First-Time Mum's Hospital Bag — Melbourne Edition

Every list online tells you to pack 14 things you'll never touch and forgets the three that matter at 3am. Here's the Melbourne-specific version, sorted by what actually happens.

What Melbourne hospitals provide (so you don't double-pack)

This varies, so ask at your hospital tour — but as a rough guide:

• Public (RWH, Mercy, Box Hill, Sandringham): nappies and wipes for the stay, baby blankets, a bassinet, pads and basic toiletries for you, and meals. You bring clothes, going-home outfit, and your own comforts.
• Private (Frances Perry, Cabrini, Epworth Freemasons): more generous — often a baby gift pack, robe, fuller toiletries, and à la carte meals. Longer stays (up to ~5 nights) mean you pack for more days.

The single best move: do the hospital tour at 24-28 weeks and ask "what do you supply?" The answer reshapes your bag entirely.

The non-negotiables (pack these first)

• Your green pregnancy record / hand-held notes and Medicare card.
• A rear-facing capsule, correctly fitted — you legally cannot drive baby home without it. Get it checked (Baby on the Move and Baby Bunting do fittings).
• Phone charger with an extra-long cable — hospital beds are nowhere near the power point. This is the #1 forgotten item.
• Going-home outfit for baby (newborn AND 0000 size — newborns vary) plus a warm wrap; Melbourne hospitals and cars are cold.
• Dark towel and your own toiletries — postpartum bleeding ruins white hospital towels and your dignity; a dark towel saves both.

For labour

• Lip balm, hair ties, a hand fan or spray bottle (labour wards run hot).
• Snacks and a big water bottle with a straw.
• Phone playlist + headphones; a long phone cable again.
• Thongs/slides for the shower (a major labour comfort tool).
• A loose, dark, old nightie you don't mind never seeing again.

For after the birth (the bit lists skimp on)

• 2-3 pairs of high-waisted "granny" undies + maternity pads (hospital pads are basic).
• Nursing bras / singlets and nipple cream (lanolin) even if you're unsure about feeding.
• A few dark, loose layers — nothing that goes over your head if you've had a caesarean.
• Phone, charger, and a power bank.

For baby

• 4-6 onesies/bodysuits and a couple of wraps (even if the hospital supplies some).
• Scratch mittens and a beanie.
• A packet of newborn nappies as backup.

For your partner / support person

• Their own snacks, a change of clothes, and coins/card for parking — Melbourne hospital parking is expensive and relentless. Check whether your hospital offers a multi-day parking pass; RWH and the private hospitals do.

When to have it ready

Have the bag packed by 36 weeks. Keep the capsule fitted in the car from then too. Pop a written list of last-minute grabs (phone, charger, glasses) on top so a sleep-deprived partner can finish the job.

For choosing where to give birth in the first place, see our public vs private guide.

Disclaimer: melbourne.baby is a community platform — information is general and not medical advice. In an emergency call 000.