Packing hospital bag - please can someone provide some advise re: arnica, tea tree oil, etc....

[PregnantPenguin]

Hello - I am first timer due in 4 weeks and have heard good things about arnica and tea tree oil but am a bit clueless....

I am expected a VB, so assume that I only start raking arnica tablets post baby. Is that correct (I seem to recall reading somewhere to start taking them during labour)? How much should I take and how often?

I believe that the tea tree oil is to go on the maternity pads post birth. Should it be diluted? Am I right that I should also add it to my bath?

Sorry - I knew I should have written this kind of thing down when I first read about it, but think I was a bit head in the sand TBH until the reality hit when bag packing!

Hoping someone can help! Many thanks.

So far I have bought Australian Body Care Tea Tree Oil in a body wash format and I intend to bathe in that when washing (obviously) and to help with either vaginal birth stitches etc or after a section cut which ever is meant for me.

My MW taked about Arnica tablets too and I am sure she said get Arnica 6 and not Arnica 12 but I am going to get her to confirm this tomorrow.

I have also bought wet toilet tissue from M&S that has witch hazel in it which is supposed to be good too.

My opinion is to buy a little bit of everything in the hope that you may/may not use it rather than shrieking at husband to rush off to find it in Asda in the middle of the night!

Hi PP - I read that its a good idea to start taking arnica tablets about a week before due date but not sure whether 30c or 200c is the right strength to take?

Other advice I've picked up is to dilute tea tree oil with warm water in a squeezy bottle (like a sports bottle) to pour on stitches to make going for a wee more bearable. That and putting either tea tree oil or lavender oil in your bath.

Hi ya had 1DD in 06 and I am sure I took 200c of Arnica, good job I caught this thread as have 2DD due in 6 weeks and totally forgot about Arnica.
I was taking the wrong dose last time round, and when I went to my local health shop (where I also got my respberry leaf tea) they informed me of the correct dosage, so I suggest going to yours.

Also another good tip with sanatry towels is to put them in the freezer (bizarre I know) but after birth your going to be really sore and the coldness relieves this.

The tea tree oil I'm not sure about, I did get toldsomething from my midwife about it heals, but unless you prepare everything before you go into labour, you will neevr have time after the baby arrives and exhaustion over rules everything!

Thank you everyone!

I'm expecting 2DS in 5 weeks time. Just started thinking about hospital bag too! With my 1DS I took arnica (but can't remember what strength!). I put Lavender and Tea Tree oils in my baths, and found they really helped. Soothing, calming Lav and healing T Tree.
Also ate loads of cherries after birth, as apparently they have an analgesic effect like aspirin. I think the morphine shot was most effective though!!