Babies Part 2: Preparing for Delivery

Work on a plan with your provider

You will want to make sure that you work with your OB to figure out what the delivery plan is. This will include making sure that you do whatever is needed to register with labor and delivery at the hospital or whatever procedure they may have.

Touring the facility really helped us feel more comfortable when it came time for the delivery, especially when you are hyper focused on "oh no the baby is coming" you want as few surprises or unknowns as possible.

Many facilities also offer some sort of "Preparing for childbirth" class where they will walk you through all of the options you will have as you prepare for delivery. One of the best things they offered us was the My Preferences worksheet which allowed us to print it out and discuss at least our initial plan (which we knew might change once we got there).

Dry Run Drive

Okay, a full dry run of the hospital drive might be excessive. But you should know your route, where to park, where you need to check in, etc.

For example for our route I know the exit I need to get off the freeway, how to get to the parking garage, which entrance to use, where the security desk is, and finally how to get to Labor and Delivery.

You really don't want to be having to figure things out on the fly.

House, Pets, Plants, etc

Likely you will be in the hospital for 48 to 72 hours in the best case scenario. So obviously makes sense that you'd need to make sure that everything at home is fine without you for a time.

We pre-scooped all our dogs food in to some ziploc bags so that it was easier for the caretaker to feed him.

In our case we also had our two girls that needed looking after, and thankfully Grandma was ready to come stay with the girls for a few days, the benefit being that she could take them to daycare during the day.

What do I need?

In post 1 we covered some of the items you will want on your registry, but here we wanted to cover the absolute minimums you will need (especially in the event that baby comes early.

At Home

For Baby

• Newborn diapers, wipes, onesies, sleepers, swaddles
• Crib or Bassinet
• Blankets and muslins
• Bottles (even if you plan on breastfeeding, just in case)
• Small formula container (again just in case)
• Pacifiers (your pinky is a great substitution)

For Mom

• Tucks (witch hazel pads)
• Dermoplast spray
• Heavy Duty Pads
• Clothes you dont mind getting dirty
• Fluid protection for your furniture
• Tylenol
• Advil
• Stool softener
• Nipple cream or aquaphor
• Breast pump order (get familiar with the assembly, and sterilize the parts)

In the Car

• Newborn car seat (you can’t leave the hospital without one)
• Hospital bag(s)

Hospital Bag

Dad

• Clothes & Pajamas
• Toiletries
• Snacks (fruit snacks, protein bars, etc)
• Headphones
• Phone & Charger
• ID (need this to get through security)

Mom

• Go home clothes
• Comfort blanket
• Nursing gown to recover in
• Comfy socks
• Puzzle book and pens
• Headphones
• Phone & Charger
• Snacks (fruit snacks, protein bars, etc)
• Toiletry bag
  • meds, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, chapstick, lotion, hair brush, hair ties

Baby

• Few diapers (less than 5, the hospital will provide plenty)
• Wipes
• Muslin
• Blanket
• 1-2 onesies (diaper blowouts happen early)
• Go home sleeper

Plan for Groceries, Food, Prescriptions

After delivery mom and or baby may have some prescriptions to pick up, so after birth you will want to have a game plan for either picking them up yourselves, or sending friends / family to collect it for you.

Likely you will also want to top off your groceries as the first few days can be wild and you won't want to go anywhere while you get some rest.