What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for C-section

If you’re anything like me, you leave packing to the last minute. You could be catching a flight in 4 hours’ time, and your suitcase is still lying empty on the bed. But if you’re expecting a baby, not having a hospital bag checklist ready and leaving your hospital bag unpacked can be the biggest mistake of all!

Figuring out what to pack in a hospital bag—especially when it’s for a tiny human who has yet to enter the world—can feel like trying to mind-read. Sure, there are the basic things you need to pack, like a change of clothes, toiletries, nappies, and so on.

But what about the things that you don’t know about? We’ve taken the guessing out of this mind-boggling task and compiled answers fed back by Mums about what hospital bag essentials they packed for a c-section birth. In this blog, we're highlighting the essential items to pack in your hospital bag for a c-section birth. Keep reading!

When to pack hospital bag?

Packing your hospital bag might not be the most thrilling task, but it's one of the most crucial steps in preparing for your baby's arrival. Whether you're planning a vaginal birth or a scheduled C-section, having your bag ready in advance ensures you're prepared for any surprises.

Healthcare professionals generally advise having your hospital bag packed by 36 weeks of your pregnancy. This recommendation accounts for the possibility of early labour and provides peace of mind as your due date approaches.

If you're expecting multiples or have a high-risk pregnancy, consider packing even earlier, around 32 to 34 weeks. This earlier preparation accommodates the increased likelihood of preterm labour in such cases.

Tips for Staying Organised

• Create a Checklist: List all the essentials you'll need for yourself, your baby, and your partner. This helps ensure nothing important is forgotten.

• Separate Bags: Consider packing separate bags for labour, postpartum recovery, and a dedicated baby bag. Labour rooms can be compact, so having only the essentials during labour can make the experience more comfortable. 

• Keep It Accessible: Place your packed bag in an easily accessible location, such as near your front door or in your car, especially as you approach your due date.

• Include Important Documents: Ensure your bag contains your birth plan, hospital notes, and any necessary identification or insurance information.

What to pack in a hospital bag for you?

Birth Plan and Any Notes for the Hospital Staff

Even if you’re having a planned C-section, it’s still a good idea to include your birth plan in your hospital bag. This can outline preferences like skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, or who you'd like to be present during the birth. Including any relevant medical notes or pregnancy history can also help hospital staff provide care that aligns with your wishes, especially if there are any unexpected changes on the day.

Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is key to your recovery. It’s common for your midwife or doctor to ask you not to eat or drink anything for a few hours before surgery. So you can definitely make up for it afterwards! Bring a sippy cup or sports-top water bottle for ease.

Snacks for Labour (and After!)

Packing a few of your favourite snacks in your hospital bag can be a game-changer. While you may not be allowed to eat right before your C-section, you’ll likely be hungry not long after, especially if you’ve fasted for several hours before surgery. Easy-to-digest, nourishing snacks will help refuel your body and give you the energy you need to recover and care for your baby.

Think simple, comforting options: oat bars, dried fruit, crackers, rice cakes, or even jelly sweets. High-fibre snacks like prunes or apricots can also help get things moving again—something many mums appreciate after surgery.

One of our wonderful health experts, Aura, shared this helpful tip: “Interestingly, chewing gum in the first 24 hours post-op has been shown to speed up bowel recovery and improve comfort.” So yes, even gum earns a place in your hospital bag!

Wondering what to eat after a C-section? We’ve got you covered

C-section pants (or comfortable underwear)

Investing in C-section pants can be a lifesaver and less washing too! In the beginning, you’ll need to wear comfortable underwear that is not going to irritate your incision. You can either use disposables (the bigger the better, so I’m told) or over-the-waist cotton underwear. Avoid wearing mesh underwear as it won’t be as comfortable as you think!

Comfy Slip-On Shoes

There’s a reason why nurses walk around in comfy croc-like shoes all day. They’re comfortable! Easy to slip on and off. You won’t be able to bend down to tie laces or pull the shoe over your heel post-op.

Nursing Pillow

Using a nursing pillow whilst you feed your baby will reduce the weight sitting against your body as you hold them. It can also help with your posture and assist you with different breastfeeding positions to help you get comfortable. Nursing pillows are equally great for mums who decide to bottle feed.

