I was incredibly over-prepared prepared for my hospital stay the last time I gave birth. I had everything I could possibly need in my suitcase.... and used about one fourth of it. (It really looked like we were moving in to Labor and Delivery; I just have a thing about being under-prepared when away from home.)
So, from the lessons I learned last time around, here are my suggestions for some things that are not worth worrying about taking with you to the hospital.
1) Lots of Baby Clothes
One picture outfit and a going home outfit are the only infant clothes I am taking with me this time. My son stayed in the little hospital T and swaddled in the hospital blankets the entire time we were there. I was too exhausted to even think about changing his clothes and there was no reason to anyway.
2) Baby Blankets
I will bring one for pictures but otherwise I'm going to let him stay in the hospital-provided blankets. Out of all the blankets that I bought and were given to me, those were honestly my favorites for my son's first few months. They were the perfect size for swaddling and very soft.
3) Makeup
I wore none the entire time I was in the hospital. Sure, I might have scared some people, but I was too exhausted from giving birth and excited about my son to even think about applying makeup. That being said, it might just be too much to handle to actually leave it at home, even knowing I will probably not use it.
4) Books
I'm going to bring some magazines (that I probably will not even read) but I know there is absolutley no use in bringing a book, even for a book addict such as myself. One, I will be too tired to read. Two, I will not have time to read. Three, I will have no interest in reading.
5) A Nice Robe
I definitely recommend taking a robe, but I recommend taking an old ratty one. If you plan on breastfeeding, you will probably use lanolin cream, which stains and will ruin your clothes. I found this out after I ruined the brand new robe I bought just for the hospital.