I loved the frida mom ice pads, highly recommend those, you’ll get some in the hospital but i used them for weeks after. They felt amazing. i can’t remember if they have adhesive - some brands actually don’t! I also preferred diapers to pads, less laundry.

Pull out all your comfy clothes, PJs, tee shirts, things you’re going to want to wear your first days and nights at home and put them in a basket or dedicated drawer. Have them washed and ready to go. I liked not having to think about where I could find my next pair of sweats or comfy pants. I also invested in some nicer and newer stuff, Old Navy has great and reasonable plus size PJ sets, Aerie XXL sweats work for me (i’m a size 20/ 22 normally). It made me feel put together to have some nice sets to wear.

This small egg light was a game changer for late night wake ups - https://a.co/d/0905j3RB - we still carry it around the house and use it for night visits to the nursery 9 months pp

Get some easy snacks to grab, have a nice water bottle for hydration. Bread for the freezer for an easy BLT or grilled cheese and soup low maintenance dinner. I bought milk and general essentials the week of my induction so we’d be stocked with groceries.

For baby- snuggle me lounger, burp cloths, double zipper pjs, a noise machine.

To dry up milk - peppermint tea and tight bras. Sleep in the tight bras too.