Oh Baby, It’s Go Time!
What to Bring to the Hospital When You’re Ready to Deliver, and What to Leave at Home
You’ve been planning for months to welcome your new baby into your family, and the big day is steadily approaching. To make sure you are prepared with everything you need to bring with you to the hospital, spend some time at the start of your third trimester packing the bag you’ll be taking with you to the hospital. Remember that you’ll be coming back home with a big bundle of joy, so pack lightly, and only bring those things with you that you will truly need, and leave the rest at home. We’ve got your hospital checklist of what to bring, and what to leave behind.
Pack it for Mom
- Photo identification, such as your driver’s license.
- Health insurance information.
- Hospital forms.
- Birth plan (if you have one).
- Cell phone and charger (everyone will be looking for the first Facebook post of your new little one!).
- A few pairs of disposable, but comfortable, socks or slippers that you can wear walking the halls before and after labor.
- A warm, comfortable robe or cardigan that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring one that opens in the front if you’re planning on breast feeding.
- Your own pillow, if you find it comforting, but bring a pillowcase you don’t mind disposing of after you leave.
- Maternity bras and nursing pads.
- Sanitary pads to wear post-delivery.
- Ear plugs, to help you sleep.
- Sugar-free lozenges to keep your mouth moist during labor.
- Glasses, contacts, and solution, if needed.
- Personal toiletries and bath products (pack travel sized items to make your bag lighter).
- Hairbrush and ponytail holders.
- Lip balm.
- Pen and paper.
- Change for the vending machine, and cafe, and cash for the parking lot.
- Non-perishable (healthy) snacks.
- A book, e-reader, laptop, magazines, or anything else you may want to use to stay busy while waiting for baby, or while recovering.
Pack it – For Baby
- A pacifier.
- A receiving blanket.
- A few clothing options for baby to wear on the way home to accommodate your baby’s size, and what the weather will be like on the day he/she goes home.
- A car seat, but make sure you have it installed, and checked, before you arrive at the hospital. You don’t want the stress of trying to install it when you are ready to go home, and you certainly don’t want to risk an unsafe travel experience for your newborn.
Forget It
- Any clothes you don’t want to get ruined.
- Valuable jewelry.
- Prescription medications, including vitamins, but let your doctor know in advance what you may need so that the hospital can provide it for you.
- Diapers. Keep the stacks you have at home (you’re going to need them!), because the hospital will provide diapers while you’re there.
- A breast pump. The hospital will provide that too if needed.
With an expertly packed hospital bag you will be prepared with all of the items you and your baby will need to make your time at the hospital comfortable, and comforting.
If you need more advice, feel free to ask your OB-GYN. He or she has the experience to help you feel at ease before, during and after your delivery.