I overpacked a LOT.  I figured we'd be bored while I was laboring, so we brought lots of activities, but then never wanted to do any of them.  I brought clothes that fit me when I was seven months pregnant, and then I was so swollen that they were extremely tight. 

Though the hospital gives you pads, you might want to bring your own.  The giant ones they had hardly fit in my underwear, which made my pants that much tighter, lol!

One thing that made getting to the hospital a lot easier (especially for my husband!): I packed the things I didn't need on a daily basis weeks ahead of time, then put a list on top of all the things that would need to be added last minute.  Though it was fun watching my husband, in his underwear, franctically run around gathering things, it would have been a lot less funny if I'd had to think!

KatieCrandall Nov. 18, 2008 at 2:25 PM

Some wise person told me to make sure to pack maternity clothes to come home in - I don't think I necessarily would have made that decision without the advice. You still look pregnant when you leave the hospital, so don't bring your pre-pregnancy clothes thinking you'll magically fit into them.

Other advice I got was to bring an empty bag to take supplies home in. I definitely left the hospital with more stuff than I went in with and was happy for the extra bag to carry it all.

cafemama Nov. 18, 2008 at 3:45 PM

the pillow and snacks are good ones. the snacks especially for labor. if you are hungry it probably means you have low blood sugar or something else that your body is telling you it needs you to eat for, trust your body. the hospitals normally don't want you to eat because they are afraid of having to clean up a mess, but that is their job! they will not bring you food, but if you have it they can not legally take it from you, if they try to tell you it's against policy or whatever call bs, it doesn't matter if it is, because legally they can not require you to follow a certain type of treatment, they can only suggest and let you decide. I was very happy I have been warned about this ahead of time and knew to take our own snacks for labor (and there was no mess)

KayMMIV Nov. 19, 2008 at 1:38 AM

I brought some of my husband's cotton shorts to come home in because someone warned me I wouldn't feel like dressing even in jeans and t shirt, and they were definitely right. I would have probably walked outta there in my nightgown if I had the courage to do so!

Definitely bring food. Even if hospital meals were edible, they aren't big enough. And your honey won't feel like running out for fast food every few hours.

Bring slippers or slipper socks with non skid bottoms...hospital floors are quite slick and you'll need help keeping your footing especially if you're nursing an episiotomy or tear.

Bring your favorite shower products and some make up. It will make you feel good to be a little girly in the midst of all that's going on around you.

nikkisue1702 Jul. 1, 2009 at 12:34 PM

I had a book tell me that you should bring a small cooler full of sandwiches and stuff for you honey to eat while he is waiting.  It also said to bring a bottle of champagine to celebrate the new arrival... i'm not so sure that I'd do that, but that would be a neat thing.  I also remember that a deck of cards is a good thing to bring with you.  I don't know about you but a good game of war, or even poker can lighten the mood, even when you're in labor.

firemom22 Aug. 13, 2009 at 7:00 PM

I REMEMBER TAKING A PACK OF CARDS TO PLAY AND BOOK TO PASS THE TIME. I BROUGHT THE BABY SOME CLOTHES TO WEAR FOR THE 1ST TIME.

janetelder Sep. 15, 2009 at 4:08 PM