The insiders guide to packing your labour bag

Okay...I know...I promised a review of the labour bag and each items usefulness....here goes: 

(*disclaimer: This is wholly and solely based on my one time labour experience, and is limited to ramblings and should not be a substitute for more suitable advice)

Maternity bras - I got a whole range from KMart the other day - most were $10 or under. Bargain!
Comfy full brief undies - Bonds - who else?!
Okay I have to be perfectly honest here....Not all maternity bras are made equal. I lived in the Bonds Maternity Singlets (listed below). You can wear them with PJ pants and still feel like you have some dignity when random people come to visit the baby (oh...and you too I guess!!). For the week I spent in hospital, I think I wore 1 maternity bra when I ran out of Bonds Singlets. Breastfeeding for the first time in hospital is difficult enough without adding wardrobe malfunctions to the equation!
Sleepwear - I have opted for long PJ pants, and I am planning to wear the Bonds Maternity Singlets. This way I am decent if we get unexpected visitors, but I have easy access to breast feed. Those Bonds Maternity Singlets are freaking awesome! I would definitely recommend them!
Okay...here is what the books don't tell you....if you spend time in hospital after having the baby (It was great for us to do this to build confidence, make sure my milk came in properly etc. etc.)...all you (and the baby) does is sleep, eat, feed and cry (yes...you AND the baby...those baby blues are the most reliable thing about having a baby....you WILL cry...)....Oh...and receive visitors. It's this last point that I had the most difficulty with...while it is lovely to see everyone and show off your bundle of joy, you are lucky if you brush your teeth, let alone shower and brush your hair....so unless you limit your guests to close family who have seen you at your worst already, be prepared (clothing-wise) to recieve people. Keep this is mind when packing attire for the hospital. I also found with my milk coming in that I sweated heaps...so I wish I had entire sleeping outfits for each day.
Reading material - I picked up about 8 Real Living magazines that I haven't read (yes, some are quite old!) at the Op Shop for $1 per mag! Pretty sweet deal considering most magazines retail between $8 - $15!
I did not crack a book the entire labour, or the 5 days in hospital afterwards...but I have read almost all of them whilst breastfeeding afterwards...so not a complete waste...just heavy to lug to the hospital and home for no reason...
Journal and Diary plus pretty pens (I have a serious stationary fetish...I really do need help!)
See comment above....

Camera - For obvious reasons!

Definitely...especially for the days afterwards...they don't stay looking like newborns for long...

**Note - if you want photos during the labour (trust me you may never want to experience labour again, so it may be safer to get heaps of photos and never look at them again), make sure you word someone up to take photos....And the operation of the focus, flash etc.

IPod

IPhone worked for me...played Angry birds during early labour, then took photos and sent messages... A must.

Wheat (heat) bag

Didn't bother with it....but didn't have back pain in labour...so would probably still pack it just in case...

Return to home outfit - I know, it will still be maternity wear, but I want to wear something nice to return home with bubba!
Definitely!
Pregnancy / Birth folder including all documents collected over the period of my pregnancy
Again a definite....It's amazing how much paperwork you collect after the birth as well...
General toiletries - we bought new toothbrushes (we were just about due anyway), and new toothpaste, so we could pack in advance. Also I am taking some of the stuff that just makes you feel a little more at home when you are away from home (ie. familiar liquid soap, skin care routine stuff...I may not use it, but if I do have time, or need some Mercenary Mum time - I've got it covered!)
I definitely used everything I took...it's amazing that after 6 months or so of not being able to shave your legs, how human making them silky smooth can make you feel!!
Don't forget the toiletries which may be new products - ie. Maternity pads, breast pads - we are planning a 5/6 day stay at hospital, so I would expect my milk will have come in before I go home...

DO NOT FORGET THE FOLLOWING:

- Breast pads

- Maternity pads...at least 2 per day of stay

- A Lanolin based product for nipple conditioning....I used Lansinoh...
Thongs for the shower (NB. The footwear variety of thongs for those of you who aren't Aussie!)
Didn't use them...the hospital room I was in was cleaned daily and was sparkling...

