Baby Delivery Checklist
You’ll be excited, nervous, and thrilled when you’re heading out the door to the delivery room, if you’ve chosen to deliver your baby in a hospital. And you’ll also be distracted. So it’s no surprise that packing a bag to bring with you will be the last thing on your mind. That’s why it’s a good idea to pack ahead of time. As you prepare to welcome your baby home, take some time to get yourself packed and ready for the big day, too. Stick with this list of essentials and you can’t go wrong:
New Mom Labor Must-Haves
- Your birth plan. If you and your doctor have a birth plan written out, bring multiple copies with you to the hospital so you can share it with your nurse, the doctor, and your significant other.
- A watch. It never hurts to have a stopwatch on hand to time contractions.
- A pen and paper. You never know when this will come in handy, even if it’s just for keeping track of the score as you play a board game to pass the time.
New Mom Personal Hygiene Must-Haves
- Essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and face wash, as well as a hairbrush. You may be in the hospital for a while, so you’ll want to freshen up.
- Extra-absorbent maxi pads.
New Mom Clothing Must-Haves
- Multiple pairs of extra underwear and a nursing bra.
- Comfy pajamas, socks and slippers.
- A robe.
- A go-home outfit for both you and your new baby.
New Mom Miscellaneous Must-Haves
- Your own pillow. If you’re going to be there for a while, you might as well be comfortable.
- Hair ties. It’s a small thing, but if you have long hair, these can make a big difference.
- Snacks. Even though your own food intake will be limited when you’re in labor, any friends or family with you could benefit from these, and it’ll stop them from having to leave your side to go find something to snack on themselves.
- Distractions. Who knows how long you’ll be at the hospital, and the television just might not be cutting it. Bring your own magazines, cards, laptop, music -- whatever you think might be necessary to help you pass the time.
- A printed list of your most important phone numbers. Labor is not the time to rely on charged cell phones to provide you with access to important numbers. And some hospitals don’t allow them in the delivery room, anyway.
- A camera. Your new baby is just waiting for her picture to be taken!
- The car seat. It goes without saying, but be sure this is installed before you head to the hospital to deliver.
Packing ahead of time will help ease your mind during your last few weeks of pregnancy. Be sure to keep the bag by the front door so it’s ready to go when you are!
