What I Learned by Delivery #3...

By no means am I an expert...I've just had lots of practice.  As in 4 babies...3 deliveries...all in less than 36 months. Now some of this applies to the scheduled c-section crowd only, but I think most of it goes for all mommas on delivery day and during the hospital stay.

Here's my 2 cents...for all it's worth.

1. Bring minimal baby stuff.
2. Leave all of your crap in the car.  {The hubs can go get it later.}
3. Bring your own panties and pads and bath towel. {Get the extra large granny panties and Always overnight with wings. So much better than the hospital stuff.} Oh and pillow...I forgot my own pillow all three times. 
4. Yoga pants and nursing tanks are the way to go. {The nurses can still check you and you don't always have to hide out under the covers.}
5. Shower before you leave the house. Fix your hair and put on a tiny bit of make-up. {Trust me...you will be slightly happier with the photos.}
6. Make sure you have the camera.
7. Make sure husband has lip gloss in his pocket. {Or chapstick or whatever.  Your lips dry out.  Especially after not having anything past midnight the night before. Besides...lip gloss makes everyone look better.}
8. Leave your modesty at home. {And remember the nurses knew what they were signing up for.}
9. Fill your nurse(s) in on every detail of your medical history.
10. Be your own advocate - and have your husband advocate for you too.
11. Ask questions.
12. Be nice. Say please and thank you. Try to be a good patient. {The nurses and techs appreciate kindness and will sometimes do kind things in return.  For example, perhaps she will walk over to the other unit and raid the apple juice and bring you an obnoxious amount on ice. Sweet.}
13. Nurse/breastfeed as soon as you can...you will most likely feel okay enough to get that kid to your boob.  Even if it is only for 2 minutes. {I think it made a difference in my milk supply.} Ask your nurse to help you.  {She will hold the kid and your boob for you if she has to.}
14. Nap in recovery. {Heck...nap whenever you can.}
15. Cry if you want to.
16. Use the nursery. {You will miss it when you get home. Trust me}
17. Stay hydrated. {I love the Ocean Spray apple juice...and rotate with water.}
18. Eat fiber. (I oddly enough miss the oatmeal...I would order it at almost every meal.}
19. Order a hospital meal - every time. {Most will keep for you to snack on and goodness knows your husband sure won't pass up french toast, scrambled eggs with cheese, and bacon.}
20. Get out of bed {with nurses help} as soon as you feel up to it.
21. Manage your pain.  Use the pump. Ask for meds.  Always take two.
22. Shower and fix up asap. {It just makes you feel better.}
23. Ask for formula and supplies before you leave - even if you don't plan on using it. {You can always donate the formula if you don't end up using it. Also, don't feel guilty about using a formula bottle on occasion so someone else can feed while you nap. Heck...don't feel guilty if you use formula all the time.}
24. Enjoy the quiet time with your husband and with the new baby.{For us it was kind of like a vacation.  Order dinner from your favorite restaurant and have a dinner date in the hospital room...and then snack on your hospital meal later.}
25. Be prepared for all of your plans to fall apart. {Because they might.  And that's okay.}

And take the time to thank the good Lord for all of your many blessings.

What tips would you add to the list?