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What to bring to your labor and delivery
Prenatal care - what to bringThe arrival of your new son or daughter is a time of excitement and joy. It is often also a hectic time, so it can be hard to remember to pack everything that you will need at the hospital.
About a month before your baby's due date, make sure you have the items below. Pack as many beforehand as you can. Use this checklist as a guide to get organized for the big event.
- Items for Mom
The hospital will supply you with a gown, slippers, disposable underwear, and basic toiletries. While it is nice to have your own clothes with you, labor and the first few days postpartum are most often a very messy time, so you may not want to wear your brand-new lingerie. Items you should bring:
- Nightgown and bathrobe
- Slippers
- Bra and nursing bra
- Breast pads
- Socks (several pair)
- Underwear (several pair)
- Hair ties (scrunchies)
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, lip balm, lotion, and deodorant
- Comfortable and loose fitting clothing to wear home
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- Items for Baby
Items to bring for the new baby:
- Going home outfit for baby
- Receiving blanket
- Warm clothing to wear home and a heavy bunting or blanket (if the weather is cold)
- Baby socks
- Baby hat (especially for cold weather climates)
- Baby car seat. (Call the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT for more information on the safety rating of a particular model.) A car seat is required by law and should be properly installed in your car before you go to the hospital.
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- Items for Labor Coach
Items to bring for the labor coach:
- Stopwatch or watch with a second hand for timing contractions
- Phone list of contacts to announce your baby's birth to friends and family, including a cell phone, phone card, calling card, or change for calls
- Snacks and drinks for the coach, and, if allowed by the hospital, for you
- Massage rollers, massage oils to relieve back pain from labor
- The object you have chosen to use to focus your attention during labor (the "focal point")
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- Items the Hospital Will Need From You
Items you will need to bring to the hospital:
- Health plan insurance card
- Hospital admissions papers (you may have to be pre-admitted)
- Pregnancy medical file, including over-the-counter and prescription medicine information
- Birth preferences
- Contact information of the health care provider who will be caring for your baby, so the hospital can let the office know your baby has arrived
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- Other Important Items
Other items to bring with you:
- Money for parking
- Camera
- Books, magazines
- Music (portable music player and favorite tapes or CDs)
- Cell phone and charger
- Items that comfort or soothe you, such as such as crystals, prayer beads, lockets, and photographs
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References
Carlo WA. The newborn infant. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 94.
Kilatrick S, Garrison E. Normal labor and delivery. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 12.
Wesley SE, Allen E, Bartsch H. Care of the newborn. In: Rakel RE, Rakel D, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 21.
