Best buys for your hospital bag in Australia in 2025

A TENS machine is a pain management device for labour and a gentle way to relieve the pain of contractions. It amplifies your body’s natural pain fighting abilities through electrical pulses. The Elle TENS machine can be booked in advance for four or eight week hire through Bliss Birth, to ensure your device is packed in your bag ready for when labour begins.

Disposable underwear will eliminate the need for sometimes uncomfortable and awkward sanitary pads. Bubba Bump postpartum disposable maternity underwear are leak free, super comfortable, and leave you feeling secure post birth. You can wear them in place of sanitary pads and panty liners, so they’re great for urinary incontinence, weak bladder muscles and can even be worn once your waters break. They absorb three times more than regular maxi pads. They are high waisted and won't irritate c-section wounds.

Whether you’re ready with your personalised delivery playlist or you want to catch up on your favourite podcast, you’ll be grateful to have some form of entertainment to pass the time. This waterproof wireless speaker by Tozo is a great option, thanks to its small size and robust build, allowing it to easily fit in your hospital bag. It comes in three colours and also features a hook, meaning you can hang it wherever you want. This speaker will come in handy after the birth too and is a great investment buy.

To make life easier for yourself, your partner and your midwives, using bag organisers helps everyone to easily navigate your hospital bag. These Cooyou bags come in six different sizes, plus they're waterproof and dustproof so you can be sure your items will be well protected.

This essential might be pretty self-explanatory, but one thing you don’t want to be stuck without is a phone charger that you can use from your bed while it is plugged into the wall behind you. Bringing a longer phone cord with you will ensure you can continue updating all your loved ones about the arrival of your new little love without worrying your phone will go flat!

This healing perineal relief spray is another handy tool to have packed in your hospital bag and offers a cooling effect for after you’ve given birth. It’s formulated specifically for the delicate skin of the perineum. The spray comforts you from the itchiness, pain, discomfort, bruising and soreness associated with having a baby. It contains lavender, geranium, clary sage, frankincense essential oils, witch hazel, aloe vera and distilled water. 

When you're walking around the hospital, you need footwear that's not only comfortable, but easy to put on and take off too. These cosy slippers from trusted brand UGG are a great choice. The anti-slip, rubber soles mean you won’t have to worry about slipping on polished floors. The soft sheepskin upper and lining will soon warm up cold feet and wick away extra moisture.

You never know how long you'll be in hospital, so having some toiletries with you could be a real lifesaver. Gas and air can really dry your lips, so the star product in this kit is the rejuvenating shea lip balm. And it even comes with its own beauty pouch, so you can keep everything organised.

It’s a good idea to throw in a few of your own hair ties or a scrunchy too, as you will want to keep your hair out of your face. Some of our mums also suggested adding some wipes to your bag of essentials, perfect for a quick refresher when you need it.

After birth you will be sore, swollen and may have needed stitches. The peri bottle is used for rinsing your vagina and perineum with warm water after you give birth. The upside-down design is practical, and the narrow neck provides a targeted and continuous stream of relief to the intended spot. The small holes in the spout give you a gentle spray of water to offer relief of that sting and to gently clean yourself after using the toilet. The peri bottle is also amazing for c-section mums too if your wound is making bending over difficult.

Your new arrival will need an outfit to wear home and these Purebaby growsuits are a perfect choice. They have a full-length double zip with a safety fold to make getting your newborn dressed easy. These suits also come with long sleeves and optional turn over mittens to keep your baby cosy. The white and grey design makes them perfect for a boy or a girl – so you can still be prepared even if you’re waiting to be surprised by the gender.

After pregnancy and birth, it’s likely that you’ll benefit from some extra support across your belly and back to help you feel secure. These recovery shorts from SRC provide support and pain relief after a c-section or vaginal delivery to help you move more freely after birth and also assist in speeding up your recovery. SRC recovery shorts aid in the treatment of c-section wounds, perineal trauma, episiotomy wounds, abdominal separation and lower back pain.

If you’ve given birth before, you’ll know how sore and tender your perineal area can be after delivery. With these perineum padsicles you can access cooling relief instantly, without needing access to a fridge or freezer. You snap them like a glow stick and pop them onto your underwear with the sticky tab and just enjoy that cooling sensation for 30+ minutes, making them perfect for a hospital room. These strips not only provide amazing cooling treatment, but they are super absorbent too.

Your newborn can go through up to 12 nappies a day, so it’s a good idea to stock up! These Huggies nappies are specially designed for your new arrival’s delicate skin. They also have a wetness indicator to help you see when your baby needs a change which is a great feature for new parents who are getting to know their baby.