Make sure you get those refrigerated gel pads for your nipples (they will ache - trust). Put them in the fridge now.

Also, you may want to pre-wash some of baby's newborn clothes so they'll be ready when you arrive home.

Make sure you have both your "getting to hospital" plan and "returning from hospital" plan set. I second the pre-packing.

Pack your hospital bag! My baby arrived a few weeks early and the bag was only half packed. We spent some frantic moments throwing things into a suitcase when my contractions when from 10 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart in less than an hour

Do you use auto bill pay? If not, sign up for it for everything you can.

Anonymous wrote:Have a journal or phone ap ready to track babies eating and sleeping.

This is really not necessary.

And ...be prepared to be humbled! You will realize that you cannot control things.

Congratulations!

If you're getting super stressed about this ever-growing list, I know a great therapist who will come to your home and can give some great help. Emily Griffin of Happy Parents Happy Babies goes to see new moms at home and is super supportive and down to earth, so I didn't have to worry about cleaning up. She helped me get through the first rough weeks and helped me to be able to enjoy the baby and take care of myself. She even helped my husband to understand how he could be more helpful! Her website is www.happyparentshappybabies.com

Schedule newborn photography if you want it

DVR a queue of movies. You mostly sit on couch, hold baby, nurse, repeat.

Have your freezer stocked with pre made meals that you have frozen

Anonymous wrote:If you are delivering naturally here are some supplies you need for yourself. The hospital gives you some but you run out after awhile. You can get these at target & cvs. It's definitely the part no one talks about.

-Dermoplast spray
-Tucks wipes (witchazel wipes)
-Large sanitary pads
-A few bags of frozen peas for pain relief

Better than frozen peas - anything Therapearl

http://www.target.com/p/lansinoh-therapearl-3-in-1-breast-therapy/-/A-14386190?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C14386190&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14386190&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14386190&gclid=CKibupGI8rsCFSLxOgodRk4AKQ

Anonymous wrote:Get a kindle or iPad so you can read and watch shows one-handed while nursing late at night.

THIS!!! I would have lost my mind without one-handed emailing, Amazon-ordering, and online reading on the iPad while nursing.

Another vote also for getting the name and number of a lactation consultant now -- your pediatrician's office may have one affiliated with them, and they're one of the people you'll be emailing one-handed at 2am...

I agree on leaving snacks around the house, but would opt for things that aren't in a wrapper. I left a bowl of nuts/trail mix and some water next to the rocker, couch, or anywhere else I liked to sit and nurse/let baby nap.

If you are delivering naturally here are some supplies you need for yourself. The hospital gives you some but you run out after awhile. You can get these at target & cvs. It's definitely the part no one talks about.

-Dermoplast spray
-Tucks wipes (witchazel wipes)
-Large sanitary pads
-A few bags of frozen peas for pain relief

Anonymous wrote:Have driving or mass transit directions printed out for out-of-town people (like grandparents) who come to visit and stay and then don't know how to get to the grocery store.

Have someone return all your library books. You won't be able to read a book again for a long time. Have that person pick up magazines. Short articles will become your friend.

I actually read a lot of books while on maternity leave. Light stuff you can read only a few pages at a time worked best for me. I prefered reading on my Nook b/c one handed reading was much easier - esp since DS like to be held for naps in the first few weeks. So we spent a good amount of time camped out on the couch. For this next baby - I plan to load a bunch of books to my Nook so I always have one on the ready.

Get some kind of sippy cup for water - you'll be thirsty and need to drink a lot, so it was nice to have something big and spill proof. Get some one handed foods. I kept a box of granola bars next to the rocking chair in the nursery b/c I was often hungry and it was sometimes hard to eat just when I wanted to. The bars would hold me over until I could fix myself something. Oatmeal helps with supply - so I had a bowl of that every morning.

Get a kindle or iPad so you can read and watch shows one-handed while nursing late at night.