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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Fairy lights for delivery room? + other ways to make it relaxing

38 replies

Womble999 · 19/01/2020 15:09

Normally I’m a very straightforward person, but as I’ve learnt about labour I’ve understood how important a relaxing environment is to help things go smoothly. I’m planning to give birth in hospital, in a midwife led unit. (Don’t want a home birth as I have some risk factors).
I’ve heard that taking fairy lights can make it a nicer environment... looking at them on the internet they all seem so tiny that I find it hard to imagine they really give off much light at all. Any suggestions on good brands? Should they be battery operated? Are they a waste of time?

Other ideas on ways to make the room nicer? (I’m making a playlist but that’s all so far...)

OP posts:

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AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 19/01/2020 15:14

I've got to be honest, when I was in labour, I didn't pay any attention to anything other than the pain, the vomiting and the birth itself. I couldn't tell you anything about the room I was in. I gave birth in hospital so maybe it's different for a midwife led unit, but I don't even remember the stirrups my legs were in, all I remember is the actual birth. I do like the idea of a relaxed harmonious environment though, it sounds lovely and peaceful.

Darkstar4855 · 19/01/2020 15:15

I don’t think you’ll care about fairy lights when you’re in labour! MLUs are usually pretty comfy anyway.

Spoonsmum · 19/01/2020 15:18

Hmmm same. If I’d given birth in a luxurious relaxing hotel room I’m sure it would have made no difference. If anything they would have annoyed me. EVERYTHING annoyed me when I was giving birth. Dp tried rubbing my back I could have punched him.
I would suggest maybe getting some nice bits and bobs to make your bedroom/ lounge more relaxing when you come home.

EmmaJR1 · 19/01/2020 15:18

I wouldn't bother with fairy lights. Maybe music, a nice blanket for the non messy bit, maybe some lavender pillow mist but relaxing is all about breathing in my experience. When I held my breath through a contraction it hurt so much more than when I breathed through it.

Also something to make you laugh would be good. Especially if you have a long labour. Maybe Netflix and a comedy.

SoupDragon · 19/01/2020 15:18

I would have thought a few battery operated pillar candles would be better than fairy lights.

That said, having had 3 children, fairy lights and candles wouldn't have made a bit of difference :) If you think they would help you relax then that's obviously fine!

TorkTorkBam · 19/01/2020 15:20

I made a play list and prepared some other stuff for the first birth. Never used it. Didn't bother for the next two babies.

I was 100% in the zone of childbirth. The rest of the world did not exist.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 19/01/2020 15:28

We took some music. That was about it, really.

Be aware that all the lights, music, aromatherapy etc can go out of the window if labour doesn't go as planned.

Douberry · 19/01/2020 15:31

I went through the same thought process at some stage in my pregnancy with DD. Sweet whale music, lavender mist, nice lights, nice book to read etc. I didn't in the end bring any of that stuff due to my bags being ram packed with more practical stuff like changes of clothes, maternity pads and big knickers etc. When it came to it, I think I made the right choice. The two most important things I packed were my water bottle and tens machine. Don't think fairy lights would've made a difference tbh but whatever makes you feel relaxed. Good luck OP!

ChanklyBore · 19/01/2020 15:31

You’ll get a load of people saying how they didn’t care when they were in labour but I’m here to say it is perfectly possible to care.

If you want fairy lights OP have fairy lights. I would have done but I had babies on sunny daytimes.

I cared about how everything was when I was in labour. I was the person who was pushing out a back to back baby with a hand on its head and I still cared very deeply about who was there, what they could see, where they were stood, what they said, how I was positioned, what else was going on. I was able to communicate all of that quite clearly, aside from making the occasional noise like a cow. I didn’t want to be uncovered so I made sure I had blankets and towels for privacy in every position and with every movement. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom even in the very late stages and I let my midwife know each time that I was not going to be accompanied to the toilet, and I would keep them posted with any updates. If my priority had been lights, music, I would have been quite happy to focus on those things.

