Pack Your Bags and Make Plans for a New Family Member

Pack Your Bags and Make Plans for a New Family Member

At the end of the second trimester, it's time to start thinking about packing your bag for the hospital. You don't need much, but you want to be ready, just in case. Pack this bag and put it in the trunk of your car, so you have it with you at all times.

Things to pack include the following:

• Toiletries
• Slippers
• An outfit to wear home, keeping in mind that it should be something loose and comfortable (you won't shed that weight as fast as you'd like)
• Nursing bras and underwear (preferably old, since you'll still be bleeding and might end up throwing them away)
• PJs or gown (again, you'll probably want to wear the hospital's gowns at least the first night, because you might end up staining anything you bring)
• Robe
• Favorite pillow
• Music player and music (if you want this in the labor room to soothe you)
• Baby clothes and blankets to carry the baby home
• Baby car seat
• Camera and/or video camera

Most importantly, make sure that you have a cell phone with you at all times, and that it is charged. You never know when you might have an emergency or your water might break. Be prepared. Make sure your husband or support person also has a cell phone with him and turned on at all times. And keep important phone numbers programmed in your phone. At the "pregnant" moment, you will probably be too excited to remember anyone's phone number.