Be Prepared for Labor: My Top 10 Must-Have Lists

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure for more information.

You should always seek medical advice from a physician or other qualified health provider for any questions you may have. Any information found in this post, on this blog, and shared on any resources created by Mom Wife and Everyday Life is based on my personal experience as a mom and should not be taken as professional advice. The contents of this website are for general informational purposes.

Are you a planner? If you are, I am about to share with you exactly what I did to prepare for the birth of my first child.

I made so many lists!

Some lists were for medical staff, some were for my husband, and others were just for me.

Going into childbirth you do whatever you can to be prepared. But it is hard. You read and read, but can’t know how it is going to happen.

Lists were the key to me feeling like I did everything I could to prepare.

An essential part of making lists is actually using the lists. You should attempt to complete the list when you can or have it available to reference when needed.

Alright, let’s get to the lists!

1. Last Month of Pregnancy

This list includes things such as stocking up on household supplies, creating freezer meals, and completing any household projects before your baby’s arrival. Other tasks include packing your hospital bags and downloading a contraction app.

This list can also include things to do to prepare your body for labor, like starting to do daily squats or eating dates.

I would suggest making this list as early as possible that way you can get going on completing the tasks.

Check out another article I wrote on How to Make the Most of Your Third Trimester to Get Prepared for Baby.

2. Packing for the Hospital

Break this list up into 4 sections:

momma
daddy
baby
miscellaneous

Then I would suggest possibly breaking it down even further for momma. At some hospitals, you give birth in one room and spend the rest of your stay in another room.

For this reason, I packed two smaller bags. One bag was for labor and the other for postpartum.

Check out Packing for the Big Day: A Minimal List for a Hospital Birth.

Almost all of our belongings fit into one huge duffel, so we broke it up using packing cubes. Daddy had a large cube, baby had a large cube, momma had a small cube for laboring and another small cube for postpartum.

These are the packing cubes we used. I intentionally found cubes with different colors so we could easily identify which cube held which items.

3. Last Minute Items to Pack

This list is a part of the overall packing list but has its own importance. Some items are going to be last minute, your phone, for example. These are often some of the most important items and they need to be packed last minute.

You do not know what condition you will be in at the time of labor. Maybe you end up with a scheduled C-section or scheduled induction. Or your water breaks, contractions come on hard, and you are a flustered mess.

Have this list for you and your partner to reference.

4. Early Labor

Let me start here by saying this is not medical advice for what to do when you are in labor. These are things to do if you feel you have time at home. If you need to get to the hospital immediately this list goes out the window!

Things to include on your list to do before heading into the hospital included: a final bump picture, weigh yourself for the last time, journal how you are feeling, and pack those final items. (my list #3)

This could also be getting your phone to full charge. You may need to drop your pet off somewhere or inform your pet sitter that you are leaving your fur baby and they need to tend to them shortly.

I am primarily focusing on first-time mommas here, but if you do have older children you need to notify their caregivers at the first sign of labor. You may not be ready to take off for the hospital, but you want to give them as much notice as possible.

You may even want the caregiver to come over and take your child out of the home while you labor. They could take them to a park or simply outside to play. This could be a huge help.

If you feel you have time, consider taking a shower and styling your hair. Some moms are into this and others are not. Take it or leave it.

This is an optimistic list. You never know when you are going to go into labor, how quickly things will progress, or if a scheduled induction will be your route.

This list is one that due to certain circumstances can easily be tossed out.

If you need to get to the hospital get going!

5. Hospital Check-In

Have a printout of this list for your partner and make sure they can answer these questions. This list is helpful because you may be to the point where you don’t want to talk while getting checked in at the hospital. Depending on how far along contractions are this list could come in handy.

What is your birthday?
Are you allergic to any medications?
Have you had high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Are you on any medications?
What is your baby’s due date?
Have you had any previous pregnancies?
Are you positive or group B strep?
When did contractions start and how far apart are they?
Has your water broken?
Have you had any vaginal bleeding?
When did you last eat or drink?

You may not be asked all of these questions, but this is a good list to have. If you haven’t noticed prepared is the way I roll.

If you can register beforehand a good chunk of these questions will be answered then.

This list may be overkill, but it is one more step in being prepared.

list of lists to help you prepare for labor

6. Birth Plan

Your birth plan is your personal plan. I cannot tell you what it should include. However, I would suggest breaking it down to what truly matters to you.

Think about the different phases, such as while you are laboring, the moment of birth, and the first hour after birth. You can extend beyond that, but I would say those areas are a good place to start.

Another common suggestion is to keep it to one page.

Bring a few printed copies for your medical staff and consider printing them on colored paper. White will easily get lost.

7. Positive Affirmations

Going into labor with a positive mindset is important. This is a huge day in your life and the life of your baby. Why not kick it off with positive vibes and thinking.

