my new mom essentials list

I've been around the block on this baby business twice now. The first time I had a lot of things, but not necessarily the right things. The second time around I had a much better handle on what was a must, what I could do without, and what would be reaaaaly nice to have.

I've assembled my "best of" list for any moms-to-be out there. These items are mostly related to nursing mamas, since that was my experience. Not that it's the only way, it's just what I know.

1. Nursing tanks. This is what you will live in for the days (and weeks...and maybe months) after the baby arrives. Bring them to the hospital. Have lots of them. There's no such thing as too many. You'll sleep in them. You'll wear them under non-nursing friendly clothes. They will be your life.
2. Nursing bras. Most of the ones you find look like old grandma bras, but they don't have to. Target has an awesome selection of nursing bras that might actually make you feel cute again. My advice - wait until AFTER your milk comes in to buy a bra. I went up a full cup size in two days from the time I had Max to the time my milk came in 36 hours later. Yowza.
3. Nursing friendly shirts. I'm actually wearing this one right now. I have it in 2 colors. Loose enough to camouflage the left over baby bump that will still be hanging with ya for awhile (sad but true).
4. Hair bands. These are gentle on your hair and will keep it out of your face, which you'll want. You think you'll be that gorgeous TV mom that has perfect hair during delivery, but unless you're having a C-section, it's just not going to be the case.
5. Beauty treatment mask. This seems like a strange one, I know, but my sweet friend Lauren made me a hospital kit and it had several of these in there. Let me tell you, it felt sooo nice to take 5 minutes for myself after I had felt so completely grody, and my skin felt amazing afterwards.
6. Make up remover towels. In the off-chance that you actually have some make up on in those early days, you will be too exhausted to wash it off the old fashioned way. Have these handy for those times.
7. Mascara. It will make you look less zombie-like in all of those hospital room photos. Because that fluorescent light is oh-so-flattering.
8. Compact make up. Because ain't nobody got time for liquid makeup and a brush.
9. Disposable nursing pads. I tried to be 'green' and use the re-usable washable kind with baby #1. Do you know what happened? My boobs leaked through them, and my bra, and my shirt, and I had a house full of male co-workers at my home. Mortifying. Do yourself a favor and buy a box of the disposables. Only now, 6 months after Max is born, is my milk supply regulated enough to use the washable ones, and I'm only brave enough to wear them at the house.
10. Cheap slippers. Let's get real. Gross stuff comes out of you after you have a baby. It might end up on the floor and on your feet. Get yourself some cute (cheap) slippers that you wouldn't be heartbroken about throwing away after you leave the hospital.
11. Lip balm. Once your milk comes in, you will not be able to keep enough water in your system, and your lips will hurt real bad (Napoleon Dynamite reference? Anyone?). Make sure you have these in every room of the house.
12. Cheap undies. Same as #10 above, except grosser. Buy some undies that you will have no problem tossing after the first few weeks. You're going to feel like you're thirteen having your first period all over again (yeah, ok, I was a late bloomer). An unfortunate fact of life. The hospital will give you some lovely mesh "underwear" that will make you look and feel disgusting. After 24 hours you will want to be in something that actually resembles panties. And while you're at it, buy yourself a whole bunch of ridiculously large maxi-pads. Trust me. 
13. Ice Packs. Remember item #2 above when I grew an entire cup size in two days? Yeah, that didn't feel so good. Actually, it felt like my boobs were on fire. Put a cold compress on those puppies after you nurse for 30 minutes or so to ease the pain.
14. Nipple cream. I'm really not making nursing sound that glamorous, am I? Well, it may not be glamorous, but it's worth it. And it's only uncomfortable for most women for 1-4 weeks or so. Grab some nipple cream and apply it after each nursing session. Lanolin is safe for both mom and baby. One tube should be more than enough.
15. Nipple shield. I had some issues about 24 hours in with Henry getting him to latch. He just wouldn't eat, even though I knew he was starving. Ladies, this saved my life. He could latch and get milk and it didn't hurt me at all. I only needed 1, not a pair.
16. Nipple shells. I promise, this is the last time I'm going to say "nipple." If your nips get sore in those early days, these babies provide an air gap between the girls and any other layers you might be wearing. I ended up not needing these with baby #2 but couldn't have survived without them with baby #1.

What would the other mommas out there add to the list?

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