So, the day, or night, has finally arrived, and you are headed to the hospital with your wife or partner. She is going into labor and will have the baby soon. It could be a few hours, one day, or a couple of days based on the progress (dilation, effacement, water breakage, etc.) and many other factors.

In addition, the mother and baby will probably remain in the hospital or birthing center for at least 24-48 hours. It could be longer based on the health of the mother and baby and whether it was a C-section or regular birth. The bottom line is that you could end up spending several days in the hospital post-delivery, so it’s important to make yourself comfortable.

Hopefully, the mother made her own hospital bag well before she needed it. Help her create a list of things, so she doesn’t forget. As long as you have the most critical items, that should be good. But do your best to make sure the general comfort items are there. Try to get a tour of the birthing unit, whether in-person or virtual, where you will be going and find out what they have and don’t have so you can have a better idea of necessities to bring in. For instance, what kind of toiletries are available in the unit?

Now, as far as making your own stay comfortable as the dad, create your personal hospital bag. Once again, you could stay at the hospital for several days or more, so pack enough clothes. Having more than not enough is advisable. Remember to bring any item that you cannot be without for a day or two. Of course, consider the hospital or birthing center rules for personal items. If there is important paperwork that needs to be completed, bring it in and work on it during your downtime, which there will be plenty of. If there are snacks you enjoy, bring those as well. Bring a book, computer, or some type of entertainment, because chances are, you will be waiting around for several hours. If there is a special pillow you sleep on, bring it with you since the hospital pillows probably won’t cut it. Well, I hope you get the idea.

Basically, bring necessities and personal items you will need for several days. Don’t count on just running home all the time because you never know what will happen and when. The first 24 hours for us after the baby was born became a whirlwind, with all of the doctors and nurses checking in, various exams, procedures, feedings, diaper changes, visitors, photographs, and getting to know our baby. It was nonstop. I didn’t even get a chance to go home until we were actually discharged. Whatever downtime I did have was used to take a quick Power Nap or support my wife in some way.

There you have it. Whatever comforts of home you can bring with you, do so. However, just know that whatever you bring, you will have to take back and add all of the baby’s items to the pile, including the little infant. Finally, ask your partner if she needs to store something extra in your bag that did not fit into hers. Be a supportive partner from the start.