Skip to Content
  1. icon-arrow-left
    Pregnancy
Pregnancy · article

A nurse’s checklist: Packing for labor and delivery

Pregnant woman making a list

Bringing a new life into the world is extraordinary. To ease your labor, delivery and postpartum journey, it helps to have a few comforts from home.

“This is an exciting time in life. It’s the moment you finally get to meet your baby and see their face,” says Donna Poplawski, APN, an advanced practice nurse at Atlantic Health System. “There’s no need to overpack for the few days you’re in the hospital. We have everything you need right here, but a few extras can make your experience more comfortable and relaxing.”

1. Baby’s car seat: Make sure you know how to properly place your baby in the car seat and secure the base in the car so you’re ready for the trip home from the hospital.

2. Hospital documents: Pre-register with the hospital before your due date and read the information the hospital sends you prior to admission. On delivery day, bring your photo ID, insurance cards, and any necessary hospital paperwork.

3. Clothing: Pack loose-fitting pajamas with easy skin-to-skin access for baby. You may want your own robe, slippers, flip flops, and socks. Also bring a comfortable bra and a few pairs of cotton underwear.

4. Toiletries: A toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, hairbrush, and hair ties are essentials. Also consider packing your shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, deodorant and lotion. If you’re planning to breastfeed, you can use the hospital’s nursing pads and nipple cream or bring your own.

5. Entertainment: TVs are in each room, but to pass time during early labor, bring a book, magazine, or downloaded music or movies on your phone or tablet. Don’t forget your charger.

6. Personal items: Leave your jewelry at home. Pack your eyeglasses or contact lenses, water bottle, and your phone/camera. Leave any required medications at home, the hospital can provide those for you.

7. Snacks: Your support partner may want healthy drinks or snacks to stay fueled throughout the process.

8. Extras: Massage tools and essential oils can provide comfort during key moments. Leave your pillow at home, but pack gifts for older siblings, if needed.

9. Birth plan: If you and your doctor have discussed a birth plan, bring printed copies of it with you so your birthing team knows your pain relief preferences and if you plan to breastfeed.

10. Going-home outfits: For the journey home, mom needs loose-fitting clothes and comfortable shoes, and baby needs an outfit. If you plan to do your hair and makeup, bring what you need.

“This is a time to welcome your little one into the world through the miracle of childbirth, so keep the packing to a minimum,” says Donna, who notes that most choose hospital gowns over pajamas because of their easy skin-to-skin access. “Above all, remember to bring your love, hugs, and snuggles for baby, and we can take care of the rest.”

Find Primary CareMaternal-Fetal Medicine
Published: March 22, 2024

Related articles

Women's HealthObstetrician vs. midwife: How to choose a birthing partnerLearn from Atlantic Health what to consider when choosing an obstetrician or midwife and how to find the one that’s right for you.
PregnancySeven tips for choosing a maternity hospitalChoose the best place to deliver your baby with Atlantic Health’s expert maternity care and support.
Women's Health6 truths about perimenopause an OB/GYN wants you to knowUnderstand perimenopause symptoms, timing and treatment options. Atlantic Health shares expert insights to help you navigate this phase with confidence and support.
PregnancyGestational diabetes: Dispelling the mythsLearn the myths and facts about gestational diabetes, including risks, diagnosis, and how to manage blood sugar for a healthy pregnancy from an Atlantic Health expert.
Women's HealthWhat urine can reveal during your pregnancyPregnancy can change your urine in surprising ways. From color to smell to frequency, this Atlantic Health expert explains what’s normal—and what’s not.
PregnancyHigh blood pressure during pregnancy: what you need to knowPregnancy stresses a woman’s heart. In its most severe form, it is called preeclampsia, which is potentially life-threatening and can have lifelong cardiac implications for mother and baby.
Mental WellnessBlack maternal health: Support for postpartum depressionIn honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we look at risk factors, barriers to care and how to support Black women with anxiety and postpartum depression.
Women's Health6 ways that hormones affect your skinHormone fluctuations affect your skin. From teenage acne to menopausal dryness, an Atlantic Health expert explains the connection between hormones and skin, and how to keep skin healthy.
Women's HealthAre cramps normal in early pregnancy?Learn more about first trimester cramps, what they feel like and when to seek care if you’re concerned with advice from an expert at Atlantic Health.
Women's HealthHow multiple sclerosis symptoms show up for womenLearn the symptoms of MS and how they impact women from an expert at Atlantic Health.
Women's HealthPainful periods or something more? Why endometriosis is hard to diagnose Endometriosis affects one in 10 women, but it’s often overlooked. An Atlantic Health expert shares the signs of endometriosis, new ways to diagnose it and the treatment options that bring relief.
Heart HealthThe menopause-heart health connectionMenopause can raise heart disease risk. An Atlantic Health cardiologist explains the connection and shares how women can protect their heart health.