Best tips ever!!! Add yours...

[notsolilKel]

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 !

OK- I've basically copied and pasted this entire thread into a big list of things I need to remeber/buy. Should keep me busy until May...

More bumping!!

WHERE TO START!

1. A mass amount of sanatary towels (natural birth of course)

1. Three pairs of pj trousers (as I went through 2 in one night)

1. Cool gel forhead pack or water spray (when in labour and pushing I sweated no end, these helped me alot)

1. Big Knickers (for the same reason as 1 & 2 above)

1. Towels (need your own, normally just 2 - hair and body)

1. Something delicious to eat snack wise (after giving birth I just wanted something naughty as a treat for myself, when DH was trying to get me to eat my first meal all I wanted was the pudding!)

1. Camera & Camcorder (You'll never get those orecious first moments back)

bump. These are great!!!

Savoy cabbage leaves for soothing sore boobs.
I laughed when a friend told me about this -but tried it anyway and it was fantastic! Keep the cabbage in the fridge and insert a leaf inside your bra. Bliss.

I also found wearing a bra constantly for the first couple of weeks (even in bed)gave me some relief. Especially if if you are of a generous cup size.

Still waiting for my first baby, but I thought I'd pass this on.

Have packed a big hospital bag, but have put various things together in ziploc bags to keep organised. Eg, have one labelled "boobs" (nipple cream, breast pads, etc) and one labelled "bum" (witchazel wipes, pads, etc) so DH or I can just grab whole thing and not have to dig around for that one item.

Also probably useful to have the bags for when you go home with your dirty baby clothes/nighties.

Big bulky fat totally-visible-under-jeans sanitary towels for post-birth. DH got them as he's not au fait with these things - it was like resting my poor bits on a cloud

After the baby is born drink gallons of water
even if you haven't had stitches .

It sort of dilutes the horrible stinging feeling when you have a wee .

Plastic bags for 'soiled items'- great tip JFly! Think I've got everything else now....

Read mumsnet loads, I had a great birth and Im sure that the information and advice I had from here made all the difference, I wouldnt even have tried a home birth if it wasnt for all the great things I have heard here.

If you write a birth plan (I did but no one ever looked at it as my own mw delivered me and we had discused stuff) write another for your dh. Mine wasnt esp interested before hand, but writing it down helped convince me that it would be alright. Also, he liked to be able to consult the list when he desparately wanted to help but didnt know what to do (offer water/food, encourage moving about, offer massage, location of supplies, advance apology for all abuse given)

Instead of buying a baby room thermometer, get a digital clock that shows temp, time, date and day, they are much cheaper and you have loads of appointments in the first few weeks, and generally dont know what day it is.

Have decided that 'try to avoid talking to MIL' should be a key tip.... and try not to buy too much online with DH's credit card because e will notice!

Bump

GEGS73 - totally agree with you about the lavender and the all bran!!!

although next time i am going to use fibregel - piles + constipation + stitches do not make for a happy mummy!!!

a few drops of lavender and tea tree essential oils in your bath and on your maternity pad post birth - GREAT IF YOU HAVE HAD STITCHES.

my doula et me in on this little secret and it worked wonders

• when used together they speed up the healing process.

Stick a note on the front door telling postman NOT to ring but leave parcels/flowers somewhere safe - nothing worse than pegging downstairs with a c-scar...
Do not put up with the hideous trapped wind that can come with a c-section: DEMAND pepermint oil immediately!

Jelly babies!
Face wipes.
Savoy cabbage
More muslins than you think you'll need.
I got lots of cheap flannels to put on change mat on top of towel - easier to wash.
Do your first wee in the bath (just before you get out!) MW told me to do this so I felt I had permission! V glad I did!
Use hairdryer to dry sensitive areas!

Stay away from all 'willys'

Bendy straws so your birth partner can get you to drink in between contractions, without having to lift your head. They were a lifesaver! Try and drink a bit between every contraction. remember to pee, every hour or so (dp's job to remind you?)

clarins treatment oil for preventing stretchmarks (totally not evidenced based - but in a small trial with friends it has worked, and smells delish!)

oh and if you have a long first stage that stops and starts over a few days GET SOME SLEEP when you can - or you could end up completely sleep deprived before the baby comes

good luck - its wonderful being a mum!

a really cheap pair of flip flops that you can throw away when you leave hospital to wear in the shower, in case it hasn't been cleaned very well.

And get visitors to do a job when they come round (wash up, hang the washing out etc), or bring a meal with them.

wow! i love this thread! i've now got a shopping list ready for DP
thanks to everyone who posted

just wanted to add though, having spent one evening on a maternity ward...earplugs are an essential item!

For a good nights rest try and see if your ward has 'amenity rooms' - you'll have to pay for them but worth every penny!

Definitely magazines, books, ipod etc.
I didn't take any cos I thought I would be too distracted during labour to read or listen to music (which I was) but didn't plan on being stuck in hospital 3 days after, have never been so bored in my life!

I love this thread!

21 weeks pg with first baby, it's alarmingly fascinating.

Food for dh while you're on the ward. He disappeared for hours to the canteen and spent a fortune on things he didn't want coz he was too tired to make decisions and I had free food, and he'd taken home all the labour snacks and not banked on the two following days in hospital! Poor tired confused new daddy...

Sorry if repeating - lip salve and hair bands and those disposable facial wipes - it's so nice to feel slightly more human if it's hard to leave your room ie after section..

Take some straws for labour. It means you don't have to get out of a comfy position to have a drink.

Take loads of food. You'll be starving afterwards!