Hello Heather, My question is this: I want to know what is crucial to pack for labor and delivery. I am in the stages of packing my bags and I just don't know what I should bring. Although this is baby number 2 and I have packed before I forgot what exactly I brought the first time. Maybe there are somethings that women brought that worked fantastically with the stages of labor that would be helpful to me...If you need me to provide more info, let me know :)I need some help! Lindsey McAulay
I know of some great women that could answer this so I hope they are reading. Are you planning on going natural or having an epidural? If you have a birthing ball or can get one I recommend it. It really helps take pressure off your back during labor. There might be one where ever you are delivering. I also recommend as many of your own things as possible like blanket, pillow, pj's, towels -especially towels for after-the ones at my hospital were pathetic. Hoping some other women have some great suggestions for you. Good luck with delivery #2.
Thanks for posting my question! I had an epidural with my first and want to get another one this time around. I am not a fan of pain...
ReplyDeleteThe room I will be delivering in does have a birthing ball (never used one before). I can't wait to hear what people comment. I could use all the help I can get!
I agree with the birthing ball. Those things are amazing. With an epidural, you can relax. If you have long labors, bring something to keep you occupied- book, music, magazines. Giving natural birth is a little harder;) Relaxing music and sitting in a birthing bathtub work miracles.
ReplyDeleteAfter birth I suggest having as many sitzs baths as possible (my hospital had a room with a sitzs bath machine and it was the most amazing cleansing/pain relief you can ever have with an episiotomy or tare. Also, a bathrobe(or a few pairs of pj's that you can feel comfortable in, but still walk down the halls in, slippers and flip flops because the bathroom floors are nasty and I took showers in my flip flops, and your own pillow. Bring some lotion for foot and back massages from nurses or hubby (that was always nice). Bring cloths and blanket for baby. And maternity cloths to go home in. I always bring lots of underwear too because you bleed so heavy that it has to be changed all the time. And toiletries.
Make sure you pack Lansinoh lanolin cream if you plan to breastfeed. I used it after every feeding and never experienced much pain...it was a lifesaver! I'd suggest using nursing pads with it though because it does stain clothes (comes out with Dawn dish detergent). The hospital where I delivered had a little kitchen with snacks for patients. If your's doesn't, I'd pack a few snacks. I was only able to eat a little at a time (I guess a leftover habit from pregnancy) and so when I was feeding at 3 AM I was REALLY hungry. Also, clothes for baby are definitely a good idea. I was told not to worry about it since the hospital would have t-shirts, but then my daughter spent the first day of life under the heat lamp because her temperature was not high enough and we had to send someone to our house to get her extra warm clothing to wear. Oh...and don't forget your camera!
ReplyDeleteMy 2nd delivery was fast and efficient. So fast in fact, I delivered him on the side of the interstate on the way to the hospital at 3a in the front passenger seat of our car. When I say I delivered him, I do mean I delivered him. So, my suggestion is a bit different from the others. I suggest you put a small kit together of things you may need should you have an emergency birth. Here are a couple of things you want to have available. A shoe string...to tie off the umbilical cord. A small towel to wipe the nose and mouth and a blanket to wrap the baby up to keep him warm. You will also want to have a bulb nasal plunger to clear out the throat and nose if the baby doesn't start crying just after birth. I was very lucky we had NO complications. It doesn't hurt to know exactly were the fire stations are between you and hospital as well. I would also read through the emergency birthing procedures in your "What to expect in when you are expecting" book. The only thing I remembered from that section was to turn his head to deliver the shoulders. It was truly a miracle! You can read our birthing story on my blog here... http://brownfamilysoundoff.blogspot.com/2009/10/our-miracle-here-on-earth.html
ReplyDeleteOur hospital here in TN doesn't allow you to put non-hospital clothes on the baby because they are stamped with the hospital name and can recognize the difference between a visiting baby and newborn baby. So I wouldn't worry about packing much for the baby other than the car seat, going home outfit, hat and blanket to cover him up on the way home. You'll want to pack comfortable night gowns and robes for you. If you hospital has a vending machine, I suggest bring quarters so hubby can get snacks in the middle of the night. If you are going to nurse, you may want to bring a nursing apron so when visitors come, you don't have to hold off on feeding baby. I used a birthing ball for my first delivery...you'll definitely want to have one of those handy. I hope you have a wonderful and safe birthing experience.
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