Stocking up for baby is similar to gathering supplies for an emergency kit, you never really know what's missing until disaster strikes.

Sure, people suggested I prepare while pregnant and I felt secure with my stack of onesies and tower of receiving blankets, but I completely forgot about myself. For all you moms-to-be, these were my three biggest mistakes. To see what they were, read more.

  • Pads — Having used tampons pretty much since I got my period, I never paid attention to the terms "dry weave," "with wings" and "overnights." But, bulk packs of those products are what saved my postpartum pants. And, "ultra thins" are the way new moms can go out without feeling like they are the one wearing diapers.
  • Electric Breast Pump — In an instant, I was Dolly Parton and the $50 manual pump I bought on the advice of a male employee at Target didn't do the trick. After sopping the milk up with washcloths, then hand towels — neither of which helped a bit, my husband went out and threw down $300 for the best electric pump he could find. And, I waited at home on the couch wrapped in a soaked over-sized bath-towel bewildered by my body.
  • Food — When we brought home our daughter, all I had in the cabinet was two dozen baby bottles and a big ole bag of hard coffee candies. When a hunger pang hit, I ate a couple handfuls and then practically hallucinated for the rest of the day. An empty stomach, caffeine and sleep deprivation are a frightening mix. Later, my aunt brought over enchiladas which balanced things out. Definitely do a big shop close to your delivery date or allow friends and relatives to bring you homemade food or take-out.

Luckily, I learned from my errors. When we arrived home from the hospital with our son, things ran rather smoothly!

Do you have any items to add to this list?

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