Delivery Tips 1

Packing for delivery(I did not have c-section so you may need additional/different items for that if you know in advance you're having one.)

Mommy
*2-3 pairs of clothes/pj's (The rule of thumb is pack what fit you at 6 months along. I was told not to pack jeans in case I had a c-section but I went ahead & wore jeans home.)
*slippers or socks if your preference & of course you'll need shoes to wear home
*shower/hygiene supplies (I advice going ahead & buying travel stuff so it's already packed in case you have to leave in a big hurry!)
*cell charger! lol
*beauty supplies if you feel you'll want them (i.e. hair straightener, makeup...but perfume isnt really allowed)
*sm bag for your jewelry to take off during delivery
*camera! (Don't forget extra batteries or charger!)
*baby book if you're having visitors sign it
*hospital door hanger if you're having one
*bras & underwear (high rise ones!)
*pillow & blanket if you choose your own
*something to pull your hair up if it's long!
*INSURANCE INFORMATION!

Baby
*2-3 warm footed sleepers or outfits with socks
*1-2 baby caps
*1-2 mittens
*1-2 receiving blankets (the hospital will have some but they're "boyish" & if you prefer "girly" ones if you're having a girl, you'd wanna bring your own)
*1 heavy blanket
*hand sanitizer for visitors
*blanket for hospital picture background your baby will lay on
*outfit for hospital picture & accessories (bear, hairbow, etc.)
*going home outfit, if different
*car seat-DUH!

Daddy (Don't forget him!)
*2-3 change of clothes
*shower/hygiene stuff
*cash for hospital cafeteria food if eating there, or just vending machines for the waiting period
*pillow/blanket
*pain killers for sleeping on a chair lol
*cell phone charget
*list of phone number of people to call to announce the birth news
*gift for wife for having your baby! haha j/k...sorta

My Delivery
At 1:40am on a Friday morning (5 days before my due date & 4 days before my scheduled induction), I started having contractions that felt like...honestly diarrhea or menstrual cramps but not really that strong. They were really close together though. We started timing them & they were coming every 5 min or so for an hour. So a little before 3am we went to the hospital & they said I was already dilated to a 7 and was 100% effaced! So we got settled in our room & they hooked me up to an IV right away. Not long later, I was at an 8 & I got my epidural! LADIES LISTEN TO THIS--Don't be afraid of the epidural, but also do your research on how it's inserted. I did not know that I would feel STRONG electric shocks down my legs & they scared the crap outta me & made me jump! They're perfectly normal-I just wasn't prepared for them. And some women don't even have them at all. Anyways, the epidural worked great until they had me lay on my right side to get the baby's heartbeat going & then my epidural started to only work on my right side & I started to feel contractions on my left. So they increased the meds going in. All that did was numb my right side even more. Then I just stayed at an 8 for hours! My sister told me AFTER all this that with her, they had her rock from side to side to help her dilate & that's what I should've done. But luckily I was able to sleep for quite awhile during this. At 10am my OB/GYN got there & said I was at a 9, but he wanted me to start pushing in 30min & told the nurses to take my epidural away because he said I was too numb to be able to push. I couldn't even lift my legs. I really started to panic then. I started crying because I didn't want my epidural taken away & I was starting to feel the pain & didn't think I could go through this. I regret now not arguing with my OB to leave my epi in & I could push just fine on my own. Well, 30 min later I started pushing with the nurses & I could feel everything! I was surprised they wouldn't let David touch me. They had me hold one end of a towel while the nurses held the other & had me pushing while we played tug-of-war & David just helped me count. I really wanted David to hold my leg or hand or something. They said I wasn't pushing good enough, although I sure was trying all I could! It took an hour and a half later to finally get her out. It was so amazing holding her right away & just being in shock that she was inside me all that time. I couldn't believe how big she was (weighing 8lbs 5oz & 21 1/2 in long) and I just wanted to touch her all over to remind me she was real! I regret deciding last-min to not have David video tape it all because I wish I could relive that moment of seeing her for the first time. We didn't even take any pictures until quite awhile later. Make sure you're very clear with the nurses & doctors in the beginning if you want to hold your baby right after because some friends of mine didn't get that opportunity. After they took her away & clean her off, I had to get stitched up on my 2nd degree tear (which I felt all of because, again, they took away my epidural!) Then I passed out for 2 hours. Then they woke me to move us into recovery. Since I had delivered her at 11:56am, we had visitors immediately, which I also regret not sending them away until I got settled into recovery because I was still looking horrible & was in a pretty good daize-not really knowing what was going on & had barely held my daughter & here were visitors coming in asking lots of questions & flashing pictures in mine & my daughter's face immediately. Yeah, not any pics I'm wanting to keep! So you might be anxious to show off your beautiful new baby, but take some time to collect what all just happened & kinda get yourself together first so you can deal with visitors better.
And that's all I've gotta offer! Good luck any first-time mommies! Don't worry too much!