Today was a landmark day. After weeks of procrastination, I motivated myself to start packing my bag for the hospital. As you all know, websites are teeming with ideas of what to put in this bag. Multiple changes of clothing, cameras, money, food, paper, books, energy drinks, music and entertainment sources. I even found books that recommended flashlights and sturdy walking shoes. Am I packing for a trip to the hospital, or am I preparing to cut myself completely off from the world for an "Into the Wild" style venture? Do I need a guide to edible plants, and perhaps a shotgun and a machete? Some books further recommend that partners bring full changes of clothing and food for meals for themselves. Considering my hospital is located in the middle of an urban area, with a burger restaurant and full cafeteria even located on the premises, I feel that these precautions could be slightly exaggerated.
I had to pack the bag in two installments. For the first shot, I packed for myself - changes of clothes, my toiletries, etc. I put a little suit in for the baby to come home in and beamed proudly at the perfection of it all. I even remembered to include the receiving blanket that my husband was brought home in - major brownie points with the in-laws.
And then it hit me - I needed to go much further. It wouldn't be enough for the baby to look cute and feel soft. I needed to bring feeding and changing materials as well - fun things like diapers, cremes, breast pads, cotton balls for cleaning. Stuff that most people would easily call "boring" and "logistical."
In the end, although I managed to keep my bag contents to a minimum and didn't include any of the prescribed camping gear, I had to transfer everything from a small, practical shoulder bag to a rolling suitcase. While said bag could still fit in an airplane's overhead compartment, let's face it - my days of packing light are likely over. And the baby isn't even born yet!
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