Most hospital bag lists online are written for a different country. They assume a hospital that supplies nothing, a stay of two days, and no family member sleeping on the floor beside you. Here is a version written for how deliveries actually work here.
When should I pack my hospital bag?
Pack it by 36 weeks. Around 1 in 10 babies arrive before 37 weeks, and the last thing you want is someone else rummaging through your cupboard while you're in early labour.
Pack three separate bags rather than one: a small labour bag, a larger bag for your stay, and a baby bag. Keep the documents in a folder that goes on top, not buried.
What should I ask the hospital first?
One phone call saves you packing half of this. Ask what they provide, because it varies enormously between a government hospital, a private nursing home, and a corporate hospital in Kochi or Perinthalmanna.
Ask specifically:
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Do they provide gowns, or should you bring your own?
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Do they provide sanitary pads, or do you buy them there?
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Do they provide nappies and baby clothes, or should you bring them?
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Is a nappy or clothing brand specified?
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How many attendants are allowed, and is there a bed for them?
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What time is discharge, and what's needed for it?
Write the answers down. In labour, nobody remembers.
Documents — pack these first
This is the section that causes real problems, because a missing paper can delay admission.
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Hospital registration card or file number
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All antenatal scan reports and blood test results, in order
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Your antenatal card or pregnancy record book
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ID proof — Aadhaar for you and your husband
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Insurance card, policy number, and pre-authorisation papers if you have them
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A list of any medicines you take and any allergies
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Blood group cards for you and your husband
Keep photographs of everything on your phone as a backup, and share them with whoever is coming with you.
For you: labour and delivery
Comfort during labour. A loose front-open nightie or kaftan, a hair tie or clip, lip balm, and socks — feet get very cold in an air-conditioned labour room.
Practical. Phone and a long charging cable. Hospital sockets are never near the bed. A power bank if you have one.
Small things that help. A water bottle with a straw, glucose or oral rehydration sachets if your hospital allows fluids, and your own small towel.
For you: after delivery
Maternity pads. More than you think. Bleeding in the first few days is heavy. Bring at least two packets of the largest size, plus disposable underwear or old cotton underwear you don't mind discarding.
Front-open nighties. Three or four. Front-opening is not optional if you plan to feed — a regular kurta means undressing completely each time. Cotton, loose, and dark colours are practical.
Nursing bras. Two, in a size larger than your current one. Your breasts will change size significantly when the milk comes in around day three.
A comfortable dupatta or shawl. Useful for feeding with visitors in the room.
Toiletries. Your own soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, a small towel, and a mug. Hospital bathrooms rarely have what you need.
Slippers with a back. Bathroom floors are wet and you will be unsteady.
Nipple cream. Lanolin-based. If your latch needs adjusting in the first days, you will be glad it's there.
For the baby
Check what the hospital provides before packing this, because many supply everything for the stay.
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4–6 cotton onesies or jhablas, with mittens
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2–3 swaddle cloths or muslin wraps
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A cap and socks — babies lose heat through the head and feet
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Nappies, newborn size, about 10–12 for a two-day stay
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Cotton wool or soft cotton cloth for cleaning
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A soft blanket for going home
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A going-home outfit, one size up rather than newborn
Wash everything before packing. New fabric carries finishing chemicals and can irritate newborn skin.
Do not pack: talcum powder, oils, baby soap, or a full skincare set. A newborn's first bath is usually delayed and needs nothing but water. And keep it plain — no pillows or loose bedding in the cot.
For your attendant
Whoever is staying with you needs their own bag: a change of clothes, a bedsheet, a towel, a phone charger, cash in small notes, and a list of who to call. Someone should also have a fully charged phone at all times, which is harder to manage than it sounds.
What people always forget
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Small denomination cash — for the pharmacy, autos, small purchases
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A pen — for the constant forms
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Snacks for the attendant, because canteens close
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A carry bag for the extra things you'll accumulate
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Your own pillow, if the hospital allows it
Quick answers
Do I need to bring a car seat? There's no legal requirement in India, but a rear-facing infant car seat is by far the safest way to bring a newborn home by car. A baby held in someone's arms in a moving vehicle is not restrained in any meaningful sense.
Should I pack for a caesarean even if I'm planning a normal delivery? Yes. Plans change. A caesarean means a longer stay of about four to five days, so double the nighties, pads and baby clothes. High-waisted loose underwear that sits above the incision is worth adding.
What should I wear during labour? Whatever you're comfortable in, though most hospitals ask you to change into their gown for delivery. Don't pack anything you'd be upset to lose or stain.
Can I bring my own food? Ask. Policies differ, and there are usually restrictions during active labour in case anaesthesia becomes necessary.
When should the bag go in the car? At 36 weeks. Not in a cupboard "ready to grab" — actually in the vehicle, or by the front door.