Hospital Bag Packing List for Labour (Singapore)

(Updated Jan 2020)

The day is near. It’s time to pack your hospital bag to prevent last minute frenzy. I would recommend packing one to two months ahead. I have heard of quite a few cases where baby popped out one month before EDD. So be prepared early and put your mind at ease!

Here are a few things you can pack into your hospital bag:

• Administrative Documents
• Things for Mummy
• Things for Baby
• Things for Daddy
• General: Good to Have
• What NOT to Bring

Pack your bag by week 36. And on your hospital bag, place a post-it note with a list of last minute essentials such as phone and charger.

Admin

• Identification Card (IC) or a picture ID such as driver’s license for both daddy and mummy. Both ICs will be needed if you want to register your baby’s name at the hospital.
• Doctor’s Hospital Administration Document (if you have one)
• Cord Blood Donation Consent (if you have one)
• Birth Plan
• Original Marriage certificate to register your baby’s name.
  • You can register at the hospital or at Immigration and Custom Authority (ICA). (The queue at NUH was so long, we could only register at ICA after discharge.)
  • Birth should be registered within 14 days from the date of birth, including Sundays and public holidays.
  • If registration is done after 42 days, a letter of explanation stating the reason for late registration must be submitted for the Registrar/Registrar General’s approval.
• Receipts for pre-delivery medical expenses such as consultations and tests. You have to submit these receipts during registration to claim from Medisave Maternity Package.
• Insurance card or any hospital paperwork, letters or test results.
• List of contact information to inform your
  • Confinement lady,
  • Confinement meal provider (TMC Activation),
  • Pre-packed herbal set delivery, and
  • Post-natal massage lady.

For Mummy

Items for Natural Labour

• Loose clothing for labour. Hospitals provide gowns during labour and afterward, but most allow you to wear your own clothes. Prepare something comfortable and one that you don’t mind getting it dirty. Get one with open bottom and easy to open top for breastfeeding. (I wore the hospital gown.)
• Birth ball and pump (if necessary)
• Items to relax, such as music, essential oils, diffuser, etc. Remember to bring along any charger, earphones, or speakers.
• Things to pass time, such as bible, books, magazines, tablet, etc.
• Rice in football socks. Can microwave to heat it up. Used for labour heat relief.
• ‘Contractions’ phone app to help you identify true or false labour.

Innerwear

• Nursing Bras. During the first few days after delivery, your breasts are likely to be tender and swollen when your milk comes in. (I didn’t wear this and went bra-less.)
• Breast Pads. This can help absorb leaks. (My milk didn’t come in until I was discharged from the hospital, National University Hospital “NUH”.)
• Disposable Underwear. (I wore the ones NUH provided.)
• Maternity Pads. (I wore the maternity pad loops NUH provided, Intimate brand. I quite like it!)

Outerwear

• Pyjamas/Nightdresses. That is if you prefer your own, bring those with front openings if breastfeeding. (I wore the ones NUH provided.)
• Eye mask if you have trouble sleeping with lights on. (Good to have but not necessary)
• Flip Flop/Slippers. This is to wear into the bathroom and for shower. (This proves to be useful!)
• Sweater/Cardigan. (It wasn’t cold for me, so I didn’t wear.)
• Warm Socks. (It wasn’t cold for me, so I didn’t wear.)
• Going home outfit and a pair of flat, comfortable shoes upon discharge. Bring something roomy and easy to get into. Something you can fit into at about 5 or 6 months pregnant (you will have post-pregnancy bulge). (I wore back the roomy dress I wore to hospital.)
• Eyeglasses and if you want, your contact lenses, along with storage case and solution. The glasses might fog up during labour.

Toiletries

• Nipple Cream. (I used Lanolin and love it!)
• Toothbrush, and toothpaste.
• Hairbrush, and hair tie.
• Facial wash.
• Plastic bags to contain the dirty clothes.
• Soap, shampoo, towels, and lotion. Hospitals usually provide them but you might prefer your own.
• Others: Eye drops, lip balm

Good to Have

Pre-Partum

• Drinks, such as isotonic drinks, coconut water, energy drinks, etc
• Snacks, such as biscuits, fruits, nuts, granola bars, protein bars, etc.
• Mobile phone and charger.
• Disposable Liner for you to sit on in case your water bag breaks on the way to hospital.

Post-Partum

• Peri/Squirt bottle for post-partum wash of your perineal area. Use alongside the cold packs for maximum postpartum relief.
• Cool gel packs for perineum healing. For e.g. Epi-kool, Belvea, or any other reusable gel packs in market.
• Notebook & pen, or Mobile App that help track your baby’s feeding sessions. Also good to note down what the paediatrician tells you or journal memories (I used Google Notes and Glow Baby app.).
• Breast pump. The nurses will teach you how to use it. Or your hospital can provide one if you need. (On hindsight, I’ll pack light and omit this. Simply latch during the first few days.)
• Milk storage bags / containers. (I’ll omit this too. My milk didn’t come in so soon for these.)

For Baby

Clothes

• Receiving blanket/towel/baby blanket to keep your baby warm on the way home. The hospital will provide blankets to swaddle your baby during your stay.
• Going home outfit.
• Cap, Mittens, and Booties.

Others

• Burp Cloth.
• Car seat. Install the seat ahead of time and know how to buckle your infant.

For Daddy

• Camera or/and Video Camera with batteries, charger, and memory card. Make sure your camera is fully charged. (Note: Not all hospitals allow videotaping of the birth itself.)
• Mobile phone and charger.
• If staying overnight, clothes, slippers/comfortable shoes and toiletries.
• Snacks and something to read.

General: Good to Have

• Box of chocolates or yummy treats for the nurses.
• Fun idea: Pick up a newspaper on the day of your baby’s birth for souvenir headlines and articles.
• Photos of your other children so that they know you haven’t forgotten them.
• Gifts for older siblings, for the new baby to “give” to them.

What Not to Bring

• Jewellry.
• Lots of cash or other valuables.
• Medications, including vitamins. Let your doctor know if you are on medications and the hospital will provide according to the doctor’s instructions.
• Diapers. The hospital will provide diapers for your baby while you’re there.

Is this list useful? Let me know if I should add any more item in. Feel free to leave your comment below.