Preparing for Childbirth
Make your childbirth experience at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital go as smoothly as possible by learning how to prepare for the big day.
View Prenatal Classes & Events
Before You Arrive for Labor & Delivery
Before your due date, you’ll want to:
- Choose a Pediatrician, who can care for your newborn for the first time at the hospital
- Learn about car seat safety before your baby’s ride home from the hospital.
- Plan your route to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
- Consider the option to donate your birth tissue after the safe delivery of the baby. Donated tissue is used to create lifesaving, life enhancing grafts. See our flyer or learn more at birthtissuedonor.com
Pack a Hospital Bag
Save time by packing a light bag to grab on your way to the hospital and bring with you as you check in. Consider including:
- A case for contacts or eyeglasses (You may wear soft contacts during labor, but only eyeglasses during a C-section.)
- Extra pillows for labor positioning and breastfeeding
- Ponytail holders
- Lip balm
- Music player and relaxing music
- Nursing bra (if you’ll breastfeed) or sports bra (if you’ll formula feed)
- Objects to use as your focal points (pleasant things to look at to distract you from pain)
- Socks, slippers, and robe
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
Pack a Postpartum Bag
After giving birth and moving to a Mother & Baby Suite, ask your partner to go to the car and get a postpartum bag that you packed with items such as:
- Loose, comfortable pajamas
- Shampoo, flat iron or other personal grooming items
- Maternity clothes to wear as you leave
- An outfit for your baby's picture
- An outfit for your baby to wear home
Checking in for Labor & Delivery
You’ll find the entrance to Maternity Services to the right of our hospital’s emergency department. After entering the building, turn left and take the elevator to the third floor.
Next Steps in Your Maternity Experience
After checking in, you’ll move to our obstetric emergency department while we determine if you’re in labor. If appropriate, you’ll then move to our labor and delivery area. You’re advised not to eat during labor, so please don’t bring gum, candy or other foods into the labor and delivery room.
For a scheduled induction or C-section, you’ll go directly to your private room.
After-Childbirth Kangaroo Care
Following a vaginal birth or C-section, you’ll practice Kangaroo Care and recover for two hours before moving to a private Mother & Baby Suite. Unless your baby needs Neonatal Intensive Care, he or she will stay in your room so the two of you can bond.