MSE Pregnancy Club X

Nicki

chopsticks wrote: »

Hi all,

LABOUR
Maternity notes/birth plan
Socks x1
Nightdress/T-shirt
Lip balm
Drinks
Cereal bars/snacks
Cooling face spray
Camera
Book/magazine (probably won't need) but maybe if I stay in overnight.
Birthing ball (I don't have one - should I get one?)
Tens machine (if I use one - haven't decided yet)
Hair band
Carrier bag for labour clothes

Be prepared not to use half of this! If you want to take it, I'd suggest you put it in a separate bag, so hubby can take it home afterwards. I'd also put one post birth nightie in the labour bag, and leave the post birth bag in the car to be swopped over with the labour bag after the birth, as some hospital labour rooms are small, and you don't want to be stepping over unnecessary luggage if you're hoping for a reasonably active birth.

POST LABOUR
Dressing gown
Slippers
Socks x1
Front opening PJs/Nightie (is a nightie better than PJs, or is is just personal preference?)
Towels x2
Breast pads (will 5 pairs be enough?)
Maternity pads (will 2 packs of 10 be enough?)
Knickers x4
Nursing bra
Going home outfit
Hairbrush
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Make up (if I can be bothered!)
Contact lenses
Glasses
Toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, flannel, moisturising cream, deodorant.
Mirror
Tissues
Arnica tablets
Mobile phone

PJs don't need to be front opening, as you can just lift the top and pop baby under. Non-front opening ones are possibly easier to find. Quantities of everything else depends on how long you are in for. You certainly have more than enough for an overnight stay, and if you look like you'll need to be in longer and are running short of anything, OH can always bring more in.

FOR BABY
Going home outfit
Vests x2
Socks x2
Scratch mittens x1
Sleepsuits x2
Hat
Muslin squares x2
Blanket (is this needed?)
Dummy (or will I get evil looks if I take this?)
Nappies (will 10 be enough?)
Nappy rash cream (will this be needed in the first day or two?)
Nappy sacks
Baby wipes
Cotton wool balls
Vaseline
Car seat (will leave in car until needed)

I only used nappy rash cream when baby had a rash. Wouldn't imagine this would happen in the first few days, and if it does, surely hospital would have this on hand? Hospital will provide bedding.

Personally I don't like dummies, but that's a personal thing. How will you sterilise it if you are in hospital though?

And a few more questions
1) What are you all planning to dress your babies in when they are born? Will a sleepsuit and vest be OK?

Yes

2) Are you packing a change of clothes/a few toiletries for your OHs?

Personally, I never have, and he hasn't needed them.

3) Are you packing two bags - one for labour and one for afterwards?

Yes, I think this is a good idea

4) What kind of bags do you pack things in?

My labour bag has always been a largish shoulder bag, and my hospital bag a small piece of hand luggage. Baby's stuff all fitted in a changing bag.

5) In water birth situations, do you take a bikini top?

xxxx

Sorry, haven't had a water birth, but these were my thoughts on the rest.

Sami_Bee

chopsticks wrote: »

...
LABOUR
Maternity notes/birth plan
Socks x1I'd pack 2 pairs or more in case ur waters go and wet ur sox;)Nightdress/T-shirt again 2 is best in case of waters/being sick etc
Lip balm
Drinks
Cereal bars/snacks
Cooling face spray
Camera spare batteries maybe?
Book/magazine (probably won't need) but maybe if I stay in overnight.
Birthing ball (I don't have one - should I get one?)My hosp provide these so check with urs if u haven't already
Tens machine (if I use one - haven't decided yet)
Hair band
Carrier bag for labour clothes

POST LABOUR
Dressing gown
Slippers
Socks x1
Front opening PJs/Nightie (is a nightie better than PJs, or is is just personal preference?) personal pref I'd say, I preferred a nightie so in bed I could pull it up coz I was paranoid about bleedinon it:o
Towels x2
Breast pads (will 5 pairs be enough?) I'd go for 10 Maternity pads (will 2 packs of 10 be enough?) should be
Knickers x4
Nursing bra
Going home outfit
Hairbrush
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Make up (if I can be bothered!)
Contact lenses
Glasses
Toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, flannel, moisturising cream, deodorant.
Mirror
Tissues
Arnica tablets
Mobile phone take some change for phone/parking just in case

