A hospital bag checklist for delivery at a government hospital is different from the ones written for private maternity homes. The labour room, the delivery, the medicines and the ward bed are free under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), and so is the food. What the ward does not give is the personal kit: pads, clothes, a few baby things, and everything the attendant needs to stay for two to five days. This list is built around that, with the Jan Aushadhi Kendra price next to the Amazon price for each item you will have to buy.
Jan Aushadhi prices are PMBJP’s published MRP on 15 October 2026 (official Product & MRP List); the drug code lets you check any row. Amazon.in prices were read the same day and change often; the links show today’s price. Some links are affiliate links and we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is a packing list, not medical advice; follow what your ANC clinic and the ward sister tell you.
Table of Contents
Hospital bag checklist for delivery: documents first
The documents matter more than anything else in the bag, because the labour-room registration and the scheme payments depend on them. Every hospital bag checklist for delivery should start here. Keep them in one plastic folder in the outer pocket, so whoever reaches the counter first can hand them over.
- Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card, the pink or yellow card from your ANC visits, with the vaccination entries.
- All ANC reports and ultrasound reports, in date order, including blood group, haemoglobin, HIV, HBsAg and sugar tests.
- Aadhaar card of the mother (and a photocopy) and, if you have one, the Ayushman card.
- Bank passbook or account details in the mother’s name for Janani Suraksha Yojana and PMMVY payments.
- Referral slip if a PHC or CHC referred you to the district hospital or medical college.
- Two phone numbers written on paper, in case the phone battery dies in the ward.
What the government hospital gives free under JSSK
Under JSSK, every pregnant woman delivering in a public health institution is entitled to a free delivery, including a caesarean section, free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free blood if needed, free diet (up to three days after a normal delivery and seven after a caesarean) and free transport from home and back. Sick newborns get the same for 30 days after birth. So your hospital bag checklist for delivery does not need medicines, injections or surgical items; if a ward asks you to buy them outside, ask the sister for the JSSK desk first.
Hospital bag checklist for delivery: for the mother
| Item | Jan Aushadhi Kendra | Amazon.in (15 Oct 2026) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity pads (heavy flow, first 2 weeks) | ₹68.25 for 5 (₹13.65 a pad), code 8198 | Plush 10 pads ₹230; LuvLap 10 pads ₹189 | LuvLap · Plush |
| Disposable maternity panties | not on the list | Nua 5 pieces ₹191; Evereve 10 pieces ₹260 | Nua · Evereve |
| Nursing (breast) pads | not on the list | LuvLap 36 pads ₹164; Mee Mee 24 pads ₹131 | LuvLap · Mee Mee |
| Front-open feeding gown or kurti | not on the list | from about ₹370 | Amazon |
| Regular sanitary pads for later | Suvidha, 10 pads ₹10 (code 8145) | Suvidha pads: see the Jan Aushadhi medicine price list | – |
The Jan Aushadhi maternity pads at ₹13.65 a pad are the cheapest option and most medical-college campuses have a Kendra; the catch is stock, so buy them at the 36-week visit rather than on the day. Pack 15 to 20 pads in total. Add three front-open nighties or kurtis, two dupattas or a shawl, slippers with a grip, a towel, a comb, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, a steel glass and spoon, and a one-litre water bottle.
Hospital bag checklist for delivery: for the baby
| Item | Jan Aushadhi Kendra | Amazon.in | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn diapers, pant style (2-5 kg) | Bachpan, 10 for ₹79.69 (₹7.97 each), code 9038 | Pampers NB taped, 72 for ₹963 (₹13.38 each) | Pampers |
| Newborn diapers, taped | Bachpan, 5 for ₹30.94 (₹6.19 each), code 8111 | Supples NB taped ₹599 | Supples |
| Baby wipes | 20 wipes ₹45 (₹2.25 each), code 8155 | Mee Mee 160 wipes ₹465 (₹2.91 each) | Mee Mee |
| Muslin swaddles / soft cloths | not on the list | haus & kinder pack of 2 ₹398; LuvLap set ₹612 | haus & kinder · LuvLap |
| Feeding bottle (only if advised) | 250 ml ₹42.19, code 8146 | LuvLap 2 bottles ₹280 | LuvLap |
Newborns in government wards are usually wrapped in cloth, and most families bring soft old cotton sarees or dhotis washed and dried in the sun, which work as well as anything bought. On top of that, the hospital bag checklist for delivery for the baby is short: 10 to 15 newborn diapers, four sets of cotton jhabla or wrap-around clothes, two caps, two pairs of socks and mittens, a light blanket, and wipes or a soft cloth for cleaning. Breastfeeding is what the ward will help you start within the first hour; carry a bottle only if a doctor has advised top feeds.
