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.

Our NCT teacher and my midwife encouraged us to take snacks, especially for after the birth.

Also, DH was told to take a change of clothing, some women throw up during labour and a friend’s DH ended up wearing scrubs and being mistaken for a nurse.

In our case DH didn’t need the second outfit so took the bag home after DD was born, only problem was that it was also the bag with my snacks in it. I had my last meal at 10am, DD was born at 8pm and I felt too nauseous to eat during labour. No food in the post natal ward until breakfast the following morning, I was starving and luckily another mum took pity and shared her cereal bars.

So make sure that your food is in your bag.

I took loads of stuff, most of it never came out, I didn’t listen to my playlist, but I did watch/listen to a lot of comedy panel shows that night (or maybe the same one several times! 😂)

I wish I’d taken more food, I didn’t get the tea and toast that everyone raves about. Everyone was so busy I didn’t like to ask, I was in recovery for about an hour and a half and then when we’d been on the ward for a while I sent DH to Costa! I wish I’d taken some eye drops, my eyes were so dry and sore because it was so warm but when we went for a walk around the pharmacy wouldn’t sell me any because I was a patient!

Jelly babies or similar- energy, taste good, squash to add to water (I was also in for a few days, I find warm water unpleasant but will drink room temperature squash), wipes for face and hands.
Nightie with buttons, flip flops to walk around in, hair bands. Tens machine was useful (although I had an epidural in the end), magazines as I found it impossible to sleep after I had DS and it was the muddle of the night, I read to doze off. Headphones if you know you’ll be staying in.

Extra pyjamas Than you think you'll need or have a bag packed at home with extra if you have to stay in longer than expected
so someone can bring it to you and big pants I ended up having to stay a week and DH brought me the most annoying pyjamas and underwear I think he could find

I’ve got some whopping pants. Real kidney warmers. Millions of maternity pads and also I thought I’d try though Always Discreet pants/Tena pants. They’ll probably be an incentive to do the kegels if nothing else!

Oh to be able to afford a hair and make up person. Especially as all the salons have shut!

Food in case you miss meal times after being nil by mouth. Squash if you aren't the biggest fan of water. It is unbelievable how thirsty breastfeeding can make you. Things to keep you busy if you are being induced. I wasn't in labour long once it started with my youngest but it took them three days to get it started.

I would caution against putting too much around the delivery room. When your child is born, you will want to spend your time just gazing at him or her with your other half. Especially if he is not able to come to the ward with you.

I'd taken lights and positive cards to put up. Ha none of them got used! Maybe if I was in a birth centre but on the labour ward it's a little more difficult especially as i ended up being moved rooms halfway through labour!

Second time i was in I took a big box of chocolates to give to the midwives. That went down well

There was a new series about birth on BBC last week.

One of the rooms was all decked out with fairy lights etc and it looked absolutely lovely - except for the inspirational quote in a frame which was written in lovely flowing script and said "breath, breath, breath".

That may have been what they meant, but I suspect not.