What to pack for the maternity hospital

When to pack

The NHS recommends having your bag packed at least three weeks before your due date, in case the baby is in a hurry.⁴ The UK charity NCT advises having it ready from 37 weeks or earlier, and leaving it somewhere your partner can find it in a rush.⁵

Documents first

Documents are the one thing nobody at the maternity hospital can lend you. Slovak maternity hospitals generally list the following:^1,2,3

• your ID card (občiansky preukaz),
• your health insurance card (preukaz poistenca); for foreign nationals some hospitals also ask for copies of the European Health Insurance Card,
• your pregnancy record card (preukaz pre tehotné), often called the tehotenská knižka,
• test results from your pregnancy, and possibly older medical reports,
• your marriage certificate (sobášny list); if you are not married, the record of acknowledged paternity or of the child’s surname, which you arrange at the registry office (matrika) before the birth,
• any medicines you take.

Put them in one envelope at the top of the bag. Every maternity hospital has its own list, so check yours.

Interactive list

Hospital bag: a tick-off checklist

Tick off what you have already packed. Nothing is saved in your browser or sent to us. Your progress is written only into the page address, so you can bookmark it or send it to your partner.

Packed: 0 of 38

Documents 0 / 7

• ID card (občiansky preukaz) or other proof of identity
• Health insurance card (preukaz poistenca)
• Pregnancy record card (preukaz pre tehotné, also called tehotenská knižka)some maternity hospitals call it one thing, some another
• Test results from your pregnancy and medical reports
• Marriage certificate (sobášny list) or record of acknowledged paternity (zápisnica o určení otcovstva)if it applies to you; arranged at the registry office (matrika) before the birth
• Any medicines you take, and a list of them
• Birth planif you have written one

For the birth itself 0 / 8

• Loose, comfortable clothes or a nightdress for labour
• Warm socks
• Slippers, plus flip-flops for the shower
• Water bottle, ideally with a straw
• A small snack and a drinkfollowing your maternity hospital’s rules
• Lip balm and hair ties
• Phone, charger, a longer cable or a power bank
• Glasses or contact lenses with a case

For you after the birth 0 / 11

• Two nightdresses or pyjamas that open at the front
• Dressing gown
• 2–3 comfortable bras, ideally nursing bras
• Breast pads
• Highly absorbent maternity pads
• 5–6 pairs of knickersdisposable ones can be handy
• Towel
• Toiletriestoothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, deodorant
• Tissues and toilet papersome maternity hospitals put them on their list
• A bag for used laundry
• Eye mask or earplugs

For the baby 0 / 7

• Newborn nappiescheck whether the maternity hospital provides them
• Bodysuits, sleepsuits, a hat, socks
• An outfit for the journey home
• Blanket or swaddle
• Cotton wool or unscented wet wipes
• Muslin squares
• Snowsuit or a warm layerif it is cold outside

The journey home 0 / 2

• Infant car seattried out beforehand in the car you will be using
• Wrap, carrier or pramif you will walk or take public transport

For your birth partner 0 / 3

• A change of clothes and toiletries
• Food, drink and a charger
• Coins for parking or the vending machine

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Why these things

For the birth itself

To the labour ward you take only the essentials: something loose to wear, warm socks (your feet may get cold), a water bottle, ideally with a straw, and lip balm.^4,5 Maternity hospitals have different rules on eating and drinking during labour, so check yours.

For you after the birth

A nightdress or pyjamas that open at the front make breastfeeding and examinations easier; the NHS recommends nightwear like this if you plan to breastfeed.⁴ We explain how to choose one in the article Nightdresses for the hospital and for breastfeeding. Highly absorbent maternity pads, comfortable knickers (disposable ones too), nursing bras and breast pads are recommended both by the NHS and by Slovak maternity hospitals.^1,4

For the baby

Bodysuits, sleepsuits, a hat and socks, an outfit for the journey home, a blanket or swaddle.⁴ How many items and what size, we go into in the article Newborn clothes, where you will also find a size finder.

The journey home

If you are going by car, the NHS lists a car seat for the journey home.⁴ The NCT points out that if you are walking or taking public transport, a wrap, carrier or pram will do the job.⁵ Try the car seat in the car before the birth.

For your birth partner

If your partner or someone else close to you is coming with you, they also need food, drink, a charger and a change of clothes.^4,5 Labour can take a long time.

What someone can bring later

If someone can visit you in the maternity hospital, you don’t have to have everything with you from the start. These can be brought later:

• more nightdresses and knickers, if your stay is longer,
• clothes for the journey home for you and the baby,
• a snowsuit or blanket depending on the weather,
• the car seat on the day you leave.

Put these things together in one place at home and tell your partner or whoever is helping where to find them.

A planned caesarean

If you have a date for a caesarean, you pack the same way, just without the things for labour itself. The NCT also recommends high-waisted or disposable knickers that do not press on the scar.⁵ Clothes with a soft waistband and a nightdress rather than pyjamas are handy too.

What to leave at home

• jewellery and valuables,
• lots of clothes “just in case”; if your stay is longer, someone can bring them,
• things the maternity hospital provides (find out in advance, for example nappies or mats).

Tips that work

• Two bags: a small one for the labour ward and a bigger one for the postnatal ward. Your partner can bring the bigger one later. The NCT suggests a similar split.⁵
• A list on the bag: stick a list of the contents on it so your partner knows what is where.
• For a caesarean: high-waisted knickers that do not press on the scar.⁵

Next

• Getting ready for the third trimester
• The complete baby kit
• Breastfeeding – a guide to the first weeks

Frequently asked questions

When should I pack my hospital bag?

The NHS recommends having the bag packed at least three weeks before your due date, the UK’s NCT from 37 weeks or earlier. Have your documents with you even sooner.

Which documents does the maternity hospital want?

Slovak maternity hospitals generally list your ID card (občiansky preukaz), health insurance card (preukaz poistenca), pregnancy record card (preukaz pre tehotné, or tehotenská knižka) and test results, and possibly a marriage certificate or a record of acknowledged paternity. Each maternity hospital has its exact list on its website.

Do I have to bring my own nappies for the baby?

It depends on the maternity hospital. Some provide them, others want you to bring your own. Check your maternity hospital’s list or ask during the tour.

Where this comes from

The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.

1. Žilina University Hospital (Fakultná nemocnica s poliklinikou Žilina):Čo si priniesť do pôrodnice? (What to bring to the maternity hospital?) (in Slovak)
2. Trenčín University Hospital (Fakultná nemocnica Trenčín):Informácie pre rodičky (Information for women giving birth) (in Slovak)
3. Poprad Hospital (Nemocnica Poprad):Čo si vziať do pôrodnice (What to take to the maternity hospital) (in Slovak)
4. NHS (United Kingdom):Hospital bag checklist
5. NCT (United Kingdom):Hospital bag checklist – what do I need?

We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.