MSE Pregnancy Club XV

Fitzio

Well, I haven't packed a hairdryer, but as I said, I have no idea what to expect. Where is the shower room? Where do you get dressed? I don't have a clue! They could have a lovely dressing area for all I know!! I am just taking bobbles to shove my hair back, but then surely people who are in hospital long term can't do that all of the time - wouldn't do their health much good to be lying on wet hair/pillows would it? Hope I get out the next day, but my god it's scary thinking that I need to take the baby with me!

three2be

fitz could you swap a pack of the maternity pads(or both) for a pack of night time sanitary towels, i found them better than the maternity pads 10 yrs ago and from what i have seen they are still better. They are less likely to leak at the back when you lie down and i found that as they were less bulky they didn't press on you as much if you were delecate down their. besides most hospitals give you some pads anyway. Just my penny worth lol

Don't panic fitz their is usually pretty good showers with a changing area. have never seen a hairdrier but never had a reason to look since my last birth lol

jha

You can pull the curtains round if you need to change or change after your shower / bath in the shower / bath room. I dont know about maternity wards but general wards seem to have a number of toiets per ward for patients and a few shower rooms. I found my hair dried quite quickly because it is always so warm in hospital. I have no idea about what they do if you have to lie down with wet hair and agree it cant be good for your health - i hadnt thaught of that:o Hope that helps a bit:o

three2be

jha wrote: »

You can pull the curtains round if you need to change

Sorry to put a dampner on your advice(pun lol) but i'd check if they mind you doing it first. When i had DS the women next to me had a spill and needed to change so shut the curtain and just at that the MW decided no closed curtains as visitors were arriving and well lets just say several ppl including me seen more of her than we wanted:eek: I used the loo/changing rooms after that.

SugarSpun

ML I was incredibly antisocial a couple of weeks before my EDD - she ended up being forcibly evicted, but I refused to see anyone for the week before she was born.

jha

:rotfl:glad that didnt happen to me the times i have been in - they close curtains if you need the loo too and cant get out of bed and for when the doc comes round to examine you - i would have been mortified if that happend to me so - good point:D

Fitzio

It's ok, I am not panicking, and all advice appreciated as I just don't know what to expect. I have plenty of other things to be panicking about with an impending birth!! lol.

Right, off to make dinner now - well heat it up actually as DH made a big pot of bolognese last night so having that tonight and have frozen the rest. I think we have about 14 portions of frozen meals in the freezer now so will keep going with that this week every time I make something. Rhubarb crumble for dessert, yummmmmm.

Thanks again for all of the advice, and I hope it helps other people too. Good to get different opinions!

Fitzio

Mazcabs wrote: »

Hi guys just popping in from Parent club thread, can you remember when your maternity exemption card came through as cant remember from last time round? Did you have to send off for it?

Maz - I got mine really early on. I went to my docs before I even had my booking appointment with the midwife, and doc arranged for it to be posted to me so I think I have had it from aroun 7 weeks! I think everyone is different depending on the area as usual though.

got-it-spend-it

Bear_family wrote: »

Goodness, yes then you need to cover every eventuality. I can just see my OH not knowing where I keep even the basics, such as knickers or bringing me in some frilly, useless pair:rotfl:

Bx

My OH would so do that- I could imagine him saying he thought I'd want to look my best, or something!

Fitz- I am seriously wondering what visitors will make of me sans hair straighteners and hair dryer! I too have never stayed in hospital, but am hoping there is an area in the shower room to get dressed etc, and that OH will be able to watch bubs while I am showering.

My Nan was telling me the other day that when she had my Mum (55 years ago) my Grandad wasn't allowed to be there at the birth, Mum was born at 1am and then my Grandad wasn't allowed in till visiting time at 7pm the next day! She also said that the midwife would look after baby quite a bit so Mum could rest, not sure that still happens!!!

Right, MS done, now just listing a few eBay bits to try and make up for my recent eBay spending.

Harley which HC outfit did you go for? Is it on the MC website? I'd love to have a looksie.....

Nicki

Fitzio wrote: »

Well, I haven't packed a hairdryer, but as I said, I have no idea what to expect. Where is the shower room? Where do you get dressed? I don't have a clue! They could have a lovely dressing area for all I know!! I am just taking bobbles to shove my hair back, but then surely people who are in hospital long term can't do that all of the time - wouldn't do their health much good to be lying on wet hair/pillows would it? Hope I get out the next day, but my god it's scary thinking that I need to take the baby with me!

I know you've decided not to take your hairdryer anyway Fitzio, but for those who are, my guess is that if you are feeling well enough to want to wash your hair, then you are also well enough to sit up in bed or a chair until it is fairly dry. It may not look great towel and air dried rather than blow dried but in the heat of the ward it shouldn't take too long to do. If you are feeling so drained and poorly that you need to lie down, having slightly greasy hair will be the last of your worries!

The vast majority of mums are only in hospital for about 24 hours, so can probably get by without needing to wash their hair while they are in. Mums who have a c section will be in for longer, but then again they are unlikely to feel like standing in a shower for longer than they need to, so will probably tolerate having less than pristine hair until they can get home.

I tend to agree with the poster who said that using a hairdryer on a ward would disturb other mums, and there are unlikely to be power sockets in the bathrooms for health and safety reasons. Whilst you may have given birth 12 hours ago and be fit and raring to go home, wanting to look your best, the poor soul in the next bed could be just drifting off to sleep after a 24 hour labour, and be less than impressed to be woken. It seems to me its a bit like listening to music on your phone on the bus without using earphones - you enjoy it, but it annoys the heck out of everyone around you!