I started packing my hospital bag the way I usually do for any short or long vacation I take, a month in advance. My suit case spread eagle across my guest bed straddled by all the necessary goods. Pinterest peer pressured me into doing it. I had read one too many blog posts on the No Bullshit Hospital Checklist, which I came to realize were essentially large campaign ads for Amazon.
Don’t be a push over like your friend here, just say NO! The hospital, I assure you has everything you’ll ever need. I was warned by my friends who cared, but did I listen. No.
As per usual my husband, asked no questions and loaded not one but three large bags into my very old, but very reliable RAV4. It looked like we were going away on a three week vacation across the globe, not to the hospital down the street.
I had been conned. I bought everything from no slip socks, to my own birthing gowns (3 kinds to be exact). We stayed an extra night just so I could do a few outfit changes, so that these purchases were not made in vain (okay, and we were scared shitless to parent without help, plus I wanted more pain meds). My point is, don’t overpack to the hospital. You’ll feel like an idiot.
The Hospital has it all. Freakishly large pads, mesh underwear that look like fishing nets, and even your good ole’ shampoo and conditioner. I assure you that after emptying your uterus of a small human being, you’ll be too tired or in too much pain to change into anything but a bra (if you can even manage that), or to pull out your cute swaddles that you won’t know how to use, or to change your baby into any sort of clothing. Kaylee was definitely diaper only during her stay at the Grand Hotel de Hoag, in Newport Beach (Hoag Hospital).
So save your money and save yourself from embarrassment and swing a small and glorious backpack over your shoulder with only exactly whatever your hospital suggested. They do know best, after all.
