Questions, answered
Short answers, with links to the full guides.
Packing
Papers, clothes, toiletries, a phone and charger, and a few things from home. Ask your hospital or birth center what it provides and what it allows first.
The MedlinePlus checklist says to have items ready about a month before a due date. Ask your clinician.
Papers
MedlinePlus includes your insurance card and a photo ID. Bring any paperwork your hospital asks for.
Car seats
No. We point to NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and to the seat maker's instructions and your vehicle owner's manual.
Ask about what you take
Ask your clinician and your hospital how to handle any medicines you take.
Site line
General information only, not medical advice. We are not a hospital, birth center, or health care provider, and we cannot tell you what your hospital provides, allows, or requires. Ask your clinician and your hospital or birth center what to bring and what to expect. For car seats, follow the seat maker's instructions and your vehicle owner's manual, and see NHTSA's car seat guidance. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.
