Pack Your Bag
Your overnight bag should be packed several weeks before your due date. Your obstetrician will tell you when to go the hospital once your labor starts. Here are some things to include in your overnight bag.
- Insurance card, the telephone number of your insurance company and photo identification
- CD or cassette player with music to listen to your favorite relaxing tunes
- Camera and/or video equipment (Please note that permission from hospital staff being photographed is required, and that photographing or videotaping other patients is not allowed
- An extra pillow with a colored pillowcase, to differentiate it from hospital bedding
- Socks to warm your feet
- Snacks for the dad or labor coach (Remember, you can only have ice chips during labor)
- Address or telephone book to call friends and family
- Nightgown or pajamas, robe, underwear and slippers to wear after your delivery
- Nursing bra if you plan to breastfeed, standard bra if you plan to bottle feed
- Toiletries such as shampoo, brush, comb, hair dryer, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and any other essentials for beauty and hygiene
- Reading material such as books and magazines
- Baby book to get your baby's footprints after delivery
- Loose-fitting clothes to wear home
- Baby clothes, including an outfit, hat, booties and blanket
- An approved infant car seat
What not to bring
- Medications or prescriptions from home
- Large amount of cash
- Jewelry