Oh wait, wrong song.

I got confused for a moment because that is how I’ve felt this past week as I’ve packed my bags for the hospital.  It feels kind of like I’m getting ready for a trip, although it will be a trip unlike one I’ve ever known.  I’ve tried to get ready as best as I can – I’ve read half a dozen articles on what to bring to the hospital so I consider myself fairly well prepared.  I’ve been putting the bag together slowly and last night I ran through the final checklist:

Lets see, there’s one cute bag that can double as a diaper bag after the baby is born.  Check.

The fact that it is filled to the brim is just a bonus.

Toiletries which include makeup, vitamins, toothbrush and paste, moisturizer, q-tips, and lots and lots of chapstick (I hear the old lips get very chapped during labor)?  Check. Check.

Don’t worry – I didn’t forget the most important moisturizer – the nursing cream.  I will be hating life if I don’t have a tube on hand, or so I’ve been told.

I made sure to pack a gown which can be used for nursing (who cares if it looks like something worn on Little House and the Prairie?), a robe to keep me warm as I trudge up and down the halls during early labor, socks to keep my toes toasty, and slippers to keep my feet from touching the bare hospital floor.  And did I mention the grannie underwear?  I bought three sizes too big just in case.

Oh – can’t forget the shower shoes.

I’ve been told to pack some “normal” clothes for when I go home.  Of course normal these days is not what it was a few months ago, so I packed my daily staple of drawstring sweat pants and a baggie shirt (at least I hope it’s baggie after giving birth).

I also read somewhere that it’s a good idea to have reading material so I packed Baby 411 so that I can hurry and cram in as much baby info as I possibly can.

I have four copies of my birth plan to hand out to the various attendees so that they know my do’s and dont’s.

And I have a fiction book for any down time I may have, as well as a one pound bag of Twizzlers simply because I’ve been craving them and fully plan on chowing down after the baby is born.

Then there are the ice pops to put in the freezer so that I have something to eat during labor other than plain ice chips.

Let’s see, am I forgetting anything?

Ah yes… the most important part.  Clothes for our little boy.  I mean he can’t come home wearing a hospital blanket, now can he?

I packed a couple of outfits since I have absolutely no idea how big he’ll actually be.

I was sure to include hats to keep his head warm, mittens to keep him from scratching himself, and socks to cover up his tiny little toes.

I think I’m just about set.  My other bag will be full of camera equipment, video recording devices, and battery chargers.

Oh – I almost forgot, a gift bag for the nurses.

I read somewhere that you’ll want to bring something for the nursing and doctor staff since they’ll be the ones who will be taking care of you during this time.  I’m not sure what this should include, so I just put together  a bag of goodies for the nurses to munch on.  I hear that chocolate can go a long way and I figure I’ll take all the help I can get.

That’s pretty much it.  The bags are packed and ready to go.  I even have my checklist sitting on top so that we can be sure we haven’t forgotten anything.  It’s kind-of a lot of stuff but considering this is new to me, I want to be as prepared as possible.

Is there anything I left out?  What did you pack in your bag?