Really clever stuff I would never have thought of without other peoples recommendations:
Bendy Straws - I was really on the fence about this...I mean I NEVER use straws....but I read somewhere that whilst in labour drinking using bendy straws will allow you to keep your fluids up with minimum effort.
GREAT DURING LABOUR!!! DO IT!
Toilet paper - now I know the hospital will supply TP, but honestly, the last thing I'd like would be to use cheap bulk sandpaper toilet paper after having a baby....I can always bring it home if the hospital exceeds the expectations!
Again the hospital I was in was pretty awesome with this...Didn't use it, but worth the room in the bag just in case...
Stuff for your birth partner - I am bringing stuff I want Mr Mercenary to have during my labour - stuff that guys may not think of...ie. something to wear in the shower / birth pool....
Also, whilst you are in hospital, the medication etc. for you and the baby is pretty much covered, but your partner may find a long labour or different bed (if they are able to stay with you over night) may bring on a headache etc. I found a suggestion that we take some nurofen or panadol for your other/better half is probably a good idea - and then they have NO excuses!
Again....I would take it again...just in case....but we didn't need it...
List of people we need to call - no not the list of rellies we have to tell, but the official kind of ones that I will probably forget about the minute administration of my life is replaced by a (hopefully) healthy and beautiful baby girl (eg. Private Health Fund - cover her immediately!).
Didn't really need it....Contrary to popular belief, baby brain wasn't that bad...

Things I didn't have but should have?
- Extra changes of clothes...
- Baby wipes
- Snappi Nappy fasteners (I just can not deal with nappy pins!)
- Tissues!
- Your own pillow!!!
- Extra undies...
- Obviously you need a car seat to take bubba home, but don't forget a neck pillow for them...their necks are very floppy!!

Ultimately you know what you do with your down time...pick the contents of your bag based on your own preferences...but I would advise to overpack, rather than underpack...

Good luck, and remember, your pain is going to result in a wonderful new life....

xxx

Labour pains - a relatively easy labour story...

Well, it has been a while since my last post, but who would have thought I would have been so busy with a new baby!? Well the labour story is probably most therapeutic for me to write about first...Funnily enough you mainly read about horrible labours, so here is a nice antidote...

We made it to the 28th February (Induction Day) with no sign of bubba fully engaging, or showing any signs of making a non-medically induced arrival. The Sunday morning (27th) our Dr confirmed via an internal examination that my cervix was favourable for an induction, so we were booked in for the following day.

We went to the hospital for the induction at 7am, and after a few quick tears borne of sheer terror, the Dr broke my waters and began the drip - I was 2cm dilated at the time of induction. Contractions (and I use this term fairly loosely) began by 8am, feeling more like dragging period pain than anything, and progressed slowly to fairly intense short bursts about 45secs long about 3mins apart. All of this was bearable, and in between I was playing Angry Birds...not exactly the insane pain I was expecting!

The Dr made an appearance around 11am to let me know the anaesthetist was on the ward, and now would be an opportune time to order an epidural if I was planning to get one...Having not used anything else, including the bath...I declined and ate my lunch, thinking that if this was what labour was like, the everyone grossly over exaggerates the pain.

I got in the bath shortly after lunch and the pain was increasing with every contraction  (Ahhhh...now I see, maybe it does get worse!)...by 1.45pm I was in a fair amount of pain, and making guttural groans, one of our midwives, Jane, decided to do an internal examination. She had estimated that I was about 9cm dilated based on the timing and the noises I was making.

Unfortunately when she did the internal examination, it turned out that I was *still* 2cm, and my cervix had moved to one side and around. The worst bit of the entire labour was when she relocated the opening to my cervix back to where it should have been...All I remember was making a hell of a lot of noise, and her saying "come on now, no noise, no noise". I remember thinking "SHUT IT! I'll make all the freaking NOISE I want WOMAN!!". Immediately after I began vomiting (bye-bye lunch!) and the midwives seemed to think that it was due to the internal examination (no drugs at this stage).

The Dr. made another appearance 15minutes later, bearing the tidings that he would let me labour another two hours, then we really needed to move on to an emergency C-Section. I remember thinking "you bastards are going to let me labour for another 2 hours, then cut me open anyway! Just wheel me into surgery now you cruel bugger!" He suggested I have a