Desert Island Discs - what was your luxury/must-have item in your labour bag?

[walkbesideme]

I'm 39+1 and bored waiting for DC2 to arrive. I'm sort of ready though my suitcase is only half as full as the first time round. I feel like I'm missing something - have you got any must-have suggestions to take?

Don't fret too much about it - I didn't get to open my labour bag until dd was several hours old (DH did to get her clothes and nappy).
I'd pack sth nice for afterwards - moisturiser/lipbalm/lovely new pjs (cheap ones cos of blood stains), chocolate or cereal bars in case you miss hospital meals (the cleaner brought me breakfast - v busy ward and I had catheter so couldn't walk!!). Don't forget phone charger so you can take pics of your beautiful baby.

I took a battery powered fan as the hospital was so warm. Used it more post labour but it was a lifesaver.

Saying that it was September and the weather was warm to begin with. I'd imagine the heating might seem more reasonable at this time of year!

I agree about the fan, I couldn't survive in a hospital without one.

Also, your own pillow, maybe; I detest the rubber hospital ones. I'm going to try and cram mine in somewhere.

Tena lady pants, comfortable and leak proof. I go on about them so much I've become a broken record.

Flannel for DH to wipe my face and head on labour. And jelly babies!

I had lots of nice things in my bag..... Didn't open it until after DD was born and delivered still in my top wailing that I wanted my nightdress!

I wish I'd had a fan for afterwards on the ward though. I kept thinking about the little paper fan I'd been given as a favour at a wedding abroad that was at home!

Food/drink that you really like and can scoff one-handedly while holding baba for that first lonely night on the ward.

If you are likely to be in for more than a few hours I'd pack a small tub of nice handcream. I found the hospital soap really dried out my hands.

Smoothies. I had the Ella's Kitchen ones designed for weaning ( so got told by patronising midwife that baby should not have them!). They do not need refrigeration and are great for keeping up energy intake.

Pillow from home so it's got your smell on it - amazing what a difference that can make.

Badedas Shower Gell - chestnut is really good for helping your bits heal.

Chocolate for post-birth pick me up.

I was going to take champagne but kept this for our first night at home.

One handed scoffing - chocolate raisins; cashew nuts.

My iPod. I listened to Nick Cave's Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! when I was in the birthing pool for the gas and air bit, I think that my husband then switched to Leonard Cohen for the final bit, and apparently our child was born to the strains of A Miracle.

Okay, this is a ridiculous luxury/accident/co-incidence but I had leftover pizza in my hospital bag!!

We'd ordered it earlier and my partner had the foresight to wrap it in foil and bring it with us. After the birth, I ate about six slices in a minute :)

Good luck x x

Another vote for a flannel for labour. I'd say a top that's easy to get full access to your norks (early BF days were not discreet for me...) without having to strip off. I had one maternity vest top that I wore constantly but anything that buttons right down would do. Big comfy pants - and I mean proper kidney warmers (just in case of ECS) would have made my stay more comfy. Lansinoh nipple cream. And chocolate. A heeluva lot of chocolate.

Little Del monte fruit pots and jellies in labour. A new dressing gown for the ward.

Your own paracetamol for after because it can take ages on a busy ward for them to bring you some
Flash wipes for bathroom
Ear plugs for ward/trying to sleep
Carrier bags - to send home washing/take home pressies

with DS1 mine was the "name your baby" book Good thing he was a boy, we'd only got to 'c' in girls and were having a dispute about me liking flower names and Himself not. DS2 - my flannel, and huuge dark blue fluffy bath towel I was only in the bleeping place an hour and a half (twenty minutes before, birth, shower, out ) dc3 - What bag? (she was a month early)

Face wipes, moisturiser, snugly socks x

I was very glad of my ipod as I used a lot of Bach for analgesia during the first 3 hours of labour - the part where they sent my husband home and wouldn't bring me any gas and air! - before a rapid transfer to labour ward. (DC3 though, and an induction so a bit atypical)

Also lipsalve or vaseline - wards very dry.

And FOOD. Toast is never enough.

Another vote for Lansinoh cream here - amazing stuff.

Definitely earplugs. You can still hear your own baby through them but it muffles the others. And a packet of chocolate hob nobs for when in labour - for both fast and slow release energy!

My extra long pillow, used throughout labour and after to get comfortable in hospital bed with stingy pillows.
Food! Cereal bars and dried fruit (was worried about the dreaded 1st poo, ate tons of dried apricots and I was fine!)
Lucozade
Tens Machine

My own pillow - no bloody horrible plastic wrapping on it.

Dextrose sweets (couldn't eat as was induced and on a drip)

Straws