Hellobee Boards

I packed light! Didn't pack any towels/blankets or pillows.
Hospital supplied everything and we were fine.
I just took clothes for us, some toiletries, phone charger and that's it!

We packed super light. DH was adamant that everything fit into a large backpack so he would have both hands free to assist me.
Of course he didn't go for the bags till they were settling us into the birthing room anyway.

I did take my own pillows since I knew the hospital's would be uncomfortable but I don't think the boppy, blankets,and towels are needed because my hospital provide all those thing and as many as we needed. Also we only stay five minutes away she DH went home if we needed something

Left my pillows, towels and blankets at home. Brought my Boppy and I'm glad I did!

I could not have survived without my Boppy. Period.

The other stuff I left behind and didn't miss!

I took the boppy and left it in the car until I needed it. I didn't take any pillows or blankets. The hospital supplied those but I was uncomfortable in that bed anyway. More pillows wouldn't help!

I would pack extra clothes for you and DD just in case. We ended up staying 4 nights because DS ran a fever and we were waiting on test results. You just never know! I'm glad I packed extra - I didn't have to worry about needing more things.

When I left the hospital they gave me a big cart to put all my things on - flowers, gifts, freebies, etc. They expect you to have lots of stuff!

No! I packed light. Even then, I think I could've done without some things.
I did go home with a TON because they give you lots of things for yourself, baby and just gifts we had gotten from visitors (lots of flower vases for example).

@Mae: Ahhh, gotcha. I don't remember the towels being terrible, but I'm also not one to notice that sort of thing. I was just happy to take a shower and feel clean! Not sure how your hospital does it but at ours I labored/delivered in one then had a separate recovery room (I think this is pretty common). It would've been a pain to bring everything in then lug it to a different room, so that's why it was better for us to leave a lot of it in the car til we needed it.

LO is due any day and I just have comfy clothes for myself, a few outfits for baby, some toiletries and my nursing pillow packed. I have a clean tshirt, a sweatshirt, snacks, and a toothbrush/toothpaste for DH. All of that (except for the pillow) fits in a small carry on suitcase. We also live 5 min from the hospital so if DH really needs something or wants a shower he can run home. My parents are also close so that helps.

@Mae: A while back I saw a guy walking into the hospital who'd found a good way to carry everything - he put the Boppy around his neck like a travel pillow! Unless it was really a baby print travel pillow and not a Boppy!

I seriously packed so much and used like nothing. I did like having my own pillow for nursing / sleeping as the hospital ones weren't great. I had a rough recovery and just stayed in the hospital gown until leaving which worked out well considering how many people needed to look at my girl parts and how often the baby was feeding. Seriously, less is more b/c that bag wasn't unpacked for 4 months.

@Mae: @lamariniere: Yes!! Totally forgot about that until now (crazy how our minds block certain things out). The hospital towels got a lot of blood on them

We did not bring a boppy, the hospital provided a breast friend and we used that. My LO was in the NICU so we may have had more stuff provided than a normal delivery.

I didn't bring any of that on your list except the boppy and we didn't take it out of the car. The hospital gave me plenty of pillows so I used those for bf'ing. I didn't even wear any of my own clothes I brought until checking out.

I would skip the body pillow, blankets and towels. Your towels are going to get gross and at the hospital you can use as many as you want and won't have to worry about washing them. Leave extra things in the car and don't worry much about stuff for LO. They have pretty much anything you need in the baby department.

We didn't bring pillows, blankets or towels but we packed my boppy. I looooove the blankets that come right out of the warmer!!! We were only in the hospital for 2 nights and we lived 10 minutes from the hospital so we didn't feel the need to overpack.

When we were headed to the hospital (scheduled c-section on a Saturday morning), my husband and I did comment to each other that it felt like we were just going away for the weekend!

@Mae: Did they show you what they put on the babies? Make sure your ok with it. Our hospital just had a paper gown for them. So I was very glad that I bought his own clothes. I don't know what your plan is, but DS only left our room twice so there was no worry about things getting lost. They did have everything else like diapers, etc.

I way overpacked with my first. Didn't bring anything except tolietries and clothing with my second. I didn't even have shoes and the hospital gave me slippers.

I don't think you'll need the body pillow or pillows in general unless you want your own. The hospital I gave birth to both of my boys at gave me as many pillows as I needed to feel comfortable. I did bring my brestfriend pillow for nursing and that helped so much! I don't remember needing much except for my own underwear (didn't like the meshy hospital ones they gave me), flip flops, and my own toiletries for the bathroom. And baby just had a going home outfit and mittens. They had a long sleeve wide neck shirt so I didn't need to bring any clothes for either of my boys. Definitely check with your hospital what they will and won't have for you during the tour if you haven't gone on it yet. Or just call and ask.