Good point about that checklist! It might also be helpful to let people know what pix you don't want taken. I neglected to do that & so now I have pictures of Esther crowning...

Oh man...I am so sorry.

I'm not even bringing half the stuff recommended on all the "official" lists on the sites I hardly needed any of it when DS was born!

Here's my personal "official" list:
Jammies
Going home outfit (for both of us)
Toothbrush/paste
Simple Makeup
Shampoo/Conditioner
Receiving blanket
A couple of books and movies

Tis' all! I'm a very light packer

I only have one thing to add - for those moms not having a c-section - A DONUT CUSHION!!

It was my BEST friend after I gave birth to my son, I will definitely have one on hand this time, too...

I think, depending on your insurance, using the things the hospital provides is better than bringing & using your own (like toothpaste, pads, creams). Our insurance required us to pay 20% for these items so I used as much of my own as I could, but some insurance companies cover a blanket amount for hospital births. I really liked the huge mamba-jamba pads they have at the hospital for those first few days of gushing. Ack.

Our hospital provided almost everything we needed, though. I can't think of one thing we had to have that they did not give us or would have provided us with. Good thing since I was apparently in labor when I showed up to my 36 week checkup and the OB sent me right over, and Truman was born 2 hours later.

Best of luck to all the expecting mommies! This thread is making me miss pegnancy.... I better stop reading.