My very favorite maternity leggings were from Forever 21’s now-defunct maternity line (RIP), but these from ASOS are only $20 and look pretty darn comfy. 

When we left for the hospital, we left the house at about 11 pm and grabbed our already-packed bags as we headed out the door. Unfortunately, we weren’t really as prepared as we thought we were and because we were going to the hospital because I was sick (and not really in labor yet), we didn’t exactly think we’d be coming home in three days with a baby. 

Here are some things that I did manage to bring that were really great and a lot of things that I definitely forgot or didn’t think about that I wish I had packed:

1. Gap Nursing Cami, $22.95 - I had packed a pajama, robe and camisole set that I wore in recovery and I’m so glad I had it along. It was comfortable and loose and made it easy to nurse too.
2. Old Navy Maternity Yoga Pants, $20 - Loose maternity pajama or yoga pants are a good choice since you’ll still be about the same size you were at 6 months pregnant for several days (or a week or more!).
3. Lucy Studio Grip Sock, $14 - Grip socks saved me! My temperature kept fluctuating constantly since I had a fever and keeping my feet warm really helped when I started shivering uncontrollably. 
4. Old Navy Flip-Flops, $3.94 - Bring a pair of cheap flip-flops for the shower. Don’t forget to throw in a pair for your husband/partner too. 
5. Blue Canoe Light Robe, $35.96 - A cotton robe was a good light layer for me in recovery. 
6. Gap Support Cami, $19.95 - I brought some nursing bras with me but didn’t wear them except to go home. A support cami was a more practical option for me. 

1. Honest Wipes, $4.95 - Some hospitals—ours included—don’t provide wipes and we hadn’t brought any of our own along. They handed us a stack of something that seemed like a slightly softer paper towel and they told us to wet them and use them like wipes. They…uh…didn’t work so well. 
2. Miracle Blanket, $39.95 - I wish we’d had our Miracle Blanket or SwaddleMe blankets with us. Every shift change brought a new nurse with a different swaddling technique and it was completely overwhelming. Isobel also broke through every single swaddle that we or the nurses tried. Disaster! 
3. Gap Favorite Solid Bodysuit (3-Pack), $15 - Some hospitals provide onesies but don’t bet on it! 
4. Old Navy Baby Socks, $6.94 - See above. 

1. Bliss 6-Pack, $25 - I’d packed DIY travel size versions of most of the toiletries I wanted, but this is an even easier solution. 
2. Bliss Naked Body Butter, $29 - Despite the massive amounts of fluids the hospital was pumping into my body, I was constantly thirsty and dehydrated. I was using lotion a lot but I had brought a scented one and turns out that any weird smell made me nauseated during labor. Next time (if there is a next time), I’m bringing unscented everything! 
3. Burt’s Bees Nourishing Lip Balm, $2.99 - Unscented and bring two. Or three! 
4. Smashbox Photo Op Undereye Brightener, $19 - After only sleeping about 3 hours out of 40 or so by the time Isobel was born, I was looking a hot mess. My undereye circles were epic and although I brought some makeup, I neglected to bring any concealer. 
5. Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo, $3.19 - Another thing I wish I’d brought! 

1. Baggu Canvas Tote, $24 - We came home with what felt like twice the amount of things we’d taken. (Don’t forget that people might stop by with gifts too!) An extra bag would have been helpful to get everything home. 
2. iPhone Charger Dock/Speakers - Thankfully, we remembered our phone chargers. But a combination speaker/charger system would be good if you intend on listening to any music while in labor. 
3. My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow or Boppy, $44 - The number one stupidest thing I forgot to pack was a nursing pillow. Trying to get the knack of nursing while propping my elbow on a 2-inch thick hospital pillow was ridiculous. I preferred the Brest Friend pillow to Boppy for several months because I was so tall and the Boppy didn’t give me enough support or height. (Brest Friend wraps fully around you and clasps so you can position the pillow where it is most comfortable for you.) 

A few final thoughts:

• It’s probably best not to wear anything gray. Postpartum sweating is a thing. 
• Don’t forget the obvious stuff like deodorant, toothpaste/toothbrush, razor, etc. We went to the travel size section at Target and just grabbed extras of all these things. 
• Our hospital had great snacks and a good cafeteria so we mostly didn’t get into the snacks we’d packed. (If you have a doctor or hospital staff that is strict about eating while in labor, you might want to surreptitiously stash a few goodies.) I was sick and I couldn’t keep much down, but my midwife brought me a cup of broth while I was in labor that I could sip on. A little packet of instant broth you could add to hot water might be a good option if you need something savory but don’t want to necessary “eat.” 
• Most hospitals have those blow dryers that attach to the walls so you don’t necessarily need to waste the space packing a blow dryer. 
• I know it seems obvious, but I almost packed a warm zip-up bundler for Isobel to wear home in our hospital bag before Brandon helpfully pointed out that we wouldn’t be able to latch the harness between her legs in the car seat. o_O
• HAIR BANDS AND LANOLIN
• If you decide to use a pacifier, you may want to bring one or two. 
• I kept all the baby things we packed in the diaper bag separate from our things. It made it easier for me to grab what I needed without having to hunt through all our sweatpants and toiletries to find baby socks. 

One last note: try and take everything in and remember every detail. If you don’t trust your memory, maybe sit down with a family member or your husband/partner a couple days after to write down what happened, who said what and what you felt like during labor, after your baby was born, how you felt in recovery. Even if you never intend on sharing anything about your birth with anyone, you’d be surprised how quickly the smaller details can fade. Last night Brandon mentioned something that had happened while I was in labor that I had completely forgotten about…and it’s only been nine months!                

Is there anything you wish you’d brought in your hospital bag or that you are really glad you packed?