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I started planning the birth of my baby the very day that I discovered I was pregnant.  I had a very clear idea of how I wanted the birth to be.  I had a whole notebook of checklists and notes, everything I thought I might need at the hospital was listed.  I read articles online and thought I had a comprehensive list for packing for the hospital.  If you run a Google search and look for packing lists for labor you will get hundreds of hits so I searched, cross-referenced, and thought I had the best packing list that I could possibly have.

When I was about 7 months pregnant I discovered that I would have to have a c-section.  My plan was thrown in the trash, nothing would happen the way that I wanted it to.  I started a new notebook, and began planning for a c-section birth.  I searched all over for a list of what to pack for a c-section and found nothing.  I made my own list, but had no experience and had no idea what to expect so my list didn't work out the way that I wanted it to.  I decided to make a list of the things that I wish I had and things that I didn't need to bring so that other pregnant women can plan ahead when packing for their c-section birth.

1.) Several sets of pajamas, not nightgowns.  They will be checking your stitches/staples several times a day and it is much easier to check if you are in a shirt and pants/shorts than if you are in a nightgowns.  Make sure the pants are hip-hugger style or you are able to roll them, you won't want anything pressing on your belly for a while.  Bring at least three or four sets and extra shirts.  Most women stay in the hospital for three to five days after a c-section; your milk will come in by then and when that happens you will want the extra shirts. 

2.) Twice as many pairs of underwear and bras than you will think you need.  You will be bleeding and leaking milk so make sure you don't mind that they may get stained.  The underwear they give you is AWFUL -- you will want your own.

3.) A large flat sheet, preferably an older one, and a pillowcase.  The sheets in the hospital are rough and you will only be able to sleep flat on your back because of the pain.  I ended up with bed sores from the rough sheets.  I wish I had one of my own sheets to lie down on the bed.  I brought my own pillowcase and that makes a difference, as the pillowcases are made from the same rough material as the sheets.