Pregnancy Checklist - What to pack for the Hospital for Labor and Delivery

If you are having your baby in hospital you will need to take a number of essential and convenience items with you to help you cope with labor and take care of yourself and your new baby. It’s a good idea to have your pregnancy hospital checklist packed and ready about six weeks before your due date just in case your baby comes early. Here is a checklist for what to pack for hospital for labor and delivery.

Mom checklist for labor and delivery:

• A small backpack will be ideal as they don't take up much room.
• 2 comfortable nightgowns or you could wear a hospital nightgown.
• 1 comfortable going home outfit and shoes.
• Bathrobe, nightgown, slippers and a couple pair of socks. You and your baby will be staying in the hospital for 3 to 5 days typically.
• Nursing bra, breast pads, nipple cream, sanitary napkins and maternity underwear. Nurse will help you how to breast feed your baby and various comfortable breastfeeding positions. Read my hub on how to breastfeed a baby for more information.
• Bathroom items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, hairbrush, soap, lip balm, towels and deodorant.
• I was not allowed to eat or drink anything during labor and delivery. I was given just some ice chips and nothing else. You may want to take a gym bottle or water spray bottle for drinking fluids during labor and delivery.
• Your favorite books and CD player. You may not be in the mood for any of these. But labor may take very long periods of time like 24 hours.
• Use this what to pack for labor and delivery list and pack your things in a bag and keep it aside several weeks in advance so when the pain hits you or your partner just needs to grab it and take you to the hospital.

Hospital checklist for your labor partner:

• About $20 in cash and change for food, vending machines and phone calls.
• Change of comfortable clothes.
• Digital camera and camcorder, if you wanna capture those initial moments. Do not forget to charge the batteries.
• Something to keep your partner from bored - books, computer or magazines
• List of phone numbers and cell phone for calling your family and friends after the baby is born.
• Basic bathroom items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shampoo and towels.

Baby checklist:

• Infant carseat
• 2 onesies, newborn hat, socks and mittens
• Pacifier
• Burp cloth
• 2 receiving blankets
• Going home outfit and jacket if the weather is cold.
• Newborn size diapers, wipes, changing pad and diaper bag.
• Plastic bags for dirty diapers.
• Baby bottles, nipples and formula if you are bottlefeeding

Other important checklist for the hospital:

Pregnancy checklist:

• Birth plan
• Insurance cards, check book and credit cards
• Address book with phone numbers
• Hospital Preregistration paperwork, hospital address and phone number.