What to pack for the hospital

We help you prepare for the hospital with a simple check list of key items.

For labor, delivery and hospital stay

• Your driver’s license and insurance card
• A copy of your birth plan
• Your own delivery gown (it’ll look a lot nicer than a hospital-issued gown in all the pictures) We like the dear johnnies cece delivery gown, $68
• Slippers. We like Dearfoams Microfiber Pile Curl Thong in petal pink, $18
• Your iPod, if you’d like to labor to music
• Nursing gown or pajamas and a robe (ones you don’t mind getting messy) Try Aimee's Nursing Gowns
• A good nursing bra like ones from Condessa
• Maternity panties (not only will you still be needing them size-wise, they’re bound to get ruined so you might as well wear ones you’ll be tossing anyway)
• Healthy snacks
• Your makeup bag
• Your toothbrush, deodorant and other toiletries
• A hairbrush
• Lip balm or gloss like Burt's Bees
• A ponytail holder or headband

For the baby

• A going-home outfit (if you’re nervous about the baby-neck thing, opt for one that doesn’t go over the head) that includes a hat and something for those little legs.
• Swaddling blankets
• A pacifier (you might need it on the ride home)

Dad's bag

• Cash (don’t forget singles for vending machines)
• Snacks
• A camera or camcorder
• The “call” list or your address book
• A watch with a second hand (for timing contractions)
• His toothbrush, deodorant and other toiletries
• A change of clothes