Do it if you want to.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 19/01/2020 15:41

MLUs usually have dimmable lights. If you really want fairy lights then you will have to take battery-operated ones as you won’t be able to plug in something that isn’t PAT tested.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 19/01/2020 15:42

Oh yes, music - we had a carefully-planned playlist synced to multiple devices. DD was born to the strains of Magic FM in the operating theatre!

Kittykat93 · 19/01/2020 16:05

Honestly op when I was giving birth there could have been full on strobe lights and I wouldn't have noticed. But whatever you feel you need to get by

Original poster

Womble999 · 19/01/2020 16:21

Thanks all! So helpful to hear from others who’ve been there already.
Lots of what you’ve said about it going out the window or not being relevant when you get there makes total sense.

I think fairy lights might not make the list... but blankets and towels is a really helpful suggestion for privacy and comfort, as I get cold easily.
Hadn’t thought about PAT testing - so obvious when you say it!

OP posts:

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 19/01/2020 16:25

The room has to be pretty well lit by the time it gets to late labour and delivery. The midwives need to be able to see whats going on. Fairy lights won’t be noticeable with hospital lighting on.

meow1989 · 19/01/2020 16:37

Meh, my ideal waterbirth with a puff of gas and air ended up being an emergency c section precluded by pethadine and an epidural in the consultant unit. I wasnt bothered by the room at all, thinking about it i dont know what DH and i actually did for the 17 hours of active labour before my section...

anothernamejeeves · 19/01/2020 16:38

Lol first time parent per chance?

Lordfrontpaw · 19/01/2020 16:40

I had radio 4 on all night. Rather nice to listen to the shipping precast.

Lordfrontpaw · 19/01/2020 16:40

Forecast.

geekaMaxima · 19/01/2020 16:42

The room has to be pretty well lit by the time it gets to late labour and delivery. The midwives need to be able to see whats going on. Fairy lights won’t be noticeable with hospital lighting on.

Not true. Both my births - in MLU and labour ward delivery room - were in dim light. I asked for the dim light in the delivery room because bright hospital lights stress me out, and it was no problem.

Both times, the midwife had a torch or directional light she could use when she needed it, but the room stayed soothingly dim.

So long as you're not in need of interventions like forceps or c-section, my midwife said dim lights are fine.

mynamechangemyrules · 19/01/2020 16:43

I've had 4 births and all were natural and pain relief free... But I was totally in the zone and nothing around helped or hindered! Actually, not true, I shouted at my exDH to 'turn that fucking crap off' about my carefully curated birth playlist 🤣🤣
But... I had a lemongrass oil on my burner (I was at home) and still love that smell... loved it all the way though, inhaled massively every time someone was doing my head in.
So get a pretty burner!

Lordfrontpaw · 19/01/2020 16:45

Battery powered oil burners are quite useful.

Mumdiva99 · 19/01/2020 16:45

I took some bits into hospital - I was due a home birth - failed to progress - went into hospital - tried to put bits around to make it nice - I think nice smelling massage oil and stuff like that, maybe a book and magazine etc. Labour went on and on and on.....drugs got me higher and higher. Ended up being rushed off for ECS. Husband was wisked off to dress and mind baby after it all while i was in recovery. He completely forgot to pick up my bits from the room (to be fair neither of us had done it before and didn't know I wouldn't go back there)- I didn't even have my glasses for a while!! Less is more. And be prepared to decamp somewhere else if necessary.

Hannahthepink · 19/01/2020 19:19

Will you get a chance to visit the MLU? If you can, take a peek, you will probably be surprised at how nice it is already. My MLU room was lovely, with fairy lights, LED candles, a screen with relaxing videos etc.
It made all the difference to my labour, I felt amazing in there!

McHelenz · 19/01/2020 19:25

I've got some tea lights and a room spray. Have followed the hypnobirthing ethos and am just trying to do what I can to stay calm 😊.

A second time mum in my due in January group had a beautiful relaxing room when she gave birth.

Fullyhuman · 19/01/2020 19:49

I was the same as Chanklybore: I was fully aware of what and who were there and I did care, despite the wholly engrossing nature of labour. Dim lights were fine.

All the stuff from home was v helpful for me in my second labour, which was induced. I had a long time on a noisy ward trying to relax to help promote labour and having home comforts helped.

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