Mumsnet Talk

For dc2 I want to be a bit more prepared as I had a horrible time with ds1. I spent the night in a ward with noisy women, ate vile food and hardly got a wink. Looking for suggestions of what might improve my stay this time round. I felt so lonely and anxious last time.

i would ask if there were any other free beds apart from the one opposite the bathroom they gave me. i'd even pay for a private room to get away from the noise.

MP3 or a DS or something. and a really really good book.

oh and some biccies or pre packed sandwhich or something to eat as the food is awfull normally and i seem to give birth during the night and im always hungry at the wrong times for the meal carts

Eyemask thingy for when they insist on putting the strip lighting on at silly o'clock.

Biscuits & yummy treats - a good stash of them for breastfeeding fuel.

Magazines / a good book

I'll second that mamazon. I wish I had taken a book. My darling DD slept right through the first night on the ward, but I'm convinced she was the only person to do that. I was awake all night and would have murdered someone for a book, some biscuits and a pot of tea!!

Aside from all the essentials you probably already have on your list, I would add:

a book or two
biscuits
juice
mp3 player and headphones
EARPLUGS!

thanks for theses suggestions. next time i will be better preapred. a private room sounds like the answer. does anyone know if hospitals ever take your baby away for a couple of hours so you can get some skip in the style of old fashioned hospital nurseries?
not very cool, i know, but it was the kind of thing I dreamt of when i had dc1

eye mask defo - would skip the earplugs as i managed to sleep through dd waking up the entire ward anyway while the sister looked for the perputrator then shook my bed silly and gave me a rolicking for not hearing my child.

my dressing gown

Definitely some food! I've given birth in two different hospitals and at "reasonable" times of day (afternoon/early evening) and I had to literally beg to get any food. I managed to get some tea and toast immediately after DD, but because I'd been in labour for 36 hours I hadn't signed up for supper. I eventually managed to scrounge a left over ham sandwich at about 10pm (I don't usually eat meat ).

Then with DS I had to wait for about 5 hours to even get the tea and toast, and then had to wait until morning for breakfast.

God I was SO hungry!

So yes, TAKE FOOD!

Maternity pads.....I had none for my first night after having DTDs...

I took a journal although I'm not usually the journalling sort, and wound up writing through most of the night (in between fits of bawling). Can't read most of it now, but it made me feel better at the time.

I think I will be packing ipod with good earplugs this time - last time DS never cried all night but the other babies kept yowling and I kept leaping up thinking it was mine.

Pillow and nice blanket. Have never found hospital beds very comfortable/welcoming place to relax in. (With dd literally had no sheets on bed after giving birth and waiting to go for 7 hours.) Defo ear plugs. Otherwise music and choice of reading matter. Also second/third/whatever lots of food and drinks.

Nice post birth friendly bath stuff, shampoo and body lotion. I was dying for a bath the morning after and had brought nothing.
I say food too.I finally got cream crackers and dairylea at around 3 am after a nice nurse rootled in the fridge.

Wish I has sent DH home. We were lucky enough to be placed FREE OF CHARGE ! in a spare single room which had a pull out bed for DH to stay the night. He snored full volume all the way through and kept me awake all night. I was in a worse state the following night than immediately post birth

cold drinks

A bit contraversial but I took in a pack of dummies with my second DC. It meant that in the middle of the night after awful labour and no sleep for 36 hours and screamy baby keeping the ward awake I had something to give the midwives when they came round offering the formular top ups. which they did.

I then got 4hours uninterrupted sleep and went on to bf ok without the formular.
not for everyone but it worked for me

Ethicsgirl, one of the older mws did that for me (took my baby away I mean).
I'd had a long labour then my (normally thoughtful but in this case overexcited mum) came to visit which meant I basically hadn't had any sleep for 4 days. I rang the bell despairingly in the middle of the night because I couldn't stop dd crying. She said 'So you want me to nurse her at the desk for an hour or so so you can get some sleep?' and I gratefully said yes please..... then woke up 8 hours later and she was gone! I went and found her in a little room next to the desk nicknamed the 'sin bin'.
Am v grateful to said old-fashioned mw. She did the right thing.

antibacterial wipes so i could wipe over the toilet seat and sink myself before using the bathrooms as they were only cleaned once a day.

also mobile phone charger.

nice comfy dressing gown & slippers you can slip on, not ugg boots style in case you have any stitches, hope not for you though!

