What to pack in Labour Bag?

Dormouse

I too kept the t-shirt I gave birth in. Amazingly, all the gunk came off and it's good as new - only I'm too freaked out to ever wear it again!

My hospital provided birthing balls and radios, so no need to look like a tourist In fact, one of my best labour memories was listening to Bryan Adams' Can't Stop This Thing We've Started on Radio 2 and thinking how appropriate it was to the situation...

Allexie

Every time I see this thread pop up in New Posts I think its somefink to do with the election.......have I been brainwashed already? :eek:




*sorry, sorry, sorry....sprog-free person here!*

Shadow_2

During the pushing stage I had hubby (only when told!) to spray my face with Boots facial (water?) spray and it was wonderful - highly recommend it, but guess anyone else's brand will be as good.

1st baby I had to stay in 5 days with as she was 4 weeks prem and wouldn't suck from me. I got in a really tizzy and after 4 days hubby asked about trying a bottle (was in such a state never thought about this!!). Anyway, the upshot was the midwives said they'd been waiting for us to suggest this as they weren't allowed to suggest it (?????grrrrr!!!) and she was fine with that!! (it was 5 years ago now so policy may be different? 2nd baby I was adamant I was only staying in 6 hours!). In a nutshell - you are in charge - tell the staff what you want and don't and don't feel pressured.

I would also suggest you inform your OH where baby clothes are stored. Hadn't packed enough for a 5 day stay and after instructions he came back with 3-6 month vests for a 6lbs 10lbs baby. Needless to say was glad to get home......!!

All the very best!!

Savvy_Sue

Queenie wrote:

Caution: Do NOT drink raspberry leaf tea until *after* 36 weeks!!!!! It can induce labour/miscarriage.

Caution: raspberry leaf tea also tastes absolutely vile!

Savvy_Sue

JULIE wrote:

Hi lillibet... I'm currently overdue on my third child by ten days and typing this whilst bouncing on my birthing ball hoping to encourage things......

Get off the birthing ball (Birthing Ball? ) and start eating curry and having sex. Not necessarily at the same time, and if sex is a problem then simple nipple stimulation is supposed to be enough!

Good luck!

JULIE

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Get off the birthing ball (Birthing Ball? ) and start eating curry and having sex. Not necessarily at the same time, and if sex is a problem then simple nipple stimulation is supposed to be enough!

Good luck!

Had curry, sex, nipple stimulation, pineapple, walking....incidentally the birthing ball is supposed to open your pelvis to allow the babies head to drop further down which should help to stimulate the cervix.... I've only got tomorrow then i'm in on friday... i'm really upset by all this.. i've had two membrane sweeps..I can't remember what i wrote b4 but i wanted a home birth this time and felt calm and prepared for it all now i just feel as though its all out of my control and i'm not embracing the hosp birth at all.... this worries me as I had PND after having my other two children albeit nine years ago..admittedly i have now remarried a wonderful supportive man but I feel that if i'm disappointed at the birth etc it may either affect bonding or my whole outlook afterwards.... after today I have no inclination to breastfeed at all ( i fed the other two no prob) and i'm really on a downer i just feel like crying all the time

Smiley_Mum

Drink loads and loads of water to keep yourself hydrated, especially after the birth. If you're dehydrated your stitched/stretched bits will sting like hell when you pee and also helps with the other too. As for reading material during the early stages of labour - I had a good read through my medical notes right from day one on earth. Take some munchies for your bag - after I had my first it was about 11pm by the time I got to the ward and there wasn't a thing going spare in the fridge on the ward - ended up getting a takeaway - stank the place out - so long as you aren't drugged to the eyeballs. Take plenty of water with you, especially if you are feeding the baby yourself too. I worried about going in with too much stuff but don't worry about it, what I had packed compared to some people was nothing. I would take a spare compact easy packable large holdall that you can pack baby gifts etc into, I came home with a boatload of parcels.

toozie_2

I think it has been mentioned, but I live next door to a retired midwife, who delivered both my children. Apparently years ago there used to be a bin of salt in the bathrooms of the maternity hospitals. But this was taken away years ago, because it wasn't a proved fact that salt healed.

My midwife told me to take a small pot of salt, keep it in the sponge bag, and put a spoonful at least in the bath when you're running water. I'm sure this helped with the healing process.

Good luck, and accept all the help on offer when you come home. Drink plenty of water/fluids, especially if you are breast feeding. I stupidly drank grapefruit juice when I got home, the baby had such a bad tummy, and screamed for 24 hours solid!! Oh happy days!!!! Now they are tantruming teenages, so I did survive!!

Savvy_Sue

JULIE wrote:

Had curry, sex, nipple stimulation, pineapple, walking....incidentally the birthing ball is supposed to open your pelvis to allow the babies head to drop further down which should help to stimulate the cervix.... I've only got tomorrow then i'm in on friday... i'm really upset by all this.. i've had two membrane sweeps..I can't remember what i wrote b4 but i wanted a home birth this time and felt calm and prepared for it all now i just feel as though its all out of my control and i'm not embracing the hosp birth at all.... this worries me as I had PND after having my other two children albeit nine years ago..admittedly i have now remarried a wonderful supportive man but I feel that if i'm disappointed at the birth etc it may either affect bonding or my whole outlook afterwards.... after today I have no inclination to breastfeed at all ( i fed the other two no prob) and i'm really on a downer i just feel like crying all the time

Oh Julie, I hope things kick off tonight!

PND: have you considered asking for progesterone postnatally? I don't know what current thinking is but talk to your midwife about your fears and worries, especially if you end up in hospital for the birth. Really thinking of you ...

bylromarha

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Caution: raspberry leaf tea also tastes absolutely vile!

That's why I took capsules!

Queenie...read in one mag it was 32 weeks, so I started popping capsules, then at 33 weeks read in a book shouldn't take them until 34 weeks, then read in a mag at 34 weeks you shouldn't start until you're 36weeks.

Get used to it OP, everyone tells you everything differently when you have a baby!

And tip on the hairdryer...when using it to dry stiches i found it made my skin tighten up, so caused a lot of pain for me (sorry to be so graphic, but it really hurt!!!!).