Strangest things you’ve taken / seen taken in to birthing suite OR just advice on what to take...

[Winterwoollies]

Probably not an AIBU but it’s as old trafficked and I want entertaining and ideas.

I’m planning my baby’s birth and have been advised to take lots of things in to hospital make me feel comfortable.

I was thinking about taking a pillow and maybe a portable speaker so we can have some music and some sweets. That’s it!

Chatting to my midwife, she told me people often take all sorts in to personalise their birth. She’s witnessed a dad-to-be decking the room out in miles of fairy lights and multiple lava lamps, one mum insisted on putting pictures up on the walls of babies crowning, one family wanted to bring in a huge TV but that was blocked, and another family had really, really heavy death metal-type music throughout.

I had no idea even that could even be done! What happens when you’re moved to the ward?!

Anyway, I just wondered what people took in for their births and also if they’ve seen some mad shit brought in by other families.

Cold coffee beverages. Many of them.
Chocolate, flip flops (for the shower), a very thin dressing gown for quick cover ups.
Books. Lots of books.

@Iwantacookie I didn’t take paracetamol but they are at the top of the list this time around.

I took my own pillow and it made my stay much more comfortable, I was in there for 10 days though. I also recommend flip flops for the shower room and your own snacks as you may not want sandwiches/toast. I did also take my own mug in, but we were in the Nicu for a week and I didn't want to keep using plastic cups x

I took my big fluffy dog slippers to keep my feet warm. Ds came so fast I managed to just about get myself on the bed, and 2 pushes he arrived- completely soaking my fluffy slippers as I forget all about them.

I wish I’d had an eye mask with my third. I’d done the Positive Birthing Company online course (totally recommend it!) which explains how important it is to have a dark, relaxing environment to labour in. My little boy was born at noon and the room I was in didn’t have black out blights. I spent most of my labour rocking over the bed with my hands over my eyes to block everything out!

I didn’t really take anything but I was really grateful for the handheld fan my husband brought along. I clutched that for dear life and don’t know how I would have got through without it. I went into early labour but then it didn’t progress for a couple of days so then I had to have some kind of drip to get me going and that meant I couldn’t eat or drink. It was boiling and my mouth was so dry!

I also enjoyed a box of maltesers once it was all over!

Oh, and maternity pads. I needed more than I’d brought with me and had to ask for some which I found a bit embarrassing though they did have spares.

I really wish I had taken a teething ring as I needed to bite on something with each push and my lips bleed.

I was glad I took paracetamol for after as it was difficult to get from the ward.

They provided water and I wasn’t hungry.

I brought a CD I had made of my favourite music but it irritated the hell out of me. I just wanted quiet and no fuss.

I took paracetamol and used it! But contrary to what I see on MN, my postnatal ward was lovely and the midwives very attentive so I didn't really need to, I'm sure they would have obliged quickly if I had asked them for some. I was in sooo much pain after a ventouse delivery with an episiotomy.

I forgot, I did take an eye mask. Which was well used when I had an afternoon nap after the birth and again overnight. But I usually sleep with an eye mask at home anyway.

I second the fan!! Biggest one you can find... labour rooms are hot as hell! I have no idea why... begged them to open the windows but apparently didn’t open. I mean you’re sweating like a marathon runner and the ambient temperature is about 28c. WHY GOD WHY????

I took loads of stuff!
Battery operated tea lights
A selection of mini Molton brown toiletries
Fluffy socks
Lip balm
My own pillow
Birthing ball (I'm quite tall and wanted to make sure I had the correct size and it was well inflated)
Bluetooth speaker
Cooling spray
A large water bottle with a built in straw
Essential oils
Room spray
Massage oil
Tens machine
A 28 hour audio book to listen to
The midwife even printed off some birth affirmations to encourage me!

I used all of these things to make me feel as comfortable as possible and would do the same again

Ooh that post delivery tea and toast is bloody amazing.

My friend went for a shower and came back to an empty plate and her husband saying “thy was lovely, I was so tired and hungry after all that love”

I’d have killed him

I really wouldn’t bother with anything for the birth - I took my TENS machine attached to me and drinking straws and lip balm.

Dressing gown, flip flops, toiletries, drinks & snacks for postnatal.

Don’t famous people (Beyoncé, Kardashians etc) take a hair and makeup person ? THAT is bonkers to me haha

I would not have noticed if any actual fairies flew in, never mind any fairy lights..

Tens machine and my own favourite towel to put on the edge of the birthing pool. I was warned they were a bit uncomfortable, but most importantly it reminded me of home

I also found a couple of plastic bags, anything that was wet or ahm stained? went in there and was kept separate from anything that was clean.

Loose Nightie

Flip flops

Hair band

Snacks (I say snacks but took none myself, my mum gave me a biscuit which I projectile vomited into the pool & on MIL’s legs, so yeah.)

They’ll supply you with water & its sooo cold which is great.

Shit loads of massive pads, for the bleeding afterwards.

Leggings/joggers & loose light top for after labour.

Breast pads & nipple cream

Handheld fan

Wash stuff/ shampoo/conditioner for your shower after wards

Massive granny pants

Good to go ✅

I played smooth radio on my phone with DC2, but they just played shite song after shite song. Typical.

I took a huge ghetto blaster and my collection of Metallica CD's. DD was born to Master of Puppets. Not entirely sure the midwives appreciated it as much as I did.

@Fuss I like your style!

Thanks everyone, there's some great stuff on here! And definitely a mixed bag about what people want.

I'm definitely going to take add an eye mask, a fan, Malteasers, and a really long audiobook!

For my eldest I had a looong induction. Things I was glad I took were my kindle, flip flops, my own pillow, and an old iPod full of music and audio books. My DH bought me food from the local sainsbury's and as not much was happening for a couple of days we went out for pub lunches twice. Wear really comfy clothes and take big knickers for afterwards. Hope it all goes well!

A little radio shaped like a mouse, it's tail was the aerial. I wish I knew what happened to it since!

NCT and Daisychain encourage personalisation during the birth. For me what really helped was massage using aromatherapy oils. Really chilled me out

My top tip is dextrose sugar tablets! I did lots of vomiting in labour and when they tried to feed me toast it was like card board. Dextrose were amazing for a little energy burst though - also handy for keeping awake during night feeds!

Ooh makeup and hair person made me think, I'd take a masseuse!