I had a dreadful time in hospital with ds2 as I was supposed to be discharged within 4 hours but ended up being kept in overnight due to 'hospital policy' because of the time he was born and because his temp was low and took a long time to stabilise. I was totally unprepared and hated every minute.

First of all if you don't go for a private room, I would ask for a corner bed if there is one available. Last time I was in a bed opposite the entrance to another ward and felt totally exposed. This time I had a corner bed which meant I could look out the window, I had lots of space either side of the bed and had much more privacy.

This time I took:

* my own nice big fluffy pillow and a soft shawl so that I was comfy lying down, reclined and breastfeeding (those metal framed recliners on the headboards are killers)

* a pack of juice cartons so I had plenty of cool drinks (other than a warm jug of nasty tasting water)

* a couple of cheap puzzle/take a break type magazines (useful when my brain wasn't working properly) and a good book

* some granola bars, raisins and a couple of bananas and crisps as well as a nice big bar of chocolate (it was sooo good to eat the chocolate)

Having been on a ward where practically every baby except mine screamed for a lot of the night leading to some very stressed Mums, I might suggest getting to grips with a wrap sling and taking one with you, then if you do have a crier you can schnuggle him/her up and go for a wander rather than stress about him/her keeping everyone awake.

Now, if I could have just done something about the lady who was listening to the radio and talking full voice to her baby at 4 in the morning 2 bays down from me it would have been great.

Looking back I think that I didn't need anything other than I'd taken. Too wrapped up in the newness of everything with my first. Food was fine, rested when I could, talked to the other mums if we felt like, didn't if we didn't.
Didn't sleep a wink with the following babies. Busy either feeding or cuddling or looking at newborn.
Nope can't think of anything that I wish I'd done or brought.
Hope things are better for you this time round ethicsgirl.

My first night in hospital with ds2 I was very ill, I lost ds1 when he was born prematurely at 26 weeks. Within two hours of giving birth i was suffering with black sickness and diaroeugh(sp) It was truly horrific, like something out of a horror film (seriously) I was isolated into one of the rooms i was in before I had ds1 (because it was near the toilet) and put on a drip, ds2 was put in the nursery and bottle fed (I breastfed the next day). I spent the entire first night rushing with the drip(which made a noise similar to Marleys ghost in CC) to the toilet and back holding one of those grey bowls! (Not a recomennded first night)

I had both of my children taken by the nurses. It was great and I was so knackered I didn't feel bad about it. For me, it was the best thing to do for the baby, me and the ward! Mind you, DC2 was brought back as they couldn't get her to settle either. ( A definate sign of things to come!!) She would only settle if she was in bed with me - something I wasn't that comfortable with personally.
Things to take - have someone bring in a flask of coffee or tea.

Ah yes, you've just reminded me. DH brought me a big flask of decaff coffee - so much nicer than the hospital dishwater.

Your very own pillows and DH brought some towels from home too - I was sweating madly and found myself sticking to the lovely plastic matrass so DH made me a layer of towels to sleep on. Also When DD was born I didn't have a clean t-shirt in the delivery suite so wore DH's shirt it was the most comfy thing and very cool, easy to BF in too.

Snacky food for those late night feeds.

I ended up staying in for 48 hours post birth, grim. I wish I had taken:

Ear plugs.

Eye mask (I got so tired I put my dressing gown on my head I was so desperate to sleep)

I-pod

Note pad and pen (very geeky and practical, but there was loads medical info re baby being throw at me that I needed to remember, very tricky when half asleep.

Was very glad to have however: homemade chocolate brownies, tin of, from my best friends mum, life saver, huge stack of cheap £1 a pair M&S pants, slippers and my mobile phone!

I took my Christmas Cards to write with me... well it was December!
I found my Evian facespray was great for freshening up. And my scented pillow spray..
I also took a packet of value knickers as opposed to paper pants- muchmore comfortable and at 99p for 3 pairs, about the same price.

Why is it so noisy on those wards? In my experience it wasn't babies that kept me awake but other people. The next time I go I'll definitely take ear plugs and an eye mask.

Food.
Food.
Food.

Can you guess I was hungry and craved some decent food (only in hospital 2 nights but didn't eat for 3 days of labour)? DH sent out to get cake, sandwiches, carrot sticks (not sure why but craved these) and drinks.

Also you want cool clothes. Hospitals are too hot.

