What to pack in your hospital bag for birth in Israel

You're 35 weeks pregnant, you've done the hospital tour, you've started your birth plan, and you're now staring at an empty bag wondering how you're supposed to pack for one of the biggest days of your life.

Packing your hospital bag is actually one of the most satisfying things you can do in the third trimester. It makes the whole thing feel real, gives you a sense of control when everything else feels a bit up in the air, and once it's done, it's done. You can stop worrying about it.

So let's walk through everything you need: from the delivery room to the maternity ward, to the first outfit your baby will ever wear.

When should you pack your hospital bag in Israel?

Aim to have everything ready by week 35–36. You never know when baby will arrive so having your bag packed before the final stretch means you won't be scrambling in the middle of the night when your contractions start.

💡 One bag or two? Many parents find it helpful to split things into two bags:

• One for the delivery room (labor essentials)

• One for the maternity ward (everything for your 1–3 day stay after)

🏥 For the delivery room

The delivery room is where the magic happens, and you want to feel as comfortable and supported as possible.

Documents first, don't forget these:

• Teudat Zeut (your Israeli ID)

• Cartis Mahakav Herayon (your pregnancy booklet, given by your Dr or your nurse in the last few weeks of pregnancy)

• Your pregnancy exams and test results (if you’ve done some privately or if they don’t appear in your Cartis Mahakav Herayon

• Your birth plan, if you've made one

For comfort and labor support:

• Almond oil: Great for massage during contractions, and midwives in Israel often use it for perineal massage before pushing

• A water bottle with a straw: This sounds like a small thing, but when you're mid-contractions or lying down, a straw is genuinely helpful

• TENS machine (optional, but a popular natural pain relief option)

• Warm socks and flip flops: Hospital floors are cold/dirty

• Eye mask and ear plugs

But also:

• Phone and charger

• Headphones, speaker, and charger

• Your playlist (make it ahead of time)

• Hair clips or scrunchies (you'll want your hair off your face)

• Chewing gum

• Snacks: energy bars, dried fruit, nuts, whatever keeps you going

• Lip balm

• Tissues

🤱 For the maternity ward

Once your baby arrives, you'll move to the maternity ward. In Israel, most women stay 24–48 hours after a vaginal birth and up to 72 hours after a C-section. Pack for 2–3 days of real life in a hospital room.

Clothes and comfort:

• Comfortable clothes for 2–3 days (loose)

• A pyjama or nightgown that's easy to open at the front for breastfeeding and skin-to-skin

• Nursing bras (at least 2)

• Socks and slippers for walking around the ward

• Flip flops for the shower

• A big towel: hospitals often provide small ones

• Toiletries: Shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, moisturizer

• Makeup and a hair brush

• A bag for dirty laundry

💛 For postpartum recovery

These items will help you recover more comfortably in those first days:

• Disposable underwear: In Israel, look for the Kottex brand (widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies). Buy more than you think you need.

• Peri-bottle: A squeezable bottle you fill with warm water to rinse yourself after using the bathroom.

• Nipple cream if you're planning to breastfeed

• Nursing pads (The Lansinoh ones are recommended)

• Your regular prenatal vitamins (continue taking them!)

• Eye mask and ear plugs: For snatching rest whenever you can, even during the day

👶 For the baby

Everything your baby needs for their first few days:

• 2 going-home outfits: Pack one in newborn size and one in 0–1 month size. You don't know which size will fit until they arrive.

• Muslin squares x2: Useful for anything

• Gloves, hat, and socks: Hospitals are temperature-controlled, but Israeli maternity wards will still ask you to keep your baby warm

• A soft blanket

• Pacifiers: Optional and depends on your feeding plans, but good to have

• Stroller or Sal Kal: Your baby needs to leave the hospital in a car seat or in a stroller.

Don’t forget your partner! They'll likely be at the hospital for many hours (or days) and need to be able to keep going. Think about changes of clothes, toiletries, snacks, a phone charger, and something to sleep in.

Final thoughts

Packing your hospital bag is one of those things that feels like a chore but ends up being a meaningful ritual. Here are final thoughts about a few things that are important in Israel:

• Your Cartis Mahakav Herayon is important: It contains your full pregnancy history and the hospital staff will ask for it.

• Bring your original Teudat Zeut, not just a copy.

• Israeli hospitals provide the basics for your baby (clothes, diapers, wipes, and formula if needed)

• If you're planning a stay at a Baby Hotel (like Baby Lis at Ichilov) after discharge, you'll want a few more days' worth of clothes and self-care items

If you want to feel prepared for birth and those first weeks of parenthood, browse our upcoming in-person events or explore our online workshops designed specifically for parents in Israel.