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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

What items did you want / need during childbirth?

47 replies

doris9034 · 05/07/2023 20:17

My friend is due to have her baby soon and I want to make her a present of useful / thoughtful items she can have with her whilst in labour. I'm thinking of things like nice face cloths, cooling spray, aromatherapy stuff - but having never been there myself, I don't really know what's appropriate! Any help or advice would be appreciated!!

OP posts:
veryfluffyfluff · 05/07/2023 20:19

Lip balm
Lucozade

RicciardoPerez · 05/07/2023 20:20

Headband to keep my fringe out of my sweaty face was a godsend! Also hand cream as I found the hospital soap very drying on my hands.

Rufffles · 05/07/2023 20:22

I packed myself a posh bar of chocolate to eat after I'd given birth, and when the time came I REALLY enjoyed that!

OhDoh · 05/07/2023 20:22

Lip balm, socks as my feet were freezing without them, tens machine, lucozade, hair clip or bobbles for hair (I forgot this and a lovely nurse give me a bobble.. I will forever be grateful lol 😂).

Rufffles · 05/07/2023 20:23

PS What a thoughtful thing to do! x

lavenderdilly · 05/07/2023 20:24

Lip balm
Hand cream
Avene water spray (so hot in hospital)
Arnica Pillules (homeopathic remedy for bruising/swelling etc - very thoughtful)
Handheld fan

Poppins2016 · 05/07/2023 20:24

I'll second the Lucozade. I really didn't feel like eating anything but the Lucozade helped.

A nice water bottle for during birth/hospital stay and for afterwards when stuck on the sofa breastfeeding (it makes you very thirsty)!

I probably wouldn't go for aromatherapy/strongly scented products as 1) scent is very personal and 2) strong scents aren't great for bonding with newborns (they prefer to smell their mother 'as is', so any other scent can be overpowering).

TimeToStopLurking · 05/07/2023 20:30

The best thing I was given was a smallish usb fan which I brought with me. We ended up staying in hospital for a week after and it literally saved me. Hospitals are hotter than hell and you won't know until you give birth whether you will be out the same day or have to stay in

Original poster
doris9034 · 05/07/2023 20:30

Brilliant suggestions - thank you!!

OP posts:
Pigeonnoir · 05/07/2023 20:30

A long t shirt .

niclw · 05/07/2023 20:44

Good to eat after. I couldn't eat during labour as I kept being sick. After 36 hours of it, I was exhausted and so hungry. I would have given anything for snacks that I could eat with 1 hand so crisps, chocolate etc.

Original poster
doris9034 · 05/07/2023 20:45

Would something like this be OK?

What items did you want / need during childbirth?
OP posts:
Original poster
doris9034 · 05/07/2023 20:46

Definitely thinking cereal bars and lucozade - thank you!

OP posts:
1992H · 05/07/2023 20:48

All the lucozade sport for during! I nailed bottles whilst watching Harry Potter films on sky with my last from the birthing pool

PollyPeep · 05/07/2023 20:52

A bag of prunes! It's common to be constipated after giving birth, and those first few post-birth poos are terrifying 😅 I found prunes a life saver. Not sure whether you have that kind of friendship though! Otherwise, a pair of ear plugs for the noisy postnatal ward.

Whyohwhyohwhy123 · 05/07/2023 20:54

Jelly babies and cartons of fruit juice and other snacks for later

tealandteal · 05/07/2023 20:54

The nightie wouldn’t have been right for me as you need to be able to get up and go to the loo which can be out in the corridor the shared ward afterwards. Anything you wear before hand quickly gets chucked after birth!

Lots of snacks! Anything cooling, maybe some nice slippers.

Gamechanger2019 · 05/07/2023 20:55

Lucozade, mints, black nightie, black light dressing gown, a comb she can squeeze for pain relief, makeup wipes, water bottle, big black knickers, face cream, hair brush xx

PollyPeep · 05/07/2023 20:57

Oh, also a bottle of fruit juice and some nice fruit like berries or satsumas. Hospital food can be really unhealthy and make you feel sluggish.

cIaire · 05/07/2023 21:01

Another one for lucozade and also idk if my local hospital is just shit but they didn't provide baby wipes for nappy changes so baby wipes

USaYwHatNow · 05/07/2023 21:11

I had the raspberry lucozade sport, which my mum and husband periodically just squired into my face 🤣 hair bands and, as a spectacle wearer but who wore contact lenses, solution, spare lenses and glasses (just in case they wear specs!)

Blingstar · 05/07/2023 21:20

I'd read how amazing these sports drinks were during labour but all it did for me was make me throw up, so if your friend isn't used to drinking this, I'd stick with water. It was my one regret during labour. I couldn't get rid of the taste. It was horrible.

FrillyGoatFluff · 05/07/2023 21:20

Massive amounts of the strongest drugs they'll give you

PensionPuzzle · 05/07/2023 21:24

I'll second what a PP said about a fan. I had a little clip on one (keep the receipt so hospital can see it's new and won't need PAT test, just in case!) It was a godsend and we still use it now in the hottest bedroom which is also where the smallest child sleeps.

tonyhawks23 · 05/07/2023 21:25

Yep all I could think to that question was all the drugs too,no aromatherapy or hand cream is going to help,maybe all the sweets/chocolate I guess to help with energy levels but it's the drugs that help.