Learn more: Managing Back Pain after a C-Section: Tips and Relief

Loose & Comfortable Clothing

If you envisioned yourself strolling out of the hospital in a cute dress and heels, I’m about to pop that rosy-eyed bubble! After your operation, you’ll be more comfortable wearing loose t-shirts, leggings, joggers, and basically anything that comes under PJs and loungewear. Honestly, you might even end up staying in your labour nightie for a few days—and that’s totally OK.

Eye Mask & Earplugs

Hospitals can be noisy places. Especially as you reach the postnatal wards, you’ll have nurses doing check-ups, visitors coming and going, newborn babies making themselves heard, and the rest! You need to rest as much as you can to help you recover from the operation, so investing in an eye mask and earplugs can help you shut the world out for a little while.

Arnica Cream

Arnica is a handy little product for healing bruises. You can buy this over the counter in your local pharmacy. You cannot apply this cream to broken or irritated skin, but it is one of the postpartum essentials I swear by, since it's great for healing the skin around your incision. As well as a cream, you can also get it in tablet form.

Learn more: Understanding C-Section Overhang

Belly Band for C-section

Like Lola&Lykke’s Core Restore Postpartum Support Band, belly bands are extremely useful to help mums recover after having a c-section. Belly wrapping can support your movements, relieve back pain and stabilise your wound as you start to return to daily activities and exercise.

Comfortable Pillow

Hospital bedding is OK, but it’s not your own. Sometimes it’s nice to have a pillow that’s yours, and having an extra one can help you get comfortable, too. One Mum said that having a pillow to cuddle as you go for your first post-op poo was comforting when you’re using muscles you don’t feel like using. Tip: make sure you’ve got a coloured or patterned pillowcase so it doesn’t get mistaken for hospital bedding!

Phone Charger

It’s hard to know what the setup will be in your room or on the ward, so it’s practical to bring a power bank and a phone charger. If you can, invest in some extra-long cables just in case the plug point is further from your bed.

Breast Pump

If you plan to pump early on, having a breast pump in your hospital bag can be a lifesaver. The Lola&Lykke Smart Electric Breast Pump is an ideal choice to include in the hospital bag. Its hospital-grade suction provides ultimate pumping performance, allowing you to pump quietly in peace with comfort.

Lip Balm

During labour, your body can get dehydrated quickly, and therefore your lips will feel dry or chapped. Pack a lip balm in your hospital bag so you can apply it often to prevent this.

Contacts/Glasses

It’s likely that your midwife will ask you to remove your contact lenses in preparation for your C-section. Remember to bring your glasses as well as spare contact lenses so that you’re not walking around blindly through the hospital! And also so you can capture that special moment when your eyes first lay upon your newborn baby.

Maternity Pads

Some Mums said, “Get the biggest maternity pads you can buy!” while other mums felt that they weren’t a big necessity. As mentioned further up the list, you can get disposable underwear, which may be more comfortable to use initially while your incision is new.

What to pack in baby's hospital bag?

Baby Clothes in A Variety of Sizes

Unless you’ve been having lots of growth scans and monitoring of your baby throughout your pregnancy, it can be tricky to know what size baby clothes will fit them best, especially if your C-section is unplanned and your baby is born prematurely.

When packing your baby's hospital bag, include a few vests and sleepsuits in preemie, newborn, and 0–3m sizes so you don’t get caught short!

Going-Home Outfit

Pick a soft, comfy, and weather-appropriate outfit for the trip home. Think layers for colder months and breathable fabrics for warmer days.

Newborn Hat and Scratch Mittens

A hat helps your baby maintain body heat after birth, and mittens prevent them from scratching their tiny face with those surprisingly sharp little nails.

Nappies and Wipes

Although many hospitals provide these, it’s good to have a small stash of newborn-size nappies and gentle, fragrance-free wipes or cotton wool on hand.

Blanket or Swaddle

Hospitals can be chilly. Bring a soft baby blanket or swaddle to keep your little one cosy and secure.

Hospital Bag Checklist: 

For our visual mamas out there, we created an easy-to-glance checklist that you can print out and use as a checklist before your big day!

Learn more: Check out the hospital bag checklist UK mums swear by, including the C-section essentials recommended by NHS

So, there you have it. The ultimate list of essentials that Mums shared from packing their own hospital bags in readiness for a c-section. If you think we’ve missed something that could be added, share it with us on socials.

Learn more: Everything You Want (And Didn’t Know You Need) to Know About C-Section Recovery