FOR BABY
Going home outfit
Vests x2
Socks x2
Scratch mittens x1
Sleepsuits x2
Hat
Muslin squares x2
Blanket (is this needed?) hosp should provide
Dummy (or will I get evil looks if I take this?)who cares if ur planning to BF tho don't use a dummy until feeding is established
Nappies (will 10 be enough?)yes
Nappy rash cream (will this be needed in the first day or two?)prob not and you'll prob have a free sample in bounty pack, or just use ur vaseline Nappy sacks
Baby wipes
Cotton wool balls hosp may provide
Vaseline
Car seat (will leave in car until needed)

And a few more questions
1) What are you all planning to dress your babies in when they are born? Will a sleepsuit and vest be OK?yes you may need coat/blanket etc for leaving hosp weather dependant

2) Are you packing a change of clothes/a few toiletries for your OHs? I'm having a clean outfit on standby as OH work is rather dirty so don't want bubs to meet his daddy looking like a chimney sweep :rotfl:
3) Are you packing two bags - one for labour and one for afterwards? I did last time but as I'm planning HB this time I'm hoping not necessary
4) What kind of bags do you pack things in? carry on sized trolley case (I got mine £10 from tesco - bargain)

5) In water birth situations, do you take a bikini top? what ever ur comfy in - bra/binkini/t-shirt/naked...

xxxx

hope that is of use
Bare in mind that most 1st timers usually stay in for 2 nights but u can always send OH home with dirty stuff and fetch clean/supplies

slscarborough

Well finally I have a chance to post my birth story.

I was 4 days overdue and it was eight thirty in the evening when I was sitting on the sofa sorting through some baby bits and suddenly my waters broke. Luckily we have a leather sofa and laminate flooring as it went everywhere. I rang the maternity unit who asked my to come in so they could swab for infection but as I wasnt having contractions I would probably be able to go home after and come back in the morning.

On the way to the hospital I started getting mild contractions so when I got there they stuck me on a monitor. Anyway by ten o clock the contractions hadnt amounted to anything so they said I go go home and come back in the morning. They went off to do there paperwork and thats when the contractions kicked in however I was not dilated at all so they were still prepared to let me go home. They then examined me at 11 oclock just before I was about to go home and I was 6 cms dilated.

I had two and a half hours of contractions lasting only about 30 seconds but only a minute apart. To be honest I thought I had hours left as I hadnt been in very much pain at all but then the midwife said your ready to push. It only took 3 pushes to deliver her and I only had gas and air. No stitches or tears. Even the midwife commented on what a perfect textbook labour I had.

Just wish my other 2 labours had been like this. I can honestly say that I was in no pain once I had delivered her - must be due to the fact I hadnt torn at all. My midwife was brilliant - only downside was that as she was born on a bank holiday she didnt see the baby doctor before she went and the hearing test want done either.

My 2 year old has been brilliant with her and seems to have grown up overnight and she is a very settled baby. I hardly know i have her some days.

slscarborough

Hope I didnt forget anything??

Krystaltips

What a wonderful experience sls!!! Will you be called for the hearing test? We were told that if you leave hospital before they do it then you will get a referral letter with an appointment to attend...

spinks

Well done sls, really good to hear a positive birth story :T

Sami_Bee

sls - that's a fab story
and not to dissimilar to what happened with me n Chris (only I did go home and did tear ) I'm glad all is going well fingers crossed your LO's are both angels for the rest of their lives

HypnoNu

That's such a lovely birth story SLS, can i have one of those births please!?

aless02

yes, can I have one too, sls! Great story, thank you so much for sharing!!

MrsTinks

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz riddiculous - been holding 30 mins on the phone now to get through to Vodaphone to make a claim on my phone insurance... ARGH!!!!! 30 minutes of "your call is important and will be dealt with as quickly as possible" - define quickly!!!!! 30 minutes is NOT quick in my book!