Positive affirmations are words or sayings that help encourage you. Remember this list doesn’t help if you leave it in the bag! When you arrive set it out on your hospital tray where it will be handy.

Use beautiful fonts and colors. Write it out by hand if you are creative like that. Make this list very personal to you.

Here are some examples of what was on my list:

I can do anything for 15 seconds
i trust my body
I will meet my baby today
my contractions are not stronger than me because they are me
ride the waves of the ocean, don’t fight it

This list is dependent on your birth plan and if you have intentions to labor naturally for any amount of time.

A list of positive affirmations is crucial to help you cope with labor pain.

8. Support Person Recommendations

Your support person doesn’t always know what to do or what you need. Some partners are completely in tune with one another, which is so amazing, but others may struggle.

Even if you are incredibly in tune with each other, have you ever gone through delivering a baby together? If this is your first birth I’m going with a no. Even you momma may not know what you want or need during the process.

My suggestion is to compile a list and let your partner read it over. Discuss that these are ideas of how they can help and support you during labor.

This list may include things that in the moment you actually don’t want. For example, if massage is on the list, but at certain points during labor you don’t want anyone to touch you. That’s ok. It was just an idea.

This is a loose guide. These are ideas so they don’t completely blank and stand around helplessly. Here are some examples of what you could include.

help time contractions
heating pad on your back if hurting
sneak a few labor pictures
lower back massage with fists, hands, or tennis ball
hip squeezing
head/face massage
keep my hands, face, and jaw relaxed
remind me to sway/move/walk
talk through positive affirmations list

Whenever you feel like something new is happening or no progress is being made check the list. It may help you when you don’t know what to do next.

9. Visitor Plan

Discuss ahead of time who will be meeting the baby and when. It can be overwhelming to have too many people at once.

Typically I would say know who is coming to the hospital, but with Covid, that’s a no.

Have a plan for going home. Do you want anyone there or would you prefer to settle in and have an hour or two before family arrives?

Is it important that grandparents meet the baby before aunts, uncles, and cousins? If this is not your first baby you may want your older child or children to meet the baby first.

How about that first week home? Do you want this to be the time for family and friends or would you prefer it to be a time to bond as a family and get settled in?

Have your plan. Discuss it as a couple first. Then let those close to you know the plan in advance so there won’t be any surprises.

Also, consider the fact when you come home you will be recovering from birth. You don’t know how you will be feeling. Your milk will come in a few days after giving birth. Whether or not you plan to breastfeed your milk will make its grand entrance. It may not be a time you want company over.

Please don’t overbook yourselves. You need to rest, recover, and bond as a family. Your needs and the needs of your baby are more important than a friend or family member coming over to hold and meet your little munchkin.

10. Breastfeeding Tips

If you plan to breastfeed I strongly believe preparing ahead of time can benefit you. Put a list together of helpful tips, tricks, and advice. I broke my list down into categories. Here is a snippet of what I included.

The Beginning

when milk comes in it can happen quickly
feed or pump often to avoid engorgement
milk comes in 2-5 days after birth

Feeding/Latching

hunger cues: stretching, turning head, rooting, hands to mouth, fussing
baby’s body lined up straight; not a twisted neck
make sure they can breathe through their nose

End Feeding

feeding last 10-30 minutes typically
feed every 1.5-3 hours
use a finger to break the latch

Pumping

vary pump speed; fast slow fast to create letdown
pump after feedings to completely drain breast to increase milk supply

Night

keep lights low
keep it quiet (no TV, videos, phone)
wake baby during the day for feedings (don’t let them sleep all day)

General

drained breasts make milk faster
full breasts make milk slower
breastfeed 8-12 times per day
drink water constantly
have snacks available constantly

The reason I suggest making this list is before your baby is born you have time. You have calm. You have energy. Then your baby is born and it has possibly been a wild ride. You are likely overwhelmed and exhausted.

Keep this list handy as a quick reference tool. Place this list wherever you plan to breastfeed your baby.

Conclusion

I hope these lists help you get organized before the arrival of your little one. If this is too much for you, prioritize what is most important or relevant for you. Pick those out and make them personal for you.

Do your research, put in the time, and have conversations with your partner. Try to communicate how your ideal experience will go. Work as a team to put these lists together.

Some things, such as breastfeeding, you may think your partner doesn’t need to know about, but they do. You will be tired. You will forget things. For example, the hunger cues from the breastfeeding lists will help your partner know when it is time to feed the baby. They can remind you or bring the baby to you. Let them help you.

Take my general lists and tailor them to your wants, needs, and lifestyle.

Please realize though no matter how many plans and lists you make it doesn’t always go accordingly. Be prepared for the fact everything on your lists are your ideal situations, which is not always reality. Do your best momma to go with the flow. Ride the waves, don’t fight the ocean.

You will do great at navigating your way through.