Checklists for Your Pregnancy & Hospital Stay

Pregnancy ChecklistMonths 1 to 3:

• Meet with your obstetrician/midwife
• Prepare question list for your prenatal visits
• Continue taking vitamins
• Maintain healthy eating habits
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol or take street drugs
• Avoid smoking areas
• Obtain exercise guidelines from your care provider
• Start pregnancy photo album
• If returning to work following birth, arrange for child care

Months 3 to 6:

• Preregister for your hospital stay at St. Elizabeth's Medical center
• Consider infant feeding options
• Register for childbirth/refresher/sibling preparation, breastfeeding classes, infant and child CPR and safety classes

Months 6 to 9:

• Select your pediatrician/infant care provider
• Interview and select reliable babysitters
• Discuss your desires for your birth experience with your provider
• Prepare your nursery
• Make arrangements for infants/children at home during your hospital stay
• Pack a suitcase for you and your baby
• Pack telephone numbers for friends and family members
• Plan transportation to and from the hospital and become familiar with the route
• Borrow or buy an infant car seat (certified for use in motor vehicles)
• Attend childbirth/breastfeeding/baby care classes

Hospital Stay Checklist

• If you arrive at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., please enter through St. Margaret's entrance and register at the front desk.
• If you arrive after 11 p.m., please proceed to the Emergency Room Entrance.  You will be registered and escorted to the Labor & Delivery Suite, where a labor nurse will greet you.
• Your nurse and a physician or midwife will evaluate you and attend to your needs.
• To protect your privacy at all times we will not reveal any information during your stay.  All information regarding you and your baby must come directly from you or your partner.  To avoid interruption of medical care, we will allow no more than 3 support people to accompany you while in labor.  If there are other family or friends here they will be directed to wait in the Lobby of St. Margaret's and you will be connected to them by a dedicated "Stork Line."
• After the birth of your baby you will stay on the labor floor before transferring to your postpartum hospital room, where you will be for the remainder of your stay.
• On the postpartum floor you will enjoy a full array of services including our breast-feeding consultant & support, infant massage, a digital camera to take pictures of the baby for the welcome baby web site, a special dinner for you and a guest, access to the New Born Channel and baby care classes.
• In anticipation of going home, your physician/midwife will review the discharge plan.  You and your newborn may be eligible for a home nursing visit after discharge.  Please inquire about this option.

Please remember

• Choose your pediatrician prior to labor
• Bring the car seat to the hospital make sure that it is in good working condition and that you know how to use it
• Bring a change of clothing for you and your baby