Slippers would have been useful. I only had the sandals that I'd transferred into hospital in.

Got to echo the FOOD replies - and something to drink. was so hungry in the middle of the night.

Face wipes for a quick refresh, and mouth wash.

cheap big cotton knickers - agree - much more comfortable.

I pod - it is very noisy in hospital and its nice to tune out the noise but so you can still hear your baby.

Eye mask - great idea, wish I had thought of that.

get a private room

Squash to add to the manky tasting water. The first thing I did when my mum arrived to visit was send her to the vending machine to get me a diet coke! I was so hot and thirsty and couldn't get out of bed.

Cereal bars or other snacky nice things to eat.

A notepad and pen to note down times of feeds etc. I kept being asked if DS had fed/for how long etc and in my post-labour/sleep deprived state, could not remember.

oh, and pizza/curry menu's if there are places near enough, or get DH/family to bring in take-outs.

This is why the private room is so important - if you have a massive pizza everyone else will hate you

Completely agree with EssieW - food all the way.

Having laboured all night, ds was born at 8.30am so missed breakfast. I'd had Pethadine which made me very sick so didn't get onto the ward until lunch had finished. I slept all afternoon and was woken for tea which consisted of a salad ordered by the previous occupant of the bed (obviously as some kind of cruel joke ). No grub then until breakfast and it was a lonnnnnng night.

One salad in 24 hours, not good and the midwives 'couldn't find anything else for me' .

High calorie food - biscuits, cereal bars, chocolate. I was given salad for my first post-birth meal too. Bloody ridiculous, didn't even come with a bread roll or potatoes or anything substantial.

The midwife took my DD away the first night as I'd had a 30 hour labour and she just didn't stop crying from 10pm to 2am. I just zonked out and was so relieved. DD is 10 months old now and that's the longest sleep I've had since she was born!

After having no decent toiletries after ds1 and showering in nasty hospital liquid soap for ds2 I splashed out some John Lewis vouchers I had on an expensive set of molton brown small(ish) size set of shampoo/conditioner/shower gel/hand cream/body lotion. Worth every penny. I had to stay in 3 days after ds2 and used them loads. Each time I luxuriated in my expensive products I smugly congratulated myself on spending the money on myself. They made me feel expensive and as though I was doing something for myself again. Not just the fat leaking blob with a baby attached.

KingRolo I would have killed for a salad
They were giving me leaflets about the importance of eating high fibre food to make post-baby bowel movements easy and there was hardly a vegetable in the place! Cheese sandwich on white bread without even a lettuce leaf
(Not much point in taking salad in with me though - if it's a long labour it will have wilted by the time the baby gets out....)

One of my friends has a 3 month old and I just asked her this question. As well as the things already mention on previous posts, she said that she wished she'd had a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower. She also said to make sure your camera was fully charged when you went into hospital.

- Bendy straws (when I couldn't get up after c/s to have a drink)
- I took my long bf/pg pillow - v.comfy and a fleece blanket.
- I kept frozen cartons of OJ in freezer to grab when leaving for hosp, so kept in a cool bag, they were still cold post-labour.
- Lots and lots and lots of lovely food
- Scrabble!

Only took the 'usual' things in last time but got DH to bring in - Lots of cans of diet coke, I labelled them and put them in the kitchen fridge. Had a headache from the lack of caffeine til I was mobile enough to get myself loads of cups of tea (CS)
Trashy magazines that DH tuts at at home - he brought these without asking

And snacks, choc/yogurt coated banana chips, chocolate. I also had a cake brought in by MIL, I ate the whole thing over the 3/4 days I was in.

Definately get small lovely bath/shower products, I still have a flashback to the big hopsital bath when I use them now, and think of my tiny babies in their cots on wheels in the bathroom while I had a soak. (Liz earle stuff with DD, adidas shower gel with DS)

First time - I was nearly mental with the sleep deprivation after v long labour and CS, the staff took DD just for an occasional hour or two so I could nap. 2nd time, I asked them to take DS so I could get a kip. They were fine with it, just cuddled him for a bit and brought him back and woke me for his feed. Just an hour of sleep is bliss when you are exhausted.

Second the journal Tamlin
I was desperate to write down my birth experience, also diary about the stay in hospital too, and I have never ever written a journal before!

Some cream for your tummy - not sure if this is just an after c-section thing but mine was so ITCHY

Books - hahaha - I brought these with me and never got opened

Slippers or flip-flops so you don't have to walk on the scuzzy floor. A dressing gown.

