What to Bring to the Hospital When You're Having a Baby

Hospitals will usually bill you down the road for labor. Expect a bill from the hospital within a month or sometimes a few months down the line. Examine the bill to be sure that the charges are correct. When you go to the hospital, be sure to have your medical insurance information on-hand, as well as some cash and credit cards. Most hospitals will not expect payment directly following the procedure and your dismissal. You'll also want cash and/or credit for food, beverages, and anything else you might need to pick up (or have someone pick up for you) while you're in the hospital.

Be sure to bring:

• Cash for food, credit if paying for medical services
• Insurance information and medical cards
• Arrange new pediatrician for baby prior to birth and notify doctor via phone when you are going in (the day of -- they will examine the baby after birth)
• Also read: Insurance for your Baby

One hospital essential to occupy free time leading up to the birth is games. Are you really going to be in the mood to be playing games? Possibly not, and depending on how long you'll be waiting, you may not have time.

Not every baby's birth goes quickly. Some wait for days, or a week. You may find that plans change, and the waiting can be excruciatingly boring. You never know how long you can end up waiting, so you bring games to play with your partner or family to pass the time. These can be board games, or you can get a portable gaming system like a DS or PSP. If you don't think you're the gaming type, keep in mind they have Sudoku, puzzle games, and other brain teasers.

Suggestions:

• Travel size board games
• Deck of cards
• Portable game system

Again, something to pass the time! This can be a long process sometimes, so getting your mind off of the upcoming birth can help relieve your stress, and even help you to get to the delivery point (if you remain calm, that is). You'll want to bring your favorite magazines, new books that you find interesting, and a portable DVD player if you have one, along with a few of your favorite movies. Plan ahead by heading out to the book store a few months before your due date and keeping them in your hospital tote, ready to go.

• Favorite magazines
• New books (a Kindle or Nook would be a great idea)
• Portable DVD player w/ movies

Everyone will be waiting for you to keep them in the loop while you're in the hospital. If you have a long wait time before the birth, you may want to talk to others through text or phone calls, so having a cellphone is a good idea. Some hospitals have rules about using cellphones from the hospital, which is usually displayed right in the room. You can also take your baby's first photo right from your phone and email it to friends and family via mass text message. That's a popular way to notify everyone that your new baby is here!

• For first baby photo to send to friends and family
• Text or call people to keep them in the loop
• Avoid high cost of using hospital room phones
• Use it to browse the web if necessary

You'll want to bring the following things to the hospital for clothing:

• A take-home outfit for the baby. This is a comfortable, weather appropriate clothing set. Great for first baby photos, too.
• A change of clothes for the baby. This could be a onesie with long sleeves and some pants and socks -- in case an accident happens (which they do!).
• A change of clothes for yourself. Get something comfortable to wear after the birth (changing into real clothes after a shower is a great feeling), and clothes for the next day or two, plus sleepwear. Comfort is key! Don't bring anything tight fitting. You will still be big after birth, so bring maternity clothing.
• Towels. Bring a couple for the seat in the car in case your water breaks, and one for the ride home, too. You may even want to put a trash bag underneath the towel to block fluids from getting into the seat, should that happen.

A Boppy is simply a comfortable pillow for you and baby that fits around you so you can nurse baby and not have to put the baby in awkward positions. Right after birth, the baby will want skin on skin contact, but later in the day or the next day, a Boppy will come in handy. There are quite a few different slipcovers available, all of them machine washable. Be sure to pack this in your bag (or on top of your bag, since it's pretty big) so you're ready to go.

• Makes feeding easier - for nursing or bottles
• Prevents you from having to put the baby in uncomfortable positions (for you and baby)
• Machine washable covers in case of spills - and very lightweight

One thing you will probably want to do, provided you can walk, is take a warm shower. You will feel much better if you do. Ask the doctor or nurses if they recommend it before doing so. You'll want to take your own bath products with you. The hospital doesn't provide great bath products, and it's nice to be able to use what you're used to. You may also want your other toiletries for the day and night.

Be sure to bring:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner
• Hair brush, hair clips
• Lotions

A car seat is required before you leave the hospital. It should be up to date and up to code. If your car seat is more than four or five years old, you may have to buy another seat that is up to new codes. Anything in stock at major department stores is going to be up to code. Check your local regulations by searching Google for the name of your state plus the keywords "car seat regulations." The dot gov website for your state will provide you with the correct, up to date information. You can bring the car seat in when you arrive, or have someone else bring the seat in on the day you depart.

Chicco Car Seat and Stroller

This is the infant car seat that I invested in for my baby. It's worked tremendously well, and has great reviews (above 95% positive). The car seat has been named as one of the safest available, and the stroller is sturdy and great for walks and trips out. The car seat easily detaches from the car seat base into the the stroller, so you'll never have to move them in and out. It converts perfectly when your child becomes a toddler into a regular stroller, putting other strollers to shame.

Diapers.com, featured here, has the best price for this model.

You'll want to have as many photos as possible of your little one once they arrive. You can't have too many. Take them with your cellphone, as well as your digital camera. Don't rely totally on your cellphone, since the quality won't be as good. When you arrive home, be sure to upload the photos quickly to preserve them. Back them up on at least one other place, and consider an online back up. Don't forget to have photos printed as well! It can be easy to forget with a new baby, but people are going to want a physical picture to hold and display. You can also use digital photo frames.

Before delivery, not many people are going to be visiting you -- and you probably won't want to see anyone. Therefore, the option to get food outside of the hospital is not usually an option. Bring in some healthy snacks to munch on before birth. You'll need all the energy you can get for this experience! Some ideas are fresh fruit that doesn't need to be kept cold (bananas, oranges, apples), and dry snacks that aren't too salty. Stock up on water and drinks, too, and remind the Dad-to-be that he should keep himself fed and stocked on food.