Hospital bag checklist for delivery: for the attendant
A government maternity ward lets one female attendant stay. She will sleep on a mat or a bench and fetch medicines and reports, so her kit belongs in the hospital bag checklist for delivery too: a thin mattress or mat, a bedsheet, a light blanket, a steel flask for hot water, a plate and glass, a torch or phone light, a power bank, a pen, about ₹2,000 in small notes for autos and tea, and her own change of clothes. Many wards do not allow male relatives inside after visiting hours, so plan who stays.
How to pack the hospital bag checklist for delivery
- Pack by 36 weeks. Labour that starts early is the reason the bag exists.
- Use two bags: a small one with documents, phone, money and one change of clothes that goes to the labour room, and a bigger one with everything else for the ward.
- Buy the consumables at the Kendra at your last ANC visit: maternity pads, newborn diapers and wipes are on the Jan Aushadhi medicine price list at a fraction of branded prices.
- Put the baby’s first set of clothes in a zip bag at the top; the nurse will ask for them within minutes of the birth.
- Tell the attendant where everything is. The mother will not be the one looking for things.
A diaper bag with separate pockets makes the second bag easier to manage; the LuvLap Lily (₹949) and MAMMA (₹879) are two common ones, but any bag you already own will do.
After the hospital bag checklist for delivery: money you get back
Two schemes pay the mother directly. Janani Suraksha Yojana pays a cash amount for an institutional delivery, larger in rural areas and in the low-performing states; the ASHA or the hospital’s JSY counter will tell you your figure and needs the bank details from your document folder. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana pays ₹5,000 for the first child in instalments linked to registration and the baby’s vaccination. Neither is automatic: ask at discharge, before you leave the ward.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hospital bag checklist for delivery at a government hospital?
Documents (MCP card, ANC and ultrasound reports, Aadhaar, bank details), 15 to 20 maternity pads, front-open clothes, toiletries, a steel glass and bottle, 10 to 15 newborn diapers, baby clothes, caps, socks and a blanket, and a mat, sheet and flask for the attendant. Medicines are given free under JSSK.
डिलीवरी के लिए अस्पताल बैग में क्या-क्या रखें?
MCP कार्ड, सभी जांच और अल्ट्रासाउंड रिपोर्ट, आधार और बैंक पासबुक; मां के लिए मैटरनिटी पैड (जन औषधि में 5 पैड ₹68.25), सामने से खुलने वाले कपड़े, चप्पल, तौलिया; बच्चे के लिए डायपर (जन औषधि बचपन, 10 पैंट ₹79.69), सूती कपड़े, टोपी, मोज़े; और साथ रहने वाली महिला के लिए चटाई, चादर और थर्मस।
Is delivery free in a government hospital?
Yes. Under JSSK, normal and caesarean deliveries in public health institutions are free, including medicines, tests, blood, food and transport. The hospital bag checklist for delivery is only for personal items.
How many maternity pads do I need after delivery?
Most mothers use six to eight a day for the first few days, then fewer. Pack 15 to 20 for the hospital stay and buy more for home.
When should I pack my hospital bag?
By the 36th week. Keep it by the door with the document folder on top.
Sources checked
- PMBJP Product & MRP List, janaushadhi.gov.in, read 15 October 2026: every Jan Aushadhi price and drug code on this page.
- Amazon.in product pages, read 15 October 2026 (linked in the tables).
- National Health Mission: Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram for the free entitlements.
