Obviously, the main people to worry about in the delivery room are the mother and then the baby once they are born. For this post, I will be focusing on what the dad needs while in the delivery room. You will likely be at the hospital or birthing center for several days, so it’s imperative to be prepared. Remember that you will likely be the main caregiver for your wife or partner, so take the time to make yourself comfortable and feel at home while in the delivery room.
Here are some of the essentials:
- Comfortable clothes and several changes of clothes. Make sure to have warm clothing as the room can get cold.
- A phone charger and a power bank. Perhaps a book or other type of entertainment because there will likely be some downtime.
- Snacks, water/hydration, and whatever else you enjoy. Of course, if the hospital has a good cafeteria or cafe, knock yourself out.
- Toitetries
- Pillows, blankets, and whatever else you need for a comfortable night’s sleep.
- Definitely have some cash and/or credit cards on hand. Of course, there are many types of payment methods now.
- Important paperwork that you may need to have or work on.
- A proper ID.
If you have room in your bag, you can store some things for your partner too. Find out what you can bring yourself to make your partner’s stay more comfortable. For example, we had a mini fan with us that I used for my wife during the delivery process, as the room can get quite warm.
Make a small bag yourself well ahead of time so you can easily grab it when it’s time to go to the hospital. Don’t try to search for and pack all of these items last minute. Basically, whatever you can bring with you to feel more at home that is allowable at the hospital, take with you. Bear in mind that the hospital will provide many of the basics that you need, like toiletries and bedding, if you’re okay not using your own for a few days.
Nomadic Nurse Ankit 