Wow mini - after all the scares, I think you've done really well to hang on this far. Glad you?re home. Keep us informed...
Kat - so sorry to hear about DH's redundancy - what awful timing
Bluedomino - not sure if you'll need breast pads in hospital, but I would have thought you'll definitely need them when your milk comes in while you wait for it to dry up. If you don't mind me asking, have you definitely decided not to b'feed? Do you think you might change your mind?
On the subject of hospital bags...
I know all hospitals will be different, but I thought I'd share some of my experiences from last time at my hospital (24hr stay), in case it's useful. Some of it might seem obvious, and some has been mentioned before, so please feel free to ignore/read what you like .
- Size of bag(s) - keep it as small as poss, because you will probably have to keep it in a tiny bedside cabinet, or under the baby's crib thing. My hosp doesn't allow any 'luggage' on the floor because there just isn't space (and it's fairly spacious as hosps go). For this reason, a squashable soft bag might be best.
- Pack things you?ll need in labour or immediately after (including camera, 1 set baby clothes, 1 nappy, 1 pair clean knickers, 1 or 2 mat pads etc.) at the top of your bag, or even in a separate ?labour? bag for easy access in delivery room.
- Choose your bath/shower products carefully. Although it?s unlikely to happen to you, I had a traumatic time 1st time and still can?t stand the smell of the soap I took to hosp cos of associated memories.
- Take thick socks for if you suddenly get chilly in labour (I did!)
- Take proper lip balm (Chapstick, Blistex etc) ? gas & air, deep breathing and the warm atmosphere of the delivery rooms are very drying for lips.
- Keep top-up items (extra nighties, nappies, baby clothes etc) in the car you'll go home in/DP will use to visit, in labelled carrier bags, so they can be easily identified and squashed into afore-mentioned storage space when brought into hosp for you.
- Take thick maternity pads. Last time I took a combination of slim 'night' pads with wings and thick 'night' pads and used both types. Thick are definitely more comfortable than thin if you have stitches. I've since heard friends talk about 'stacking' a couple of pads and wished I'd done that. I've bought some Boots mat pads and opened the pack. They don't seem to have waterproof backing so should be more stackable than standard ones. I'm taking 1 pack of them and one pack of thick Bodyform 'night' pads with wings, in the hope that I can stack one Boots one on top of one Bodyform one in my knickers (if that makes sense). I found the Always ones too plasticky & stitches can get caught in the tiny holes in the top weave sheet (ouch!).
- Disposible knickers - yesterday I bought a pack of 3 cotton 'full briefs' in Asda for £1. Whether you buy paper knickers or cheap cotton throwaway ones, try one pair on before you go to hosp. I am wearing size 14 mat clothes, but bought size 20-22 knickers for after birth. Sounds extreme, but my legs were a tight fit in 16-18, and you need plenty of room for those thick mat pads. These knickers are NOT pretty!
- Take a carrier bag for any washing that needs to be brought home (blood, baby sick, breast milk etc DO come out in the wash).
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Take extra vests/sleepsuits (I'll prob take 6 of each, more in car) - DS was sick lots of times in hospital (and for the next year!), and they are very small & light so shouldn't be difficult to fit in extras.
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Don't forget a hat for the baby - it will still be very chilly in Feb.
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Car seat - adjust straps to smallest setting well in advance, and make sure that DP knows how to fit it in the car safely - it's the last thing you'll feel like doing as you leave hospital.
And a tip for when you get home, given to me by a fab physio: if you have sore, swollen ?bits?, freeze a few sanitary towels. Use one as an ice pack, wrapped in a clean non-fluffy cloth to avoid freezer burn (J-cloths best & cheap and disposible). Very soothing?
Sorry this post got so long