Preparing for Your Baby's Birth: Hospital Admission Checklist

Checklist and resources to enhance your delivery experience

A pregnant woman in an orange dress sitting on the couch with her daughter and smiling.

Checklist and resources to enhance your delivery experience

Whether this is your first child or a new sibling, bringing a new baby into the world is an exciting and emotional experience. We are honored that you chose Scripps to deliver your baby, and we look forward to caring for both of you. To help ensure your hospital experience goes as smoothly as possible, we encourage you to walk through the checklist below several weeks prior to your due date.

  • Choose a pediatrician. Use our Doctor Finder to find a Scripps pediatrician and let your care team know who you choose. Not all pediatricians visit newborns after birth in the hospital. If your selected pediatrician does not, the pediatrician at the hospital will look after your baby until you both go home. If you are considering having your baby circumcised, please let your pediatrician know before delivery.  Learn more about selecting a pediatrician for your baby.
  • If you have prepared a birth plan, review it with your obstetrician several weeks before your due date and bring a printed copy with you to the hospital. Review our birth plan template to help you get started. 
  • Pack your bags for your hospital stay. We recommend having your bag packed at least one month before your due date. This can help relieve last-minute anxiety and ensure you have everything you need during your hospital stay. Learn more about what to pack. 
  • Review information about early labor and what to do when you think you are in labor (PDF, 460 KB).
  • Take a guided virtual tour of your birthing hospital and learn what it’s like to delivery your baby there.
  • Know where to park when arriving at the hospital. Review the information for patient drop-off, parking instructions and other helpful information about your delivery location.
  • To help make your arrival at the hospital a smooth process, download and complete the maternity registration form. Select the applicable form below:

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla (PDF, 280 KB)

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas (PDF, 74 KB)

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego (PDF, 220 KB) 

  • Plan and establish childcare for other children in your family during your hospital stay. 
  • Arrange your transportation home. Hospital stays for vaginal births are 24-48 hours and cesarean births are 96 hours or less. 
  • Install an infant car seat that adheres to safety guidelines and manufacturer instructions for optimal usage. Ensure that the seat has been properly installed in your vehicle. Hospital staff cannot assist with installing the car seat or placing your baby in the seat. Learn more about car seat safety. 

For more information, please see our FAQs. If you have additional questions, please contact your provider.