Your own painkillers - super strong nurofen are nice when they only hand out paracetamol on the ward

I had read about taking a pillow in and did, but best feather pillow disappeared after one night and I was stuck with those hospital pillows which are actually covered in rubber under the case

Second the take outs as well - DH brought me in pizza and it was bloody gorgeous after 3 day labour

First night in hospital, what did I wish I'd done?

- had a homebirth
- not pushed so hard that I ripped in two
- demanded a c-section
- smuggled the G&A on to the ward

hmmm, I'm sure there's more

Have a spare nightie and dressing gown ready at home in an easy to find place so that when dh is sent home to get something for you to wear because, while in hospital, your waters broke all over your first set, he doesn't return with a T-shirt which barely covers your bits because 'it was all I could find' .

I intend to have a hospital bag and a bad of spare clothes etc. for dh to bring if I need it.

seconded on the painkillers, peppa. midwives were v. stingy with the paracetomol and i was in agony after enormo-episiotomy. nurofen plus all the way. and thousands of packets of maltesers and marmite rice cakes.

hope all goes well, ethics.

I wish dh could have stayed, the first night alone was truely terrifying after giving birth at 8pm and dh sent home at 11pm it was the longest 10 hours of my life. I am going for a 4 hour discharge next time if possible.

This time I'm taking a pack of paracetamol and a big sign saying "I've got my own paracetamol thank you" so they don't wake me up at 6am on the first drugs round of the day, half an hour after feeding for the 4th time in the night, just to ask me if I want any sodding pain relief, and then disappoint me by not offering something a bit stronger.

Oh and a bottle of lactulose - suggested by midwife as a way I could have avoided constipation and pain afterwards, but too late. This time will start knocking it back as soon as hit post natal ward. Will replace gaviscon habit.

I ended up having 3 caesareans with my boys, so i wasn't very mobile the first nights, i hated not getting tot he shower, so a nice light body water spray, i've got a lovely body shop one, and a really nice smelling antibacterial hand cleaner thingy. you know the little handbag sized pump gel things, i had carex made me feel a lot cleaner than i was.
Our hospital gives you a private room which was great, i managed to sleep well enough.

I'm due for c/s number 3 next week and must replace the choc I packed which of course I've already eaten!!! CS 1 was EMCS, was given a cup of tea on ward, but it was placed just out of my reach - could have cried. Same with brekky the next morn - put on my bed table but I couldn't bloomin reach it!! CS 2 was ELCS - much calmer experience, but didn't half get a filthy look off bitch midwife when she saw me eating a choccy digestive - I hadn't eaten since the day before and I was bloomin starvin - was a lovely student midwife who made me a cup of tea (which I could reach). Bitch midwife also gave me a bedbath - which I didn't want, but cuoldn't move away from her as still under effects of spinal. Not gonna happen this time!!! can't have private room unfortunately - apparently need to be on ward as under closer obs coz of surgery so no sleep for me first night. My babies tend to sleep (1st night anyways - never again tho) - it's other little darlings and their mothers that keep me awake - and the lights and the alarms at the nurses station and the bin lids closing etc. So shall be tajing in large supply of choc, bikky's, crappy mags, laptop, drinks and it will be put all within reach!!!

Homebirth if you can...3,000 times less stressful.

I ruined it for 3 other people on my ward by having a reaction to something in the epidural (I think) and making throwing up noises for a good hour.

I remember shouting 'sorry' through my closed curtains and getting No Reply [arrghhhhh] then they all went home and I got the place to myself for the second night

thatw as hell though initially

I took a big suitcase and got scorned by the people who came in to 'wash' me after I was stitched, for having so much crap with me.

I don't think I let them wash me actually, they were so nasty - I said I'd rather wait till I could walk to the shower.

I don't think they were actual nurses.

Take the basics imo and get out as soon as you possibly can!

I wish I'd realised that it was the last opportunity for a full night's sleep I was going to have for the next 2 years, and actually slept when my baby did rather than gazing him with a mixture of awe and panic.

mobile phone charger. your phone is bound to die!

Things I did right:

Plastic jug for pouring water over yourself when you pee.

