If you’re water has broken and you’re leaking—or just in case it breaks on the way to the hospital—cover your seat with a trash bag or put towels underneath you to protect the car seat. You can even wear disposable underpants that you can buy at the pharmacy.
You might want to have some things in your purse and then pack a separate bag for labor and delivery.
- Keep a picture ID, like your driver’s license, your insurance card, any hospital paperwork that you’re supposed to bring and your birth plan if you made one in your purse.
- If you wear contacts, bring extras with a case, solution, and eye drops along with your eyeglasses and case, just in case you need them.
- Money for parking.
Bring your baby book. Ask the nurses to put a footprint in your baby book when they make footprints.
Don’t forget to bring a rear-facing, Infant, safety seat for your baby to ride home in. It’s the law and you cannot take your baby home without one. Infant Car Seat Ratings.
Pack two bags, one for labor and birth and one for when you you get to your own room. If you want to bring more than the items on this list, or you don’t think you will need some of these items, bring them in a separate bag or pack a bag for when you get to your own room, and leave the bag in the car. If you have a long ride home, bring your diaper bag and leave it in the car.
Pack your bag with:
- Sour lollipops
- Hair ties or barrettes
- Cell Phone, make sure it’s charged up or bring your charger. Make sure you have programmed important numbers in it.
- Snacks for partner or change for the vending machines
- Camera; if you don’t have one, they likely have one in the gift shop. Be sure your camera is charged and has plenty of memory. Bring your charger, too. Your cell phone may also have a camera. Learn how to operate the camera! If you plan to record the birth, bring a video camera.
- Washcloth
- Stress ball, or squeeze balls for distraction
- Socks to keep your feet warm
- Vaseline or Chapstick for your lips
- Focal Point (any small object that would help you relax)
- Any notes or questions you have made about labor and delivery or your doctor has given you
- Focal Point (any small object that would help you relax)
- iPod or music player (battery operated, with fresh battery or charged) with relaxing music
- Bras: if you plan to breast feed, take nursing bras, if you plan to bottle feed take maternity bras
- Gown (if you plan to breast feed, bring a gown that opens in the front
- Slippers
- Robe
- Personal items (travel size shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash; hair dryer, brush, comb)
- Cheap flip-flops you can wear in the shower and toss.
- Clothes to wear home (something loose and comfortable)
- Going home outfit for baby
- Receiving blanket for baby
- Pillow, put on a pillow case so your pillow won’t get confused with the hospital ones
- Your journal if you’re keeping one
- A baby emery board
Things to leave at home:
- Bring a small amount of money for parking and food, leave the rest at home
- Don’t bring or wear jewelry or other valuables
- The hospital will give you baby diapers and formula; if you need a breast pump the hospital will provide that, too.
