What to Pack for the Hospital or Birthing Center
After months of waiting and anticipating the arrival of your newborn, the time has finally come to hed to the hospital for delivery. That hospital or birthing center will become home for the next 2-4 days in most cases.
It goes without saying that not even medical experts can tell, with certainty, when exactly you’ll go into labor. Because of this, it is important that you are prepared well before that day comes in order to avoid the stress that comes with last minute preparation. To help you with this, below we have provided a list of items that you should consider bringing to the hospital or birthing center when you go into labor.
- Hospital forms and medical insurance information
- 2 or 3 sets of comfy clothes
- Personal hygiene items such as body wash, a tooth brush & paste, shampoo, etc. (most hospitals & birthing centers provide them)
- Nursing bras and pads (if you plan to breastfeed)
- Coins for the vending machines
- Cell phones and chargers
- Friend and family contact list
- Comfortable slippers and socks
- A timer or stop watch (if you do not have one on your cellphone)
- Comfy clothes and swaddling blankets for the baby
- A nice outfit for the baby’s newborn photos
- Newborn diapers (although most hospitals & birthing centers provide them)
- A video camera and/or digital camera
- Extra pillows and blankets (most hospitals are chilly!)
- Important documents such as your ID, and copy of your medical history
- Books, magazines, movies and music to keep you and your family entertained during labor
- A carseat for the newborn
Please remember that the above content is just a basic list of common hostpial bag essentials. Think about your basic, everyday needs and pack accordingly. Packing these types of items in advance will not only save you time and stress, but it will also make the process of labor and delivery much more comfortable.