The Ultimate Go-Bag Checklist for Labor and Birth Created by Regular Moms
- Stevie.
- Oct 29, 2024
- 4 min read
Preparing for the day you bring your baby into the world is both exciting and scary. The whirlwind of emotions can lead to packing decisions that are less than ideal. Whether you're a first-time mom or adding to your family, having the right items can make your experience much smoother. Each labor and birth experience is different. Women who experience spontaneous labor, induction, or scheduled c-section, all need different items. Also, depending how long your hospital stay is postpartum will require specific items. Thanks to The Motherhood, these are the top items that regular moms agree are bound to serve you well!
1. Documents
Provincial health care card, identification (driver's license), documentation pertaining to medication needs you have, envelope from your midwife or OB (not all midwives and OBs provide this envelope before hand. Check with your pregnancy support provider).
2. Comfortable Clothing
Giant underwear for postpartum! Regardless if you have a C-section or vaginal birth, you want loose fitting underwear to wear home. No thongs! You will be sporting a sexy pad on your journey home.
Robe. A comfortable robe is great to have for when you are walking around the unit or if you are sharing a room with someone. I loved my robe postpartum because it provided easy access for breastfeeding new baby.
Cozy socks with grip or slippers! Hospitals can be chilly, the flooring is cold, and after birth you might not be the most stable getting around. Cozy socks with grip made it more comfortable to cruise around.
3. Toiletries
Tooth brush and toothpaste. Some women labor in the hospital for a long time and need to stay afterwards (my first birth was 36 hours with a 3 day hospital stay afterwards... I needed that toothbrush!). Having your own toothbrush and tooth paste readily available helps you feel fresh!
Pads. The hospital most likely will have pads they can provide you. But, treat yourself and bring large overnight super absorbency pads. The hospital grade pads aren't anything to write home about.
Face wipes. Any type of face wash was something our regular moms said they loved having postpartum. My suggestion is for face wipes since you can use them while sitting in bed and are easily accessible. After both of my births, the last thing I wanted to do was walk to a sink, lean over, and wash my face. The wipes were key!
Comb. Yes for your hair but more importantly for pain management during labor! Squeeze that comb in your palm during labor! I am not educated on the science behind this - but The Motherhood has spoken, this is a must have!
4. Snacks and Drinks
Snacks. Easy to eat and energy producing snacks are essential! Trail mix, granola bars, fruit, anything that is grab and go! Some doctors will suggest not eating during labor, this is a conversation to have with your medical provider. Personally, my midwife was very encouraging about staying fuelled (I labor long!). Snacks are also helpful postpartum. Depending when you birth your child you may miss the scheduled meal from the hospital. These snacks will help you replenish those calories!
Water bottle with a straw. Hydration is critical during birth and postpartum. The straw makes your water easily accessible. You can literally turn your head while your birth support person holds your water bottle.
5. A Charger for Your Electronics
Phone charger! So essential! If you want photos or video of your birth make sure to share that with your birth support person and medical team. This is a once in a lifetime moment! You'll be swept up in the chaos and excitement of birth and may forget to remind someone to capture these moments for you. Be sure to share that with your team!

6. Support Items
Pillow. This was my must-have item for my second birth. After having to spend 3 days in the hospital postpartum after my first and using the (no offence...) uncomfortable thin pillow provided by the hospital, I was determined to not forget my cozy fluffy pillow round 2!
Music speaker. This depends on you. I needed music and many regular moms in The Motherhood shared this as a hot tip! Create a playlist before birth with songs that bring you joy, get you jacked up, and remind you of fond memories. Music is helpful in birth for many reasons: the rhythm of a song helps control breathing and movements, the music helps distract you from pain, the memories of the song can support an atmosphere of calmness. Examples of songs that are on my birth playlist called "Baby Get Down": Levitating by Dua Lipa, Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp, Glorious by Macklemore, Like A Girl by Lizzo, Hold On by Wilson Philips. If you want my complete playlist comment below and I will share.
7. Baby Items
Outfit for baby. Bring an outfit for the baby to come home in. Bring a newborn size and a 0-3 month size.
Carseat. Have the base already installed in your vehicle. Don't bring the carseat bucket up until after birth - you do not want to be lugging that thing around. Very Important: practice how to put the bucket on and off of the base before going into labor. Practice how to put the baby in and out of the car seat before going into labor! My husband and I were YouTubing how to put the baby in the carseat after we gave birth to our first. It was not a relaxing time.
Wrapping It Up
As you prepare your go-bag for labor and birth, aim for simplicity and clarity. Every mother’s journey is different, but these essential items will provide a framework that makes your experience smoother.
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