Most hospital bag guides tell you to pack a nightie and leave it at that. But what you wear during labour actually matters more than that - and what works in early labour is often completely wrong for active labour, pushing, or those first tender hours after birth. This guide walks through each stage so you know exactly what to pack, and why.
Early Labour: Comfort Over Everything
Early labour can go on for hours, sometimes longer for first-time mums. You're likely still at home, still mobile, possibly still not 100% sure it's actually happening. This is not the time for a hospital gown. Most women start in their own clothes - something loose, familiar, and easy to move in.
A soft maternity nightie or an oversized tee with maternity leggings works well for this stage. You want fabric that breathes, doesn't constrict your bump, and allows you to change positions easily - bouncing on a ball, walking, leaning over a bench. Avoid underwire, tight waistbands, and anything with zips or buttons down the back that will dig in when you lean or lie down.
What to pack for early labour
Bring at least one change of clothes for this stage. You may sweat more than you expect, and having something fresh to change into before things intensify is a small comfort that matters more than it sounds.
Active Labour: Loose, Accessible, and Replaceable
Once active labour hits and contractions become serious, you'll stop caring about most things - including what you're wearing. This is when many mums switch to a hospital gown or their own delivery gown, and for good reason. Medical staff need fast access for examinations, monitoring, and pain relief. Your own clothing becomes a practical obstacle.
A purpose-built delivery gown gives you coverage and a sense of familiarity without fighting your midwife every time she needs to check in. Look for snap or tie closures at the back, and make sure whatever you choose can be completely ruined without you caring. Labour is messy. Pack clothes you are fully prepared to throw away.
Temperature regulation is also worth thinking about here. Your body temperature will spike and drop unpredictably during active labour - shaking, sweating, then suddenly freezing. A light robe or wrap over your delivery gown gives you something to pull on between contractions without the fuss of a full layer.
After the Birth: The Clothes That Actually Get You Through
The first hour or two after birth is physical and emotional chaos in the best possible way. Skin-to-skin contact, your first feed, midwives moving around you - your outfit is completely irrelevant in the moment. But once things settle and you want to feel human again, what you have packed will matter.
The first shower
That first post-birth shower is something mums describe as one of the most restorative moments of the whole experience. Have something clean and easy to put on straight after - a soft maternity nightie or a robe you can slip into without effort. You will not want to wrestle with buttons or anything that requires coordination. Keep it simple.
Hospital stay clothing
For the hours and days in the ward, you want nursing access, softness, and nothing that requires thought. A front-opening nightie or a button-front maternity sleepwear set lets you feed without fully undressing, which you will appreciate at 3am more than you can imagine right now. Pack two or three changes - more than you think you need. The hospital stay collection covers exactly this: soft, functional pieces designed for the ward rather than just for photos.
High-waisted underwear is non-negotiable. Whether you've had a vaginal birth or a caesarean, you need full-brief coverage that sits above any tenderness and holds a maternity pad securely in place. Pack at least five pairs - and yes, a few that you don't mind never seeing again.
Going Home: The Outfit Nobody Plans For
Here is the bit most hospital bag guides miss: your body the day you go home looks and feels nothing like your pre-birth body, but it also looks and feels nothing like your late-pregnancy body either. Your bump will still be there - smaller, softer, and sitting differently. Nothing in your regular wardrobe will feel right, and most of your maternity clothes will be just slightly off too.
The best going-home outfit is something with a soft, forgiving waistband; nursing access if you're breastfeeding; and enough structure that you feel like a person rather than a patient. A maternity loungewear set or a soft wrap-style top with maternity pants tends to work well. The going home collection has pieces that cover all of these needs - comfortable enough for the car ride, presentable enough for the photos that will inevitably be taken at the front door.
Pack Your Hospital Bag from 36 Weeks
Most midwives and Australian hospitals recommend having your bag packed by 36 weeks - earlier if you have any risk factors. Leaving it to the last minute means packing in a panic, which usually results in forgetting the things you actually need and overpacking everything else.
The hospital essentials collection brings together the key clothing pieces for labour, ward stay, and going home in one place - so you're not hunting across the site when you're 37 weeks and over it. Free shipping on orders over $150 Australia-wide.