Water spray - I bought a sprayer from Boots's toiletry travel containers and filled it with tap water - it did the job

Your own pillow

What I'd bring next time:

Microwave meals. There was a microwave on the ward and although we'd bought food we were heartily sick of bananas and Oreos. DH in particular was starving at the end of my rather long labour... I was too out of it to be hungry but he certainly was! If there's no microwave, perhaps pasta salad or something? You can get very sick of junk...

I was in hospital for two weeks following the birth of my DS, and had my own room, and also had plenty of things bought in for me.
This time I'm hoping things will be much more straight forward and I'll only be in for a short stay, but have a big bag packed! It includes anti-bac wipes to clean the bath before I use it, plenty of toileteries so I can feel human again after a bath or shower, plenty of baby clothes and nappies (I only had two outfits with me before, both too big, and both ended up getting blood or poo on them by the end of day one!)

I've also packed biscuits, chocolate, diet coke and squash, wet wipes, my own towels, flip flops, a change of clothes and cheap knickers rather than paper ones! Plenty of maternity pads, nursing pads, a thin dressing gown (it's so hot in hospital!), money, a disposable camera as well as our digi one and a baby blanket.

I've also put an extra pack of baby nappies in the boot of the car, as well as some maternity mats and a change of clothes for me and DH. In fact, I'm over-prepared this tie round, and probably won't need any of these things this time!

I wish I had stayed at home - 2nd time round I did .

Erm, I wished I had got a private room. It was so hot and noisy and I was so worried about my baby waking others too. I hadn't a clue what to do with him and felt completely helpless. At least in a private room I could have been clueless and useless in privacy!

Take a pillow for sure. And get someone to bring you in some fresh fruit. The towels are a good idea too.
I'm really hoping to stay at home this time.

I just had DC2 a couple of days ago and despite promises to be discharged within 6 hours had to stay overnight.
I sent DH home to get my portable desk fan. He came back with it changed into shorts. You cannot imagine how hot it is in there. I would not have been able to sleep without it.
Lots of ladies were a bit bed bound and I think I heard a couple asking for bedside bins so take an empty carrier bag with you to put all your bedside rubbish in. Sound ridiculous but if you are a tidy freak there is nothing worse than sitting in your own detritus.
Actually take two empty carriers - you'll need a dirty laundry bag for the baby's and your stuff.
Even though this was my second child I underestimated how many changes of clothes they need. In 24 hours she got through 3 sets of vest and sleepsuits and her lovely swaddle. I had packed one and a spare set and no spare swaddle so again had to call DH to bring more supplies in.
Finally fruit fruit fruit - fresh chunks of pineapple and soft prunes. There was a lot of white bread in hospital so the fruit mitigates the effects of this which you will be SO grateful for.

I am coming back to tell you I cannot believe how much I needed that fan. I know it is OTT but we were roasting. It was a tiny little clip on desk one (7") so you can sneak it in via normal bag without feeling like you are bringing the kitchen sink in with you. All the beds have loads of spare sockets above them and the staff don't mind what you plug in (mobile charger is a nother good thing to take)

Lip balm esp if you have had gas & air - mine took a week to recover!

Flash wipes

Coke

Flash wipes

oh and FLASH WIPES as the bathroom was like an abbatoir.

Consider a homebirth...dont have to worry about any of this stuff.

Breastfeeding tops!

I excitedly packed some pre-pregnancy clothes in the excitement of having something 'new' to wear post-baby...they were very tight (didn't realise how long it takes for the bump to go ) and clearly struggled to breastfeed and had my belly on show

I second the rubbish bags too - great idea!

You might be able to get a 6-hour discharge, if that is a good option for you.

I took my own pillow and was thankful for that, but then I have a little comfort thing of rubbing the edge of the pillowcase so probably more a personal one.

Hairties as I needed to tie my hair up in labour and hadn't brought any and had to use a bit of rubber cut off a rubber glove which was not fun to get out of my matted hair afterwards.

I think if you feel lonely a journal might help or a mobile phone - to text, or even access the internet? Dependent on signal obviously.

a private room withou a doubt

Just searching for tips on my hospital bag as I start to pack for DC2, and came across this thread which has been really helpful, but just wanted to add that my experience of a private room with DC1 was horrendous - I was so lonely. Yes, I could sleep relatively easily, but I had no clue what to do, was confused about what to do with the baby when I needed the loo/go for a shower. Spent hours by myself and was very jealous of all the chatting mums when I walked past the ward!!

