Hospital Bag Checklist for Melbourne Mums-to-Be

Written by - Pei Aui, Melbourne Newborn, Maternity, Family and Couples Photographer.

Getting ready for your first baby can feel exciting, but also slightly overwhelming. There are so many lists telling you what you need to bring to hospital that it can be hard to know what is actually useful. If you're a Melbourne mum-to-be preparing for your first baby, here's a simple hospital bag checklist to help you get organised without packing your entire house. This list is written based on my experience in a private hospital for a 5 days stay in Melbourne.

Always check your hospital's own list first, as what they provide can vary.

When should you pack your hospital bag?

Around 32 to 36 weeks is a good time to start getting your hospital bag ready.

You don't need everything packed perfectly. Just make sure the essentials are easy to grab when you need them.

Hospital bag checklist for mum

The essentials

• Comfortable pyjamas or nightwear
• Loose clothes for going home
• Nursing bras
• Nipple cream
• Comfortable underwear
• Maternity pads (Very very important)
• Slippers or easy-to-wear shoes
• Toiletries
• Hair ties
• Phone and long charging cable
• Water bottle
• Snacks

A loose outfit is usually much more comfortable for going home than trying to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes.

If you're having your baby during a Melbourne winter, bring a warm cardigan or jumper. For summer babies, lightweight layers are useful.

For labour

You may also want:

• Lip balm
• Headphones + a playlist
• Massage oil
• TENS machine, if you're using one
• Anything that helps you feel comfortable and relaxed

You probably won't use everything, so keep this part simple. Conserve your energy and rest whenever you can.

Hospital bag checklist for baby

Newborns don't actually need that much during their hospital stay.

Pack:

• 4 to 6 bodysuits or onesies
• 2 to 3 muslin wraps (Most hospitals provide one, which we ended up using throughout our 5 days stay)
• A few pairs of socks
• A beanie if needed
• Newborn nappies, if your hospital asks you to provide them
• One outfit for going home

It's also worth packing one outfit in a slightly larger size. Babies don't always arrive in the size you imagined!

What should your partner pack?

Your partner may need (assuming he is staying throughout the whole 5 days with you):

• Comfortable clothes
• Pyjamas
• Toiletries
• Phone charger + Tablet
• Snacks
• Water bottle
• Any regular medication

If they're staying overnight, check whether your hospital provides bedding.

A few things that are easy to forget

Long phone charger: Hospital power points aren't always conveniently located.

Laundry bag: Great for keeping dirty clothes separate.

Snacks: Particularly useful if you're hungry between meals.

Extra tote bag: Somehow, you always seem to leave hospital with more things than you arrived with.

What you probably don't need

It's very easy to overpack for your first baby.

You probably don't need:

• Lots of newborn outfits
• Breast pumps (Hospitals provide hospital grade ones if needed)
• Your entire skincare collection
• Huge quantities of nappies
• Every baby product you've bought
• Milk Powder (Check if your hospital provides them)

Keep it practical. You can always send your partner home for something if you realise you've forgotten it.

Don't forget the car seat

Have your baby's car seat or capsule installed before your due date. Most advice to have this done by 35th week.

The last thing you want to be doing after giving birth is trying to figure out how the straps work in the hospital car park.

And then you'll be bringing your baby home

One of the strangest parts of preparing a hospital bag is packing for a little person you've never met.

You fold their tiny clothes, pack their nappies and install their car seat, all while wondering what life will actually be like once they're here.

Then suddenly, you're carrying your baby through your front door.

Those first few weeks can feel like a blur, which is one reason many Melbourne families choose to document this stage with newborn photography.

Thinking about maternity or newborn photography?

If you're expecting your first baby, you don't need to have your newborn photos planned right now. But if you'd like to remember those tiny details and those first days at home, a newborn session can be a lovely way to document this chapter.

I'm a Melbourne newborn, maternity, family and couples photographer, and my newborn sessions take place in your own home. There's no need to travel to a studio with a brand-new baby. You can feed, change and cuddle your baby as needed while I capture the little moments naturally. And if you're still waiting for your little one to arrive, a maternity session can be a beautiful way to remember this chapter before everything changes.

For now, pack the bag, install the car seat and enjoy these last few weeks.

Your baby will be here before you know it. :)