All right, it's been a while since I've had to do any kind of shopping for a little one. I'm trying to make a list of things I need to pick up for baby and I to come home to, but I'm drawing a complete blank. I thought about breaking down and going the google route, but why not make a new thread for all of the "essential" first few weeks of baby things.

What were your essential items?

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For baby:
Nightgowns
Diapers
Burp clothes

For me:
Tucks or other witch-hazel pads
Dermoplast
maxi pads
peri bottle

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won't repeat above list but in addition:

If you plan on using paci's - maybe a few different styles in case baby is opinionated!

I think you are planning to BF, but in case I am wrong, I had to make a quick trip for some sports bras. AND, I didn't think to have all the bottle wash/sterilzed/ready! I guess I thought they were just fine in the boxes so the afternoon we came home, J had to wash a sink full of bottles!

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I pre-made meals and stuck them in my size portion in the freezer so that when the breast feeding hunger hit(I ate everything in sight and things that weren't in sight) I could nuke quickly and eat. Of course I was on my own, I'm not sure about your situation.

Oh, something another mom recommended but I didn't do, is there is an after delivery numbing spray so that when you pee/shower it doesn't sting. I know I stung a lot after having the last one, and the nurse didn't offer it so my friend asked her OB for some to take with her so she didn't have to rely on busy staff to think of it.

I liked having my heating pad for the post partum cramping. Also perhaps a small inflatable ring to sit on.
...hmm all my advice is for your rump, guess you can tell how much trauma I had huh?

For baby, I didn't have enough blankets and onsies clean. I had only washed half of what I had thinking I could wash the rest after the baby was born. We forget quickly how much they spit up and explode their pants. Same with crib and bassinet sheets. Oh and those little safety mitts for their nails. I always waited for them to be a couple weeks old before trying but their nails got long. I think it's so sad when you see a baby who's scratched themselves.

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OH -- and have gadgets put together! We didn't put the swing or bouncy together and ended up trying to do the boucy at 3 in the morning on day 5 when he screamed all night! I guess I just thought I could put them together at my leisure

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I'm actually working on my list right now! Here are some things I've gleaned from the net:

Baby:
Olive oil - To coat baby's bum for those first meconium poops. It's supposed to work better than Vaseline to keep the meconium from sticking.
Sling
Gowns/Onesies
Blankets for swaddling - I found some thin flannel blankets that shouldn't be too hot. A friend of mine cut up cotton sheets for swaddling her summer baby.

Mom:
Depends - They're supposedly way easier to deal with than those mesh panties & pads.
Ice packs - If you fill a non-lubricated condom with 1/3 alcohol (or Karo syrup) and 2/3 water, then freeze, it's supposed to make a nice slushy ice pack. Wrap it in flannel or a washcloth before applying. You can also freeze wet pads or nb disposable diapers for the same results.
Frozen meals - For the whole family!
List of chores - If you're planning on having visitors, they often ask what they can do to help. Keep a list on the fridge & if they stay more than 10 minutes, put 'em to work!
Peri bottles- From the hospital, or you can order them online. I use extra ones for wipe solution and bath toys.

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I've got most of the above on the list already.

Homecoming List:
rubbing alcohol/cotton balls/q-tips
sensitive soap and lotion (learned the hard way from G)
lanolin/nursing pads/gel pads
meal plan and grocery list for 2 weeks for DH (silly man decided to stay home)
water/gatorade/herbal tea (ready and waiting in the fridge...)
dried fruit/nuts/other quick snacks

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Awesome list, everyone!

Nursing pads seem to be the essential item for most people I know, but I think I used a total of 4 nursing pads and then realized I didn't need them b/c they were TOTALLY dry when I would take them back out. I just didn't leak, which my best friend and sister and law GASP at when they hear me tell that story... since they absolutely soaked their nursing pads for the months and months that they nursed their children. They said they heard a huge PLUNK when they dumped them into the trash. LOL!

I love the suggestion of numbing spray. I believe Dermoplast was the name of the spray that I was given at the hospital, and I was so torn up that I used it a TON that first day or so... and the nurse actually reprimanded me for using the entire bottle (b/c I asked if she had another)... embarrassed me to DEATH, told me it should last me for months, yadda yadda, and she finally said, "I could give you another, but it's going to raise a red flag on your insurance." Then, she said, "Don't go selling this on ebay or anything" when she finally brought it to me. Later, we went to CVS, and my husband found it there on the shelf!!!!!!!!!!! I was highly insulted to say the least.
So yeah, get some of that.

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Yeah I can't believe how..well frankly stingey they are with the stuff! I didn't know anything about it until I was in recovery the next day! By then all the stuff that hurts so darn bad was over. The first time I went pee, I screamed and saw black and nearly fainted. The nurse said "We can't have you screaming, please don't be so dramatic." !! Of course there are some very good nurses out there and everyones experience is different.

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True, there are good and bad nurses just like anything else, but I had a similar experience to you. My nurse (well, one of them) was stingy and treated me like i was a child. I was so humiliated about that spray. First of all, I was embarrassed to even ask for more. Second, I was embarrassed at her reaction, but third, I was SUPER embarrassed when she wouldn't let it die. She brought it up more than once that day, and then again before we left (out loud to the entire hallway of people). I mean, what in the world, was I seriously the first person to ever ask for extra spray to take home with me!?!?!!!!! My friend's experience was totally the opposite. The sent her with bags of extras, lots of diapers, wipes, stuff for mom AND baby... I only went home with 1 extra pair of mesh pants, no pads, etc. I had to send a friend to get some HUGE pads for me b/c I had nothing at home (DUH) that was size appropriate. The whole thing was an eye opener, and I'm glad i won't be THAT unprepared for next time!!

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