 3 a.m. Cereal bars, dried fruit, cookies, chocolate.

What You Really Need to Pack in a Hospital Bag

Babies don't need much at the hospital. But what they do need should be chosen carefully.

Baby clothes

Three to four long-sleeved onesies in newborn and 1-month sizes; babies grow quickly, and some are already too big for newborn sizes at birth. Soft cotton pajamas or onesies—be sure to pack different sizes so you’re not caught off guard. Socks and scratch-proof mittens. A hat for the first few hours, when the baby’s temperature regulation isn’t yet stable. A season-appropriate sleep sack for the trip home.

Baby Care

The maternity ward usually provides basic care supplies: diapers, cotton pads, and toiletries. Check with your maternity ward so you don’t pack your suitcase unnecessarily. Things you can bring: diaper rash cream if you have a preference, your own micellar water if you’d like to use it, and a small, soft cloth for the face.

Baby's comfort

A comfort blanket or object, if you’ve already chosen one—its scent is familiar to your baby and can help soothe them. A pacifier, if you plan to use one, even if you’re breastfeeding—you can adjust your decision based on how things go in the first few days. A soft baby blanket, in addition to the one provided by the hospital.

The hospital bag and your companion

It’s often overlooked on checklists, yet it will be by your side for several hours—or even several days.

A change of clothes for at least two days. A complete toiletries kit. Snacks—visitors often eat at the same odd hours as the moms. A pillow or blanket if the room has a sofa bed. A book or tablet for downtime. And most importantly: a charger, because taking birth photos drains the battery.

A few common oversights that moms often mention in hindsight.

Snacks. Giving birth works up an appetite. So do those long nights of breastfeeding. Pack more than you think you’ll need.

An outfit for newborn photos. That first photo with your baby is one you’ll look at for years to come. Having a T-shirt or a Breastfeeding dress you feel beautiful—or even just put-together—really makes a difference.

Lanolin for the nipples. Cracks can appear as early as the first few feedings. Having lanolin on hand right from the maternity ward really makes a difference in those first few days.

The long phone charger. Because outlets in maternity wards are rarely right next to the bed.

Extra clothes for baby. Spit-ups and diaper leaks don’t wait.

Packing this bag is an act of love. For the baby you’re expecting. And for you, the woman who is about to go through one of the most intense experiences of your life.

You don't need to have everything perfect. You don't need everything to be Instagram-worthy. You need to be comfortable, to have the essentials you wouldn't want to be without, and to know that the rest can be improvised or brought along.

At 23 Mai Paris, our nursing wear is designed to support you during this special time—the first few hours, the first few days, and the first few feedings. Soft fabrics, discreet openings, and styles that embrace your body as it is now, not as it was before.

A safe delivery. And welcome to this new world that is just beginning.

Check out our new collection and our affordable basics to complete your maternity wardrobe.