8 New-Mom Essentials

1. Hand lotion You'll be amazed at how often you'll wash your hands, and how all that soap and warm water will take a toll on your skin.

2. Stamps Having the right postage on hand means all of those thank-you notes you scribbled at 2 a.m. may actually make it out of the house!

3. Batteries From her mobile to her swing, most of the baby gear you'll buy requires batteries. The last thing you need is to put the bouncy seat together only to realize it won't bounce without some AA's.

4. A screwdriver It'll help you open all of the battery compartments on that baby gear. A tip: Buy one that stores many heads in the handle, like Rubbermaid's 6-in-1) ($9).

5. Stain remover Spitup happens. If you have a stain remover wherever you and the baby spend time, you can treat spots right away. One we like: Tide to Go, $3. It's the size of a pen, so it can slip right into the diaper bag, too.

6. Extra undies After you deliver, your maternity underwear will be too big (thankfully!), but your prebaby skivvies may still be too small. Cheap underwear a few sizes bigger than your old size solves the problem.

7. A fan As your hormones readjust and your body sheds excess fluid, you'll be sweating more, especially at night.

8. Maxi pads You may think you'll bleed for only a few days, but postpartum discharge can last up to six weeks. Even if it's not heavy, spotting is common. (Get them now to avoid sending your husband to pick 'em up later!)