What to Pack for a Baby Delivery

When delivery time is near, you want to be packed and ready. You'll need supplies that the mom, baby and birthing coach will need before, during and after the delivery. Women should pack for their baby delivery during the eighth month of the pregnancy to ensure that everything is ready even if the baby comes a little early.

  1. Items for Mom

    • The mother will need required hospital documents like a picture ID and insurance information, comfortable clothes, toiletry items and snacks. Most mothers change clothes repeatedly after delivery as a result of sweating caused by hormonal changes. Extra nightgowns, a light bathrobe and socks will keep the mother cool and comfortable after the delivery. Toiletry items include toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, hair ties to keep hair out of the mother's face during delivery, lip balm---lips may get very dry during the delivery---and extra items such as shampoo, soap and lotion.

      If the mother wears contacts and glasses she may want to bring both of these to the hospital. Contacts may be preferred during the delivery because glasses may fog up and obscure vision while the baby is being delivered; however, glasses may be easier to wear during the recovery period.

      Additional items a mother may want to pack for a baby delivery include comfortable nursing bras and nursing pads, nipple cream, flip flops or slippers, an address book and prepaid phone card, maternity underwear and large sanitary pads, a journal and the baby's baby book, relaxing music and magazines or books.

      New mothers often become very hungry after the delivery, and hospital food may not be enough to quell a new mother's appetite. Healthy snacks such as granola bars, dried fruit, whole wheat crackers, nuts and treats including chocolates or hard candies will come in handy after the delivery.

    Baby Items

    • Hospitals supply baby diapers, blankets and hats, but you may want to pack additional clothes, blankets and booties for the baby's trip home. A pair of infant nail clippers may be needed to trim a baby's long fingernails shortly after birth---or bring a nail file and mittens for the baby's hands---and the baby will need a car seat for the ride home as well.

    Items for the Birthing Partner

    • A bag packed for the birthing partner should contain recording devices for the birth like a video camera or camera, an extra change of clothes, snacks, reading material and change for parking meters and hospital vending machines. The birthing partner may also need to bring a cell phone, contact numbers and a laptop computer if he plans on updating family members and friends on the delivery progress and the baby's information.

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