What to Pack for Birth in Australia: The Checklist That Actually Makes Sense
If you’re anything like most of the parents I work with, you’ve probably searched “hospital bag checklist Australia” and ended up with... chaos.
Some checklists have you packing half the nursery. Others leave out the things you’ll actually want at 3am in a birth suite. And don’t get me started on the ones written by people who’ve only ever packed for their own birth.
After supporting over 350 births across public, private and home settings on the Central Coast, I created a hospital bag checklist that works—for real births, in real hospitals, right here in Australia.
Why Most Hospital Bag Lists Miss the Mark
A lot of lists out there fall into one of three categories:
Too much stuff: 6 onesies, 4 swaddles, your baby bath seat... seriously?
Too minimal: Sure, affirmations are lovely—but where’s the heat pack when your back is on fire?
Too generic: Written for a US audience or full of items that simply wont be used, not a shared room at Gosford Public or any other public or private hospital in Australia.
This list was made with actual birthing people in mind. With midwives. With space limits. With birth partners who want to help—but don’t know what to bring.
So What Should You Pack?
I break it into 3 simple bags to make the whole thing less overwhelming:
1. Labour Bag
Your go-to bag for birth. It includes:
Comfort tools (heat pack, massage ball, birth playlist)
Snacks that won’t come back up (think nut butter packs + rice crackers)
Practical essentials like lip balm, hair ties, and your water bottle (with a straw lid—trust me)
2. Partner Backpack
Yes, your support person needs their own bag.
Change of clothes, snacks, toothbrush
Phone charger, water bottle, deodorant
The printed birth preferences you worked on together
A calm, grounded partner is a useful partner.
3. Stay Bag
If you go home quickly, this one stays in the car.
Pyjamas, maternity pads, nursing bras
Dry shampoo, going-home clothes, spare undies
Snacks for recovery + a plastic bag for used clothes
If you end up staying overnight (think caesarean or longer recovery), your partner can grab this later.
Pro tip: Got a doula?
Check what's already in their Mary Poppins birth bag so you don’t double-up. Less clutter = more calm.
And the Best Part? It’s Already Done For You.
You don’t have to guess what to pack, overpack, or worry that you’ve forgotten something crucial.
I’ve created a free, doula & midwife -approved Hospital Bag Checklist for Australian Births—and it’s ready to download.
Packing for birth shouldn’t feel like prepping for a two-week camping trip.
You deserve to feel calm, prepared, and ready to focus on the only thing that really matters: your birth.
This checklist won’t just save you space. It’ll save you stress.
Grab it now and pack like a boss.
