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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Best tips ever!!! Add yours...

169 replies

notsolilKel · 27/01/2007 16:02

Hello ladies,

As a second timer I felt it would be helpful if I started a list of absolute best tips for mums-to-be. I just wish someone had told me a few things before I appeared at hospital to give birth...

For example: take very dark bath towels, black if possible (though admittedly a tad unstylish). You will bleed more than you think possible, and these will save you when emerging from bathrooms...

Also, take something to drink. I could not get enough Citrus Lemon Lucozade, for example. Water is freely available but it can get a bit dull after you've had 20 litres or so!

Looking forward to reading everyone else's best advice !

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midnightexpress · 30/01/2007 09:39

Ginormous pants if you've had a CS - I resisted with DS1 and it took ages for the scar to heal properly, but have bitten the bullet with DS2 and well on the way to recovery, even though not the yiummiest of mummies. Will send DP to Victoria's Secret website in good time!

Babies are supposed to cry quite a lot.

Lansinoh for sore nipples if BFing - I used Kamillosan until MW told me Lansinoh was better and it does seem to do the trick.

Swaddling works wonders if LO can't keep hands out of the way when feeding. MW taught me a great swaddle (a bit hard to explain) which keeps arms by the baby's side and then wraps the blanket round - looks a bit like a strait-jacket, but works a treat.

Am surprised to see people suggesting anti-bac handwash - it was provided at every bed in the maternity unit where I gave birth and all bathrooms etc and I'm to hear that this isn't standard practice, what with MRSA and all.

Food in many hospitals isn't that great. Send DP for treats or take some in with you.

coffecake · 30/01/2007 11:13

Bring in a mini make up bag in the labour room.
I know it sounds a bit desperate but when your labour is 38 hours long and you're not in pain anymore thanks to the epidural, it's nice to "freshen up" and put a bit of lippy.
That's what I found anyway, it made me feel full of energy again.

tigertiger · 30/01/2007 11:17

arnica cream for stitches! anitbacterial too

Nip · 30/01/2007 11:21

Tesco Value knickers - the are cheaper than paper ones, and also you can pull them up above your c-s scar!

2 pairs of slippers - one to wear and one to send home with DH to be washed - no more needs to be said!!!

lissielou · 30/01/2007 11:23

bepanthen instead of sudocreme.... its magical!!

Original poster
notsolilKel · 30/01/2007 14:27

(quick thanks for all the tips - when I started this, this is just what I was hoping for )

My best kept secret: Lansinoh (or any lanolin-based nipple cream) is the best lip gloss ever!! Use it to save lips from looking chapped & nasty after superdry wards. I still use it instead of ordinary lip balm and DS is 10+ mo . It's awesome!!

OP posts:
earthtomummy · 30/01/2007 14:31

Take a pillow from home into hospital with you. It makes the labour suite feel more like home and is comfier than the hospital ones. My hospital 1st time round didn't even have a pillow for me in the labour suite!

MrsMcJnr · 30/01/2007 14:34

These are great! I've made a long list! Anyone got an tips on what creams/oils are best to use to avoid stretchmarks?

hollyandalice · 30/01/2007 15:04

Tke some proper food with you, not just snacks. I had dd at 8.30 and the stupid serving lady came round with dinner at 6. When you are having contractions the last thing you want is dinner (dp ate it)! I then got served nothing until 8 the next morning-I was starving. Maybe take some sandwiches or rolls and some fruit.

earthtomummy · 30/01/2007 16:20

I don't think any cream can prevent stretchmarks - it seems to be in the lap of the gods as to whether you get them or not. I've been lucky not to get any but then neither did my sister or mum or gran. Saying that, Neals Yard do a lovely Mother massage oil to rub in your bump. Mine got really itchy and this was fab and it smelt wonderful - I find anything fragranced difficult in pregnancy but was fine with this.

midnightexpress · 30/01/2007 17:55

I used Bio-oil and seem to have escaped stretch marks after 2 pgs, but I think earthtomummy is right - it seems to be genetic rather than dependent on which oil you use.

I think there's a fearfully expensive cream called SriVectin (or sth similar) that is claimed to be fantastic, but I don't know anyone rich enough to have tried it out...

My labour ward provided tea and toast post-delivery - best I've ever tasted!

podglet · 30/01/2007 18:42

If it is your first baby, find a friend who has had 4 and request her presence for at least part of your labour. My best friend was there for 3 hours of mine and was fabulous, she bought home made flapjacks, cordial, throat sweets for the G & A and sandwiches for DP! She then went home and topped up my tv / phone card from the internet

Whilst pg, revel in people looking after you. Let them do anything for you. Enjoy every minute of the attention because as soon as bundle arrives, the limelights off!

Hear hear for cheap "real" knickers for after the birth over disposable ones - much more comfy

oremstango · 30/01/2007 18:44

Take some flip flops for the showers- no need to bring back anything funky from your stay!

lovelybird · 30/01/2007 19:28

Takee some sweets with you, after many many hours sucking on the gas & air after DS was born mymouth was the driest thing ever and no amount of juice did the trick. I was craving sweets and MIL bought me a bag of wine gums - bliss!

