Separate bags are a good idea - you can leave the hospital bag with your clothes and baby's things in the car so that when you arrive in labour you don't need a porter to carry all your stuff inside Otherwise DH ends up making two trips - one to take you in, and then another to go and get everything. If you have a small separate bag just for labour it's easier I think. No matter what else you want to put in that bag, make sure it has a couple of changes of bottoms (pants/shorts, and undies). Bottom halves tend to get messy with alarming regularity lol.