Pre-Admission Maternity Checklist

Are You Ready for Your Baby?

This checklist will help you stay on course as you get closer to the big day.

1st Trimester:

• Celebrate! Announce the upcoming event to family and friends. Have a romantic dinner with your partner.
• Stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol and any use of street drugs if you haven't already done so.
• Schedule your first prenatal visit with physician/midwife. Discuss any medications you have been taking.
• Review your insurance coverage and co-pay. Contact your insurance company to see if you need a pre-certification/authorization number.
• Consider starting a pregnancy diary and having someone take a picture of you and your expanding shape each month.
• Make sure to take prenatal vitamins with folic acid.
• Start drinking lots of fluids, particularly water.
• Begin reading about pregnancy.
• Pre-register at the hospital either in person or online. Bring or send a copy of your insurance card.

2nd Trimester:

• Check with your employer about maternity and family leave benefits.
• Register and attend prenatal classes.
• Start thinking about names for your baby. You'll need to fill out birth certificate paperwork before you leave the hospital.
• Start reading and singing to your baby.
• Clean the house, update fire extinguishers and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Choose a doctor for your baby and schedule an introductory meeting. You can call 1 (888) 676-8484 or (727) 462-7500 for a free referral or use our online physician finder.

3rd Trimester:

• Register and tour the hospital's Birth Center where you will give birth.
• If you are considering a tubal ligation, discuss this with your obstetrician around week 30.
• Make arrangements with your obstetrician or pediatrician for circumcision, if that is your choice.
• Discuss an advance medical directive with your physician and family members.
• Shop for baby care items.
• Begin to think about child-care plans, if returning to work.
• Start gathering items to pack for the hospital.
• Make plans about how you will get to the hospital, night and day. Take a practice trip. Check out parking and entrance.
• Learn to use the infant car seat. By law, you must have a car seat for discharge.
• If you have other children, prepare them for the birth. Consider taking a Big Brother, Big Sister class.
• Prepare and freeze some meals.
• Double check that you have needed supplies for baby and mom.