What should dad pack for labor and delivery

Our first two kids were summer babies, and I would be so hot and would always turn up AC. He would freeze and kept trying to turn it down. Your significant other will probably want to stay the night with you and your new baby.

But that means "bed" is a reclining chair or sometimes a couch. This travel pillow is a super comfortable memory foam that is perfect for sleeping sitting up. The set also comes with a warm blanket and a sleep mask that will both make your partner's overnight stay just a little more comfortable. Our labor was 26 hours, and after the birth, they kept us for an extra 48 hours so I had to sleep in reclining chairs.

Hospital pillows SUCK! The hospital staff is concerned with her comfort — not necessarily yours. Again, if your partner is going to stay the night with you, then they need some basics. This kit has all the hygiene necessities like toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant but also has the extras they might want including a razor to shave before pictures and Band-Aids just in case.

If your partner wants women's products, opt for this piece travel kit. Your partner will need to drink water and probably caffeinate. This bottle can help accomplish both of those tasks. The double-wall keeps coffee hot and hands comfortable but is also good at keep beverages cold. The stainless steel filter that comes with this bottle means you can brew tea or coffee while on the go or in the hospital room. You'll also be happy to have this around after baby is born to brew quick cups of coffee that will stay hot.

All the pieces are also dishwasher safe. The last thing your partner will want is be in pain while trying to support you, and the last things you'll want to hear is complaints from your support system.

LOL, do they even know? Come prepared with these packs of pain killers and Tums for stomach pain. The individual packets are quick and easy for travel. Advil because he's going to be hunched over giving you love and support all day and night! Babies aren't always born during hospital hours. So make sure to pack snacks in case your significant other gets hungry.

Avoid hanger and pack these high-protein nut mixes. They are great for travel and will keep your partner full and energized enough to help support you through the big day. If your other half is more of a junk food kind of person, then this variety pack might be a better option.

This selection of Ritz Bits, Chips Ahoy! The tiny bags are a great size to pack and snack on. As a treat for your partner or for you!

The bag comes with all the Jolly Rancher flavors watermelon, apple, cherry, grape and blue raspberry. One mom in the WTE community said these were perfect for her because they weren't as bad to have if she got sick, and they make a good sugary pick-me-up for your partner.

Antibacterial wipes are always good to have around, especially in a hospital. By Terri Isidro-Cloudas. Save Pin More. Start Slideshow. Dad with head and hand on pregnant wife's belly. Credit: Shutterstock. The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist. What to Pack in an Emergency Birth Kit. Credit: Courtesy of TImex. Plugging In Cell Phone. You can stay in touch with loved ones, use it to take those first few pictures, and post your special news on social media.

Aside from your nightgown, you might choose to take some comfortable clothes to wear during your hospital stay. Pack an extra outfit to wear home. Choose something loose-fitting, with a drawstring or elastic waist. Handouts and reference books. You might have received some handy notes from your prenatal classes or have some reference books about newborns. The doctors and nurses will be able to give you lots of personalized guidance, but you might find these resources more useful once you actually have your newborn in your arms.

Snacks and drinks. Labor can sometimes be very long, so you could consider packing some snacks and drinks. However, speak to your medical team about whether or not you will be allowed to eat or drink anything during labor. Also, consider packing some of your favorite snacks for after labor as you may feel like some comfort food during your hospital stay. As a birth partner you might also want to pack some things for your time supporting mom in the hospital:.

Snacks and water. Labor can be thirsty work even for supportive partners. Consider packing some snacks and water, as well as change for the hospital vending machines.

The camera will come in handy to take some happy snaps. Labor is an unpredictable process, so a change of clothes is always a good idea, as you never know how long the stay will be. After a long labor, you might need to freshen up in the shower.

Most hospitals are fine with this, but you can confirm this beforehand. Spare glasses or spare contact lenses. It might be a long day, so having spares of these essentials could come in handy. What about him? Let my story be a cautionary tale to convince you. In just the first few hours that we were at the hospital, my husband lost his wallet left it in the bathroom and got food poisoning from the hospital cafeteria!

Talk about unnecessary stress added to an already stressful event! Doing some planning ahead of time can thin out some of that fog. However, as you can learn from my story, if we had packed a hospital bag for dad, we probably could have eliminated both of those debacles. How devastating would it be if the phone was forgotten not too likely and it died during the most important moment of your lives with no charger much more likely?

Speaking of phones, be sure to have a list of those you need to notify when your sweet baby makes his or her appearance. Close family members may want intermittent updates.