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Get ready for labor
- Pack your hospital bag ahead of time. Install the car seat.
- Use a birth plan to make choices about childbirth.
- Go to all your prenatal care checkups, even if you feel fine.
At the hospital
Every hospital is different, so it's a good idea to schedule a tour of the hospital a few weeks before your due date. This will help you know what to expect when you get there for labor.
When you arrive to have your baby, you will probably:
When you arrive to have your baby, you will probably:
- Fill out hospital admission paperwork, including insurance information (it's common for this to be done in advance through the health care provider)
- Go to the labor and delivery unit
- Change into a hospital gown, or your own nightgown or big shirt
- Be examined to see how dilated (opened) your cervix is
- Be connected to a fetal monitor to time the contractions and check the baby's heartbeat
September 2009
Have questions?
Featured question:
Do I need a birth plan?
