What was on your hospital bag checklist?

We're putting together the ultimate hospital bag checklist for pregnant mums who just have no idea what to take to the hospital for labour and afterward. Besides all the usual stuff, what did you wish you'd taken along? What did you send DH home for because you forgot it? What did you wish you'd brought more of? And what did you definitely NOT need? Post your hospital checklist in here, or PM me your thoughts. There may even be a prize involved...

We didn't use a lot of what I packed in the labour bag. The best things were water in a sipper bottle (had to keep sending DH out to get more) and hair ties and hair clips! Plus contact lense stuff/glasses because I changed my mind and wanted to wear my contacts. I had a long pre-labour (induction) so a book and the ipod were great. No use afterwards though!
I used the hospital gowns to labour in and for the first night, but had a couple of baggy, long night gowns which were good once I wanted to wear my own clothes. Jandals were great in the hospital for showers etc. Slippers also good. I had to send DH out to buy me a big, long dressing gown because I only had a short summer dressing gown and wasn't too keen on wearing something so short!
Body wash, a nice body moisturiser, shampoo & conditioner, hair brush/comb, deoderant for afterwards to make you feel a bit more human. I liked having my own pillow too.
I was pretty happy with the basic toiletries, but I don't wear make up normally, so I would say just pack what you normally have with maybe a nice body wash or something to make you feel good.
Used hospital pads as much as possible, but big thick maternity pads are great, as are comfortable cotton undies in dark colours.

i didn't use most of what was in my labour bag. we had a cd player, lots of cds, lollies/muesli bars, water, glasses/contacts stuff, massage oil, facecloths, digital camera and old fashioned camera as backup...etc

the only things i used were lots of water, facecloth and we also had the cd player going which was nice. especially as when i started pushing, the song that was playing was the one i walked down the aisle too and it gave me something else to think about at the time

i'd definately suggest lots of water, music, a chemise type nightie if you don't want to deliver naked and camera. the facecloth was nice on my forehead to cool me down too

for after, cellphone to txt people when your bored, magazines/book and lots of snack foods for those late night snack attacks!

One thing I loved in labour was an aroma mother face spray - so nice to just cool down your face! Also a sipper bottle of water. I took a large old t-shirt to labour in in the pool. Things I took & didn't use were CD's & massage oil.

I never had a labour bag as such - but DH did have to go out and buy me some lollies and sipper bottles of water to keep the energy up. Ended up birthing in hospital gown so didnt need to take anything for that. Hair clips would have been handy. And this time I may take my MP3 player.

I was really bored while in hospital, so magazines were great. I couldnt concentrate for long enough to read a book. Dont forget a pen so you can do the puzzles in the mags as well. And phone charger. Have your cell phone topped up with credit too. Charged batteries (and spares) for your camera.

I bought a few pairs of new PJs for in hospital and it felt so nice to wear something new after months of big tshirts, and they were convenient for breastfeeding. Take some nipple cream too as its not long before they start to hurt. Nice body wash was lovely and if you wear makeup take that too. I found the hospital too hot for slippers, so jandals were great. Got DH to bring in my pillow from home.

Maternity pads - as gross as the hospital ones are, they are sooooo comfy for the first day or 2 when you are sore. This time around, I will only be buying 1 or 2 packs of the actual maternity ones, then switching to just normal pads or Goodnights, cos you dont really bleed that heavily for long.

And my best tip is to get a pack or 2 or cheap, big, ugly undies for those first few weeks. Then it doesnt matter if they get a bit grotty and you will probably go through quite a few if you stay in hospital for a few days.

Also wish I had more snacks for afterwards, cos I was starving for those first few days.

I second (or third!) snacks, food in general! I was STARVING after giving birth!

I took books expecting a long induction but it was too quick.

And I took my razor, was lovely to shave my legs in the shower after I had the gremlins after not being able to reach for so long, even tho my midwife thought it was odd!

I didn't use any of the stuff I packed because Caleb came so quick I ended up having him at home.

We ended up sending a neighbour out for maternity pads because I didn't buy any to have at home though.

yeah tissues, its a fairly emotional time and hospitals can be a bit, um, *tight*.

My bag contained most of the stuff mentioned here so far - but the only things that I actually would say that were useful or I ended up using were my own pillow, my rescue remedy, the snacks (we packed muesli bars), the cellphone and the camera.

oh yes, phone charger I had to have one brought to me