My List for Labour, Hospital and Beyond!

[phynna]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Go Ali!!!!!!!

Geez just when I thought I had everything organised LOL!!!!!!!!!! How long did this take to compile, 9 months? You should write baby books!

[AliB]

Hey Phynna yeah it's quite a list. I have freely admitted to pinching most of it from my sister!!

But it would help if I'd actually got everything on the list!! Most gaps are in the labour list - eek. And I haven't placed one thing in one bag for labour or hospie, it is making me panic when our fellow belly buddies are kicking off in as little as 2 days!!! Hee hee (Nervous laughter!)

[phynna]

I'm sort of lucky that I don't have to pack bags being a home birth girl, but it really does make checking that I have everything tricky! I can't stand making messy piles here and there, so everything is still in linen closet, bathroom cabinet, baby room, underwear drawer, etc. Really does make the double-checking difficult LOL!

On another note, going to the earlier mentioned maternity pads, has anyone tried the tena lady undies? I HATE wearing pads with a passion, can't even stand panty liners, so I'm wondering if maybe the disposable undies were a better option? Though too embarrassed to buy them unnecessarily to investigate further!

[sassy123]

the labour part does look a bit long. i packed heaps of stuff and didnt use any of it. we didnt even think to use the camera the nurse had to ask us if we wanted pics lol.

[AliB]

Hi Sassy

The first half of the labour list is because I've been preparing / going to classes for a drug-free birth, and the methods I'm using requires loads of accessories!

Other stuff is just in case or things I'll need in my hospie bag anyway (eg toiletries, big undies).

And for every person who says "you don't need X", there is somebody who'll say "I couldn't have survived without X!!". Because of all the reading I've done, my list has grown and grown.

That's funny that you had to be reminded to take pictures!!!

A

[tubbles]

On another note, going to the earlier mentioned maternity pads, has anyone tried the tena lady undies? I HATE wearing pads with a passion, can't even stand panty liners, so I'm wondering if maybe the disposable undies were a better option? Though too embarrassed to buy them unnecessarily to investigate further!

If you do use them, please give an update on how they went. I also hate pads with a passion.. so if this could be an alternative, and works well, I'll be happy to use them! Even if it does mean I'll have to face the cashier with them

[~Hestia~]

What are the sauce bottles for?

[AliB]

Hey Cheezels

That was a suggestion at our antenatal class that i liked. Put a squirt of sorbolene and some water in a small sauce bottle and shake, use it for nappy clean up and/or bath time (instead of lotions and potions). Empty and refresh every couple of days. Also read on BB that people have had good results with chamomile tea for nappy clean up to prevent nappy rash so thought i'd get 2 bottles

[AliB]

Hey phynna and tubbles... I don't even want to do a google for those Teena undies to see what you mean!!!!?

Look from all I read you want biiiig sofffft mattressy pads that you can wear 2 or more at once, slip in a frozen popsicle, etc...! I'm not a pad fan normally either but I've got the mattresses and a packet of cheap granny undies (floral!!!!) ready to go! I know when I had a D&C for polyps I found that pads were the go, lots of blood and nice to be able to keep changing each time you go to the loo.

[HollyC]

I saw an ad for Depend disposable undies (I think). They will send you a free sample if you fill in the info on their website. I think I might do this. I reckon you would only need a couple. My loss slowed down really quickly, but was heavy to start.

Thick pads are the way to go. The thin ones are useless to start with. And tampons are not recommended at all!

So I think I'll have to print out your list Ali. It has just hit me how close to my due date I am! I'm starting to remember all the things that I forgot I needed last time!

[Laiceysmummy]

I agree with the incontinence pads, i used them after having both my girls because they are bigger and feel nicer and i also think it is worth taking something to read or anything to entertain yourself (even if you dont use it) only because when i was having my second baby we had to go to hospital as soon as my waters broke (due to complications id had with DD1) and for the 3 hours before my contractions started DF and I were sooooo bored. No tv or anything and we could only walk around the hospital for so long. It was only lucky that someone has left a magazine in the room so we had the mega cross word to work on to try and pass the time before DD2 made an enterance.
And its nice to have something to do when all the vistiors have gone home, bubs asleep and you dont feel like sleeping (i had DF bring me more magz everyday i was in there)

[HollyC]

Oh, another thought. If you already have a breast pump then take it to hospital. They can help show you how to use it. I was pumping after feeds to try and get my supply up and for top up feeds.

[AliB]

That's good advice thanks Holly, I do have the pump.

(And thank goodness the topic has changed from incontinence pads!! )

[phynna]

If you do use them, please give an update on how they went. I also hate pads with a passion.. so if this could be an alternative, and works well, I'll be happy to use them! Even if it does mean I'll have to face the cashier with them

I forgot to report back till now...
I got a free sample sent out from the website, arrived in a plain, non-labelled envelope thankfully! As we had bubs just before 1am, the following sleep suited the undies, though they were horrible to wear, they were huuuuuge, but the massive immediate flow just after birth was well enclosed, I hate to think of the mess otherwise!
BUT I am glad I had the pads, as I never want to wear them again! In fact I might just risk the big mess next time, the undies were really truly uncomfortable, and plasticy, now I know how disposables must feel like for babies YUCK!


Ali.....how much stuff on your list did you use in hospital? Or forget to use in all your excitement!!!

[AliB]

Hi Phyn!

Well... the labour bag was excited unpacked in the birthing suite, all the birth skills stuff (balls, shakers, etc), snacks, toiletries,CD plugged in, mags laid out. I changed in to my sexy birthing wrap and put on my grippy sox (great idea from someone else - those bathroom floors ARE slippery in sox, and it was freezing in there).

I then settled down for an hour with the gels on. I was pretty pleased that I had all the gear in that labour bag as we were looking to be there for hours and a painful labour was likely to be in store due to bub's position! I felt like I had al the bases covered.

But as you know, not long after, the phone call came to say "Emergency caesar under GA required NOW!!". We had barely finished packing the stuff away again (transferred some stuff to the hospie bag, such as bra and undies, pen and paper, additional toiletries, and book) suddenly the staff were there with the trolley and theatre gown and stockings.

As for the hospital bag, I think I used everything in it, even little washers and came in handy. Lip balm was useful in hospie due to drying out of the air con. Basically I wouldn't change a thing next time

[phynna]

Was that a wrap? I thought it was just a black dress! Nice!

You're so organised! I wish I had've had that organisation with my labour, I went wrong in anticipating the promised slow start! I know better next time!

[LimeSlice]

Did you seriously use a hair dryer AND straightener in hospital?

[AliB]

Limeslice, nah I didn't take either with me... I'd completely lost interest in how my hair looked by the time I was 2 weeks overdue!!