For labor
- Your birth plan and baby care plan.
- Your insurance card, identification, and any hospital paperwork you need.
- Your eyeglasses.
- Toiletries - toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, a brush and comb, hair band and barrettes.
- A bathrobe, birthing outfit, slippers, and a couple of pairs of socks. Don’t wear the hospital gown. Choose something loose and comfortable that's either sleeveless or has short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily and so you can slip the gown off without difficulty if you want to change and have an IV in place. Bring your own slippers and robe for walking around during the early stages of labor.
- A few sports drinks and a large bottle for water – have a straw that goes in the bottle.
- Food and snacks that aren’t junk food, and you don’t mind seeing again. Peanut butter tastes the same coming up and going down. I don’t recommend heavy dairy products.
- Unscented massage oils or lotions, music, an extra pillow, whatever you need to help you relax. (If you do bring your own pillow, be sure to use a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn't get mixed up with the hospital's.)
- Talismans, a picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring.
- CDs and a way to play them – bring a variety.
- Watch with a second hand.
- Something light to read, if you're so inclined. (This might be especially helpful if you're heading to the hospital to be induced and might be there quite a while before you have any serious contractions to deal with.)
- Bring a funny movie and a way to play it.
For your partner/labor coach
- Money for parking and change for vending machines.
- A few basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and deodorant.
- A change of clothes, and remember to dress in layers.
- A pillow for you.
- Knee pads – like the ones in the gardening section.
- Food and a large bottle for water.
- A camera/video camera with memory card and batteries (or film or tape). Note: Not all hospitals allow videotaping of the birth itself, but there's usually no rule against taping during labor or after the birth.
- A bathing suit. If your partner wants to take a bath or shower during labor, you may want/need to jump in with her.