Posh loo roll - so your first post birth wee/poo isn't made more traumatic by scratchy NHS SANDPAPER loo roll.

Has anyone said cheap flip-flops for the showers? Invaluable! Oh and food, food, food, food, food!

Cutlery and a mug - not provided in Polish hospitals . Nothing worse than seeing your food sitting there staring at you and not being able to do anything with it!

More chocolate.
The Telegraph crossword instead of the Indie one as the Telegraph is easier. Something a bit lighter weight than Albion by Peter Ackroyd. I read the same page about 20 times.

Definitely food, the hospital served [disgusting] supper at around 5.30. Then breakfast not until 8 next morning. STARVING (esp when up all night)!!!

Also note pad & pen, mainly to jot down all the things I wanted dh to bring the next day.

Ear plugs - babies were surprisingly quiet compared to the woman next to me in the ward who snored like a bulldozer. They also decided to vaccuum clean the ward every morning at 6 am.

Tweezers (!!!) - the hospital lighting was so bright I saw all these horrible whiskers that had been invisible at home!

Funny how you lot all talking about the hospitals being so hot. In tropical australia, the air con is ridiculous - soooooo cold. I had to tell dh to bring me jumpers (still in the boxes from the UK) & more layers for new ds. Ds was in 2 vests, thick babygro, hat & his little nose was still so cold - had to hold him all night to keep him warm. Every time I had to change him he screamed & screamed with cold.

private room
iPod
dominos on standby
plenty of snacks
cold drinks brough in by DP in a cool box

private room, no question or

left immediately

bumpy

Big box of choccies.
For me, not the MWs.

a fan. It was so bloody hot. (DD1 was an August birth)

The magicool spray helped a bit.

other tips I was given by nct pals included take large cotton wool pads for wiping your downstairs bits as hospital loo roll can be a bit rough.

eyemask thingy.

Drinks and snacks.

Mobile phone charger as well as mobile.

Hopefully with your DC2 they'll let you go quickly.

More baby clothes than you think you need!! DS2 was born at 4.37am and I went home on same day (about tea time) - I took 4 vests & 4 babygros but needed more, and got DP to bring some when he picked me up

Food. Food food food food food. Labour with DD was quite fast and furious, but still managed not to eat for 24 hours. Could easily have eaten six rounds of toast. Had tried eating cereal bars at home, which I could barely do, do texted DH at 3am the following morning (DD born at tea time) to bring food in the morning. Which he did. Cereal bars.

moist loo wipes to keep clean and fresh each time you pop to the loo!!

I brought half my household with me (but I was in for 9 days or something stupid)!

-three (yes, three) decent pillows of differing degrees of softness. Helped me to sleep and helped prop me up in bed for breastfeeding.
-Photos and postcards to stick on the side of my cabinet to cheer me up. (I put these up in labour - they included my favourite scan photo)
-Huge amounts of food, including fibre-rich stuff like dried fruit, nuts, muesli, etc. DH and my mum kept me stocked with fresh salads and so on.
-Small digital radio, tuned very quietly to the birdsong station (now defunct ) which provided a sort of white noise to cut out the tv of the woman next to me, which was on 24/7.
-Lots of books, notepad, a good breastfeeding resource.
-Something to do with my hands (I had some patchwork and some crochet).
-Camera and lots of space on memory card! I hated DH missing out on bits of DS while he was at home.
-Lots more babygros than you think you need. I had to keep sending DH out to Mothercare, because DS was wetting through all the time.
-Olive oil for their dry skin!

Ok, I was in for a while afterwards (hypertension) but I really needed that lot!

Food - so so important for me - things I actually wanted and fresh fruit. And I didn't eat a single meal from the hospital - I thought it was very imortant to eat well so my husband brought me breakfast lunch and dinner (At Chelsea and Westminster so very lucky to have loads of restaurants and cafes around - my first dinner after giving birth was pizza - yum).

And also - this has probably been mentioned - I took face wipes and used them to "wash" if I couldn't be bothered to have a shower for a while but felt like freshening up. It made me feel so much better.

A fan - I didn't bring one but god it was so stuffy in there. I actually had a window bed which was much better - more room and a view and a window I occasionally opened (But didn't let anyone know as I am sure this was against the rules with all the newborn babies - it was so stuffy it felt like a germ factory!). If you can, ask for a window bed - or ask to move if one becomes available and you are staying for longer!

A bottle of gin! It'll help sleeping