How OTT did you go during labour - regarding candles, music etc?

[sillyily]

Hello, am really hoping to have a vbac in 8 weeks-ish time, and would love to do it with as little pain relief as possible. I have a really good hypno birthing cd that I'm going to stick on my ipod and play quietly through speakers, and am going to try to get some nice oils for DP to rub on my back. Would love candles, as I find them really therapeutic, but not sure what the hospitals policy is on this... Thing is... I think id feel a bit stupid doing all this (...especially if it doesnt work and i end up asking for an epidural :o) it all feels very over the top... do lots of people do this? (music playing out loud - hate headphones being in my ears! candles, oils etc) Anyones experiences please?

Also, if I do end up having another cs (booked at 41 wks) Can I take my cd in with me then? They had duffy playing last time. I HATE DUFFY. :D

TIA :)

yeah candles seem a bit stupid now LIke i said, the speakers i have have no wires or batteries or anything so they should be fine :)

Any more tips/ideas that any one has are very welcome... getting quite excited for labour now! I've been dreading it til now tbh! :o

Thanks everyone

Do whatever makes you feel good! I made CDs and stuff for my 1st, but I didn't give a toss when I was in labour, so I didn't bother with my 2nd. Actually, I lie - my 'funny' choices - eg, The Prodigy 'Breathe with me/inhale, inhale, you're the victim' - really annoyed me!

I've just had a lovely home birth. I had the radio on with The Brits, though that was more for the midwives' benefit than mine!

Candles definitely won't be allowed in hospital. Technically, you won't be allowed to plug anything in either. You might find that the midwives turn a blind eye (I work in a hospital but not in maternity and we do), but you can't rely on it. If you use a battery-powered music player, you should be allowed to use it and you will probably be able to have dimmed lighting if you want. As part of my antenatal class we got a tour round the labour ward and MLU at the hospital and these kind of questions were covered. As this is your second birth you might not have antenatal classes (although at my hospital there were classes for people having a VBAC), but you still might be able to have a look round so you can see what the rooms are like and what you can do to make them as relaxing as possible.