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Birth packing list for CLM families
Packing your hospital bag when your baby has a congenital lung malformation feels different from a typical delivery. You may be preparing for a planned C-section, a longer stay, or the possibility that your baby will need time in the NICU. This practical packing list was put together by CLM parents who have been through it, so you can focus on when the day arrives. Whether your baby has been diagnosed with CPAM, BPS, or another congenital lung malformation, being prepared can help you feel more in control.
For you (the one giving birth)
Everything on a normal hospital packing list still applies: comfortable clothes, toiletries, long phone charger, going-home outfit. These are the extras we'd add:
A written birth plan or preferences sheet. A single page, ideally a printed copy you can hand to a nurse. Include what matters most to you: whether you want skin-to-skin if possible, whether your partner should go with the baby to the NICU or stay with you, any anxieties you want the team to be aware of.
A copy of your baby's prenatal imaging summary. You will probably have been seen by multiple specialists during your pregnancy, and the team delivering your baby may not have all of that information immediately to hand, especially if you are delivering at a different hospital from where your MFM care was managed. A printed or saved summary of your baby's diagnosis, CVR measurements, and any relevant notes from your MFM or pediatric surgeon can be helpful to have with you. Ask your care team in advance what they'd recommend you bring if you will be giving birth in a different location or system.
Snacks and drinks. Pack more than you think you need, including things your partner can eat one-handed while holding a baby.
A long phone charger cable. Hospital outlets are never where you need them to be. A 6- or 10-foot cable makes a real difference, especially in a NICU chair.
Comfortable layers. Hospitals are cold, NICUs are warm, and you will likely be going between the two, even if just for a few hours. A zip-up hoodie or cardigan you can easily put on and take off is more useful than one perfect outfit. If you are recovering from a C-section, front-opening tops and high-waisted, soft-banded pants or shorts are much easier than anything you have to pull over your head or that sits on your incision.
Slip-on shoes. You will be walking between your room and the NICU, possibly multiple times a day, possibly while sore and exhausted. Shoes you don't have to bend down to put on are a small thing that matters a lot.
Headphones or earbuds. The NICU is noisy (alarms, monitors, other babies). If you are sitting with your baby for long stretches, having something to listen to can help. Some parents also find it helpful during labor to have a playlist or podcast ready. You can also bring a speaker for the room (some of our moms played music to their baby while they were in the NICU).
A notebook or notes app. You are going to be given a lot of information very quickly, from the OB team, the NICU team, possibly a pediatric surgeon. It is hard to retain all of it when you are tired, emotional, and recovering from birth. Write things down, or ask your partner to. Include the names of doctors and nurses if you can. You will want to remember who told you what.
For your partner or support person
A change of clothes and basic toiletries. Your partner may end up sleeping at the hospital. Pack as if they might be there for two to three days even if you're hoping for less.
Their own snacks. Your partner will forget to eat. Pack for them too.
A conversation in advance. This isn't something you pack, but it belongs on this list. Talk before you go into labor about what you each want: do they stay with you after delivery or go with the baby? Who do they call, and when? What do you want them to advocate for if you aren't able to speak for yourself? Do they want to cut the umbilical cord? These conversations are much easier to have at home than in a delivery room.
For the baby
You may not need much for the baby during the hospital stay, especially if they spend time in the NICU. But pack the basics:
A going-home outfit. Something soft, easy to get on and off, and weather-appropriate. If your baby has had any monitoring leads or IV lines, snaps or zips are easier than anything that pulls over the head.
A car seat. This is required for discharge. If your baby has been in the NICU, the hospital may do a car seat test (monitoring your baby's breathing and oxygen levels while seated in the car seat) before they are cleared to go home. Make sure it's installed before you go into labor; you will not want to be figuring it out in a hospital car park while sleep-deprived.
A blanket. NICUs provide blankets, but having one from home can be comforting for you and can carry your scent, which some parents like to leave with the baby if they have to be apart.
Things you might not think to pack
A small photo of any siblings. If you have older children at home, some parents like to put a photo near the baby's NICU cot. It can also be a nice way to introduce the baby to older siblings before they visit.
An ultrasound photo of baby. After a stressful and anxious pregnancy, it’s helped some of the moms at the CLM Society to take one of their baby’s ultrasound pictures into the hospital. It can be part of bonding and can remind you that birth is something you and your baby are doing together as a team.
A folder or envelope for paperwork. You will accumulate forms, wristbands, discharge instructions, imaging reports, NICU summaries. Having one place to put all of it saves you from looking through bags later.
A list of questions. Before you go to the hospital, write down anything you want to ask the NICU team or pediatric surgery team. A list on your phone or on paper means you won't forget.
What not to overpack
The hospital and NICU will provide diapers, wipes, formula if needed, swaddles, and hats.
If your NICU stay ends up being longer than expected, your partner or a family member can always bring more from home.