What to pack in Labour Bag?

jellyhead

ah well, they do say boys are lazy

Ticklemouse

For those first time mums out there who are beginning to panic about the pains and the jabs and delivering the placenta etc, don't worry too much

TBH I don't remember any after pains with either of my two. I had the jab first time round, but refused second time and I don't remember bleeding any more profusely. I also delivered the placenta within 5 minutes and quicker I think than first time around.

And I agree about subsequent labours getting quicker - not! Mr TM was going to spend the evening at home after I was induced with DS1 because 'first babies always take 24 hrs' Hmmmm, 2 1/2 hrs of screaming later - one healthy baby boy. Second time around, opted for au naturel birth (why, I asked myself at the time?), just the 9 hours, of which there were only 3-4 hours of screaming (It was my way of controlling the pain, so don't let anyone try to shut you up, like my dh wanted)

At the end of the day, babes is in there and IS going to come out. If you don't have a c-section, then there's only one way out and what will happen to you will happen. You may sail through without so much as a whimper, stitch or afterpain - there again, you may not:eek:

Lillibet_2

In the last couple of days I have spent a few hours on the labour ward (for monitoring, nothing serious, just a water infection) & I have learnt the following :

The whole floor is liberally supplied with birthing balls, it's like something out of The Prisioner as you see one go rolling up the corridor! You were quite right, Adam immedialtey threw himself on one & promptly fell off as it span out from under him:D

The slightest hint of a breeze & the windows get shut.........I will be investing in a mini-fan!

The cooked meals are truly terrible but they have a fridge stocked with OK-ish sandwiches;) Also the midwives seem to run a room-service operation on the tea-and-biscuits front! Hardly what they are there for but I was very very grateful:o

It's really BORING....don't know about a book or playing cards to keep us occupied between contractions, we are now thinking maybe Trivial Pursuit! OK, I'm joking. But I now definately plan to stay at home for as long as pratical, if only to keep my so-dull-I'll-have-to-rearrange-the-furniture-instincts under control:eek:

I was put on a Sonicaid monitor with a strap around my stomach, does anyone know if this monitor can be used whilst wearing a TENS machine?

Cheers

jellyhead

the midwives also make toast, and i don't know why but it tastes so much better than the toast i make for myself

are you booked in for a tour of the labour ward lillibet? you could ask about the tens machine there. i haven't used one before but am planning to get one this time. i didn't see birth balls either, will have to ask when i have my tour.

i was kept in twice last month, each time just for water infection and sickness/diarrhoea bug but yes the food was awful and it was far too hot. i hope you're feeling okay now.

Lillibet_2

Hi Jellyhead


Yep, feeling much better now thanks.

I get the tour next month as part of the ante-natal classes although I peaked into a delivery room for the first time on Monday, didn't look too scary. However the screams which were comming out of the "home from home" suite were another thing.........both the midwife & my hubby looked at me rather pityingley when I commented that a child was throwing a tanturm somewhere!
Oh so naive, I have a lot to learn:eek: :eek: :eek:

nickinoo

Sorry I haven't got time to read all of the replies(the joys of a 19 month old!) so appologies for any repetition.

I bought a magicool spray which was 1 of the best things I had, basically it's just a supercool mist of water which works wonders.
A sports water bottle is great for keeping you hydrated & is easy to drink from.
Proper maternity pads, I tried to use ordinary ones after a few days & they caused so much itching & discomfort plus the stitches seemed to stick to them (sorry if TMI).
I took savoury snacks such as cheese sandwich biscuits & mini cheddars, I'm so glad I did as I was starving afterwards & there can be a long wait between meals.
Boiled sweets & mints to help your mouth feel fresher (for both labour & afterwards).
Change for the phone.
Arnica tablets help promote healing.
Moist toilet paper in case you end up with piles (ouch).

That's all I can think of for now, will rack my brains & come back if I think of anything else.

omega_2

Lillibet wrote:

I was put on a Sonicaid monitor with a strap around my stomach, does anyone know if this monitor can be used whilst wearing a TENS machine?

Cheers

I certainly did, and pretty confident there's no reason why not.

Glad to hear you're OK.

Dormouse

To Lillibet and Jellyhead - hope you're both feeling better! It's not nice getting all these bugs when pregnant...

And yep, postnatal wards are HOT. I gave birth in July and it was a nightmare. I got told off for opening the window just a tiny bit during the night (nurses come to check up on the baby in the middle of the night - how ARE you supposed to get a reasonable sleep I don't know!)

And LOL at the Prisoner comment It will keep me giggling for the rest of the afternoon...

jellyhead

yep i was giggling about the prisoner comment, when i go in to have my baby i'll burst out laughing whenever i see a birth ball :-)

Bargain_Rzl

Lillibet wrote:

It's really BORING....don't know about a book or playing cards to keep us occupied between contractions, we are now thinking maybe Trivial Pursuit! OK, I'm joking. But I now definately plan to stay at home for as long as pratical, if only to keep my so-dull-I'll-have-to-rearrange-the-furniture-instincts under control:eek:

I'm the eldest of three and my mother had home births with my sister (1981) and brother (1985). Sister born nice and quick in the middle of the night. Brother on the other hand...

Mum went into labour early evening. Knew it'd be a while and didn't want to get me (age 7) or sis (age 4) overexcited on a school night, so chose not to mention it. She cooked us our dinner and we went to bed. She and my dad then decided that the best way of taking mind off labour pains was to play Scrabble.

Trouble was that mum's waters were leaking and dad found it so hilarious that she was running to the loo with every contraction, that he couldn't concentrate on the game and it was MUM who won by miles, despite the minor inconvenience of being in labour

(Brother born 7:27 next morning with all of us there.)