What is a hospital bag? See the essential checklist for expectant mothers before delivery.

When preparing to give birth, there are many things to get ready, and to ensure you can handle various situations with ease during your hospital stay, an “emergency bag” is indispensable. But what essential items should it contain? When is the best time to pack your emergency bag? This time, 10Life has prepared a detailed emergency bag checklist for all expectant mothers, so that whether you are admitted to a public hospital or a private hospital, everyone’s needs can be properly taken care of.

The “maternity hospital bag” is an essential carry-on bag for pregnant women when they are admitted to hospital for childbirth. It is packed with all sorts of items needed by both mother and baby during their stay, much like an expectant mother’s “all-purpose bag”. To make items easier to find, it is usually recommended to divide the “maternity hospital bag” into an “admission bag” and a “discharge bag”. The admission bag mainly contains items that will be needed after delivery, such as maternity pads and nursing bras; the discharge bag should contain the baby’s clothes and a change of clothes for the mother to wear home after discharge.

In addition to preparing a hospital bag, expectant mothers should also pay extra attention on the way to the hospital and prepare some emergency items in advance. It is advisable for mothers to bring a vomit bag in case they feel unwell in the car. At the same time, bring a mattress or a towel in case your waters break suddenly during the journey, to avoid soaking the seat or your clothes. 

Private hospitals generally offer more spacious accommodation, often with a safe and ample storage space. If you want easy access, you may bring a small suitcase. In addition, private hospitals tend to provide a fairly comprehensive range of items, including basic personal hygiene products and postnatal essentials for mothers, so you do not need to bring too much. However, as the items and quantities provided may vary from hospital to hospital, it is advisable to check with the hospital before admission so you can prepare accordingly.

By contrast, public hospitals have limited space, with only enough room beside the bed for a baby cot and a chair, and storage is also rather tight. Government hospitals also have specific requirements regarding the size of bags brought in, which should be roughly equivalent to cabin baggage. In addition, public hospitals do not provide safes, so expectant mothers should avoid bringing valuables where possible. As public hospitals provide fewer items, the hospital bag will need to include more everyday essentials. Furthermore, public hospitals usually do not allow patients to use the hospital’s power supply to charge devices, so it is advisable for expectant mothers to bring sufficient power banks in case they are needed.

Hospital Bag Checklist — Important Documents

Whether you are admitted to a public hospital or a private hospital, you will need to provide identity documents and an admission letter at check-in to complete the admission procedures. To avoid rushing around on admission day, it is advisable to prepare all necessary supporting documents in advance. In addition, expectant mothers may need to buy some everyday items during their hospital stay, so it is advisable to bring bank cards, cash and an Octopus card just in case. If you have purchased maternity insurance, please remember to bring the relevant documents.

• Identity card
• Antenatal check-up report
• Bank cards, cash and Octopus card
• Insurance claim form (if any)

Hospital Bag Checklist: Public Hospital Edition

As mentioned above, ward space in public hospitals is limited, so expectant mothers should keep the number of items to a minimum. Moreover, during the hospital stay, the hospital will provide patient pyjamas in a specific colour to help identify the progress of labour, so expectant mothers do not need to bring their own pyjamas. At the same time, public hospitals will provide hats, tops, blankets and swaddles for newborn babies, so these do not need to be brought either. You can prepare your hospital bag according to the following checklist:

Hospital Bag Checklist — Leisure Items

•  Electronic devices
• Headphones
• Mobile phone charger and charging cable
• Power bank

Hospital Bag Checklist — Postnatal Hygiene Items

• Waterproof mattress protector
• Maternity sanitary pads
• Disposable maternity mesh underwear
• Wet toilet tissue for women
• Peri bottle
• Nursing bra
• Breast pads for pregnant women
• Postnatal inflatable cushion for confinement period

Hospital Bag Checklist — Personal Hygiene Items

• Skincare and cleansing products
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and rinse cup 
• Towel
• Comb
• Shower slippers

Hospital Bag Checklist — Others

• Insulated cup
• Eye mask and earplugs
• Slippers
• Dining utensils
• Padlock
• Toilet paper
• Hairband
• Socks

Hospital Bag Checklist: Private Hospital Edition

As private hospitals usually provide the essentials needed for labour and delivery, such as personal hygiene products and postnatal care items, expectant mothers can prepare their hospital bags more easily. However, the types and quantities of items provided may differ from hospital to hospital. It is recommended to check with the hospital in advance for a detailed list of items, and to confirm which items need to be brought by yourself and which are already provided by the hospital. This way, you can avoid bringing unnecessary items while ensuring that you have everything you need during your stay.

Hospital Bag Checklist — Leisure Items

• Electronic devices
• Headphones
• Mobile phone charger, charging cable and plug

Hospital Bag Checklist — Postnatal Hygiene Items

• Thin maternity sanitary pads (small quantity)
• Disposable maternity mesh underwear (small quantity)
• Wet toilet tissue for women
• Nursing bra
• Postnatal inflatable cushion for confinement period
• Breast pads for pregnant women

Hospital Bag Checklist — Personal Hygiene Items

• Skincare and cleansing products
• Comb

Hospital Bag Checklist — Others

• Insulated cup
• Comfortable clothing
• Eye mask and earplugs
• Slippers
• Hairband
• Snacks

Hospital Bag Checklist — Discharge Bag

When preparing your hospital bag, in addition to the essentials for admission, you should also prepare a discharge bag in advance. The discharge bag does not need to be brought on admission day; it can be brought by family members or friends, making discharge day much easier. Below is the checklist for the discharge bag:

Clothes for Mum on Discharge

• Clothes, trousers and coat
• Shoes
• Socks

Clothes and Items for Baby on Discharge

• Baby kimono top
• Hat
• Swaddle blanket
• Baby socks
• Child car seat

“Go-bag” is an essential item for expectant mothers to prepare for hospital admission and labour. It is advisable to prepare it a month in advance to avoid last-minute panic and the resulting rush and confusion. Once everything has been packed, ask a family member to help check it. When all is ready, you can head into the delivery room with peace of mind to welcome your baby.

Many expectant parents hope to make the most thorough preparations before their baby is born, from choosing baby essentials to arranging for childbirth. Beyond material arrangements, planning insurance for the baby in advance is equally important. There are many whole-life critical illness insurance plans in the market that allow applications from the 22nd week of pregnancy onwards, meaning the baby can be protected from birth, including coverage for some congenital conditions as well as conditions that parents are often concerned about, such as ADHD, Tourette syndrome and autism. Different insurance products cover different illnesses and offer different policy terms. If expectant parents would like to learn more, they may refer to 10Life’s article on bb critical illness insurance, or enquire with 10Life’s professional insurance advisers.

Further reading:
[Caesarean birth] A clear guide to public and private hospital delivery charges and procedures 
[Postpartum depression] Is there an incubation period? Understanding the causes, symptoms and treatment of postpartum depression 
[Travelling while pregnant] Planning a babymoon? Check out these travel tips and important considerations 

Last updated: 27 September 2024

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.