What items did you want / need during childbirth?

[doris9034]

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!!

Lip balm, hair bobbles, headband, mini fan, drink bottle with a sports cap or straw for easy hydration, eye mask and ear plugs, dried fruits or dates and flapjacks or cereal bars.

I took so much stuff with me but really didn't end up using anything apart from my tens machine (life saver!) and some lucozade!

a bendy straw and a hairband.

Sports water bottles
a straw
lip balm
mineral water spray can thing
hair band and bobbles
Pregnancy safe massage oil - she can have a nice back rub as tbe pain

Sorry pressed too soon… kicks in. My midwife gave me these when I was in labour with my second baby and it was lovely

I have never wanted a single object during childbirth. I'd get her a book for afterwards when she's feeding her baby for hours.

Chocolate digestives, weird one but those mandarin segments in juice in plastic pots were amazing 😅, a little prepacked bag with toiletries in including tea tree body wipes and dry shampoo, eye mask

A birthing comb. Genuinely really helped me with contractions. A revelation!

If she's planning on trying to breastfeed then silver nipple shields are a MUST. And she needs to wear them from the start. I didn't with my first and have scars (yep!) to tell the tale. The silver nipple shields are worn at all times except for when feeding, they trap breastmilk next to your nipples to help them heal, and the silver has healing properties too. I used them with my second and would not even attempt to breastfeed without them if I were to have another. Can buy on Amazon x

Super concentrated squash - the thirst!

Deffo Lucozade sport. It was the only thing I was allowed once they thought i’d possibly need a section.

A pack of full briefs in case she does have a section.

Snacks for afterwards. Maybe painkillers as hospitals are shit at giving them on time.

Honestly, I didn’t need stuff, I needed practical help afterwards. Someone around to help me with the baby so i could rest.

Best thing I got for myself for my last birth was a hospital gown like thing. It had poppers down the back (epidural access) and poppers down both sides from neck to breast to allow for some modesty with skin to skin and breastfeeding.

Can of fizzy drink for after.

Super nice body lotion for that first postpartum shower. (Bum bum cream for me)

Also, pre birth...a voucher for a pedicure, in case she ends up delivering on her back! I was so conscious of horrible feet and how badly they needed doing and awful nail varnish because I couldn't reach.

Flapjacks and haribo

Nothing fancy required. Delicious snacks for post birth will be great fully received!

For actual childbirth, the only thing i needed was headphones and my phone. It was fast, and I was alone, in a lovely diamorphine haze! For after, those tiny concentrated bottles of squash were great for keeping me super hydrated for breastfeeding. Also a travel cup for tea or straw bottle for water/juice, so as not to spill on feeding baby.

I took a fan, water sprayer, all sorts for my planned natural waterbirth (this was my first labour, second baby, as first was elective cesarean). Didn't use any of it.

Fruit pastimes
Lip balm
Water mist sprays

You are lovely x

Oh and a pack or two of maternity pads (if you're close friends). I knew you bled after giving birth; but I didn't expect that much bleeding and for how long I bled for. I found a bottle of the white femfresh helped me after as was gentle with my stitches and made me feel really clean.

Why not give her a lovely, knitted blanket since blankets are designed to provide maximum comfort and warmth for newborn babies. I have found a baby clothing store who sells quality blankets for babies. Knitted Baby Blankets – Carriage Boutique

My top 3 things during labour were headband, face mist and a handheld fan!
After labour and during recovery, I used Spritz for Bitz, a ring cushion for sitting on, and really nice pyjamas.
Some people recommended me to get a travel mug that keeps tea / Coffee warm but I didn't and didn't miss it either.

I could barely eat and was getting tired so dh kept feeding me tangtastic Haribo to keep me going. Highly recommend keeping a stash just in case.

Sweets! Not even kidding. Apart from two paracetamol 3 hours before DS2 was born,
I got through labour and childbirth with just the help of my tens machine and a massive bag of fruit gums. The sugar gives you energy and helps with pain relief.