Rumpel · 30/01/2007 19:35

When you are pregnant and SICK SICK SICK get acupuncture immediately - only thing to stop mine at 5 months+.

Pack lactulose and fybogel for hospital as painkiller induced constipation is AGONY. Even if you think you will be okay as you drink loads of fluids - I was sick as a dog when in labour and couldn't keep anything down, then my hubby went home with all the fruit I had packed!!

Try to get a photo of you, your other half and baby/siblings early on - something we didn't do and I really regret now.

ChaCha · 30/01/2007 23:15

Tesco Value Pants - These were a blessing after my c-section and just got thrown away afterwards.
Anti-bacterial wipes - I didn't take any last time and the shower room/toilet seat left a lot to be desired!
Flip-flops - I took slippers which were great when in room but useless when using shower room for obvious reasons. I am taking both this time.
Cleansing/moisturising face wipes - Loved using these in the first few days just to freshen up.
Fluid - Plenty of cold drinks and as someone else suggested, keep everything to hand particularly after a section.

Great thread, someone reminded me to pack peppermint teabags this time and LOL at the two grandma's meeting for first time - would love to have been a fly on the wall

Sakura · 31/01/2007 06:25

Prunes (or some other high fibre food) Start eating prunes or something about 2 weeks before your due date and the days after the birth, so everything is moving along well in that department. I didnt, and it took me 5 days before I could do a poo. I was actually scared to use those muscles. If Id eaten a lot of fibre, I could have done it easier, I think.

Sakura · 31/01/2007 06:32

Oh and dont know if they have them in the UK, but I had a pillow similar to a rubber ring to sit on for the first week or so afterwards (basically a hole cut in the middle). and I didnt even tear.

SittingBull · 31/01/2007 06:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Bouncyminky · 31/01/2007 16:16

I'm a big fan of lists. The day of labour is going to be full of different things going on and you won't be able to remember what needs packing etc. I've packed my labour bag as much as I can and then left a list on the top for DH of the bits he needs to add in before it is ready to go i.e. toothpaste, snacks etc.

Also a list of the people that you would like calling after the big event.. I've programmed all the relevant people into mine and DH's mobile and set up text groups for friends so that one text can be sent and no-one will be forgotten.

And pillows are the best... both for making night time more comfy (I'm currently on 7 pillows under various parts of me!) and for if you plan to go into hospital as they sometimes don't have enough and they act as a comforter for you.

Original poster
notsolilKel · 31/01/2007 19:02

oh and for those who prepare ahead: by the time your little one gets their first injections you may need some or all of the following, so stock up when you're not in "my baby is ill panic mode"!!
-Calpol
-Saline drops
-Nasal suction
-Nurofen
-Infant sunblock
-Aqueous cream and/or Oilatum Jr cream for dry areas

OP posts:
Dophus · 01/02/2007 15:44

Decide ont he visitor rules before the baby is born. Bear in mind that the baby blues will hit you on day3 and you will be unable to stop crying (happy/sad - the tears just flow!). Combine this your MIL coming to stay and you've had it. I blush at my behaviour (although hers was far from sensitive!).

Ditto the advice on the big cotton knickers, dried fruit, variety of bottled drinks, a V-pillow is very good for breastfeeding (take it to hospital). gEt Lansinoh cream in advance - it is wonderful stuff and like golddust in the hospital. DP really didn't appreciate a hunt in many shops for nipple cream (although he uses it all the time now for jogger's nipple!).

Perhaps suggest to people not to send flowers, I had so many I didn't know what to do with them. They were lovely but I would have preferred the money to go elsewhere. I also found the scent rather cloying after a while. To this day I can't stand the scent of Lillies, I used to love them.

Make sure that you pjs/nightie covers all. I was mortified to discover that you could quite clearly see my pad outlined in my pjs!

CMJ · 01/02/2007 19:09

when you manage some sleep time during the day (if your baby lets you) unplug the phone, switch off your mobile and put a note on the door to say you aren't taking visitors. I used to do this much to the annoyance of my MIL but too bad, needs must.

aethelfleda · 01/02/2007 21:07

This thread has so many tips- I wish I'd seen it before number one!!

Best tips-

Throughout pregnancy, Use any moisturiser that contains cocoa butter (as cheap as you like) and rub it on your bump and boobs every few days. it may not stop every stretch mark but it minimises them as effectively as anything more expensive. its using it regularly that does the trick. I used superdrugs own brand coacoa butter body lotion at about 1.50 a huge bottle and it worked fine.

For afterwards.. if you are planning to breastfeed and have a mountain of milk then the best brand of breastpads I have found are Lansinoh (in the purple packets). They have a gel in them similar to that in branded stay-dry nappies, and they will hold a ton of milk without leaking.

CricketSoph · 01/02/2007 21:09

if you do have to stay in hosp, disposable changing mats are useful to protect bed from explosive baby poo when changing... (my hosp didn't provide any kind of changing area or any kind of mat so there was always the risk of ending up with a very poo-ey bed!)