This is a guest post by Josh Moore of https://diaperdads.org/.

This is it: You’ve made the plans, you’ve had the baby shower, and you (hopefully) have a name or two picked out for your newest family member. Are you ready to go directly to the hospital when the time comes? Have you packed your hospital bag yet? There are several items you will need (and some you’ll want) in your to-go bag to be ready for that fateful trip to the hospital. Let’s take a look at some things you definitely don’t want to forget on delivery day.

1. Copies of your birth plan

You know how you want the delivery to go, and if you are bringing a partner, they should know how you plan to proceed on the day of. Your doctor will also hopefully be informed. But what happens if something goes awry and these wishes can’t be communicated to the hospital team caring for you during this time? Having a printed birth plan (several copies of it) can help assuage these fears.

Your birth plan should include your philosophy of birth, what kinds of music you want to play during labor, and what kind of fetal monitoring you would want. You also need to indicate how (and what) pain medication you are willing to receive and at what point in the delivery process. With this written plan, you can improve your readiness for some surprising events. You can’t predict everything, but you can be prepared for some circumstances.

2. Medication and drinks

If you are taking any medications, remember to pack them in your bag. This will help the nurses and other medical staff know what you are taking on a daily basis. They may order them for you during your stay. You can also include things like simple pain medication to take during your recovery (but make sure to run them by your birthing staff to verify you can take them).

3. Toiletries

On average, a normal vaginal birth will lead to a 24- to 48-hour hospital stay. You will definitely want to brush your teeth during that time, so don’t forget your toothbrush. You should also bring any lotions, deodorant, and lip balms you use on a daily basis, along with travel-sized bottles of your shampoo and conditioner.

4. Comfortable change of clothes

Don’t forget that you are going to be uncomfortable, so your clothes should not contribute to that feeling! Pack comfy — but stylish — clothes for new moms that offer a lot of movement and give because you don’t want to be restricted on this day of all days. Some must-have items of clothing include comfortable socks, warm sweatpants or leggings (it’s cold in the labor unit), pajamas, and a nursing bra. You may even want to bring a big robe for easy movement (so you don’t have to wear one of those backless gowns).

5. Miscellaneous accessories

The “other” items you will want are creature comforts that will help you either pass the time during less exciting parts of the delivery (e.g., a good book to read or handheld video game device) or will be useful during your recovery over the next couple days, depending on the length of your stay. These miscellaneous items can include things like extra-long cell phone charging cables and a portable bluetooth speaker, to name a few. You can even bring snacks or essential oils if that will calm you down.

Before you know it...

Now that you have your hospital bag sorted out, you can rest easy until the big day. Take a deep breath and know you’re prepared to welcome your little one to the world! For more inspiring, informative content for new parents, parents-to-be, and seasoned moms and dads, visit Danielle Rivenbark.