The hospital will provide everything you need for your hospital stay but most patients like to bring some of the comforts of home with them. In general, we encourage patients to bring their own medications to the hospital. This eliminates any confusion about what medications you are taking. Your doctor can decide when the medications might be dispensed from the hospital or whether you should take medications from our own supply.  

Here are some suggestions on what to pack:

Items For Mom

Your hospital will supply you with a gown, slippers, disposable underwear, and basic toiletries. While it’s nice to have your own clothes with you, labor and the first few days postpartum is a notoriously messy time, and you may not want to bring out your brand-new lingerie.

• 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, deodorant
• Comfortable and loose fitting clothing to wear home

Items For Baby

• Going home outfit
• Receiving blanket
• Warm clothing to wear home/heavy bunting or blanket (if cold weather)
• Baby socks
• Baby hat (especially for cold weather climates)
• Baby car seat. Baby car seat. A car seat is required by law and should be properly installed in your car before you go to the hospital. Call the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT for more information on the safety rating of a particular model.

Items For Labor Coach

• Stopwatch, or watch with a second hand for timing contractions
• Phone list of contacts to announce birth to friends and family; 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 due to labor
• The object you've chosen to use to focus your attention during labor (the "focal point")

Items For Hospital Staff

• Health plan insurance card
• Hospital admissions papers (you may have to be pre-admitted)
• Pregnancy medical file; over-the-counter and prescription medication information
• Birth preferences
• Your pediatrician’s name and contact information, so the hospital can let the office know your baby has arrived

Other Important Items

• Money for parking
• Camera, still or video or both, film, batteries, videotapes
• Books, magazines
• Music (portable music player; favorite tapes, or CDs)
• Inspirational items such as rocks, crystals, lockets, and photographs.

Don’t for get to pack for Dad!

For more information on what to pack and what not to pack, please visit:

https://www.centralbap.com/pregnancy/hospitalbaby/showarticle.cfm?prodid=14&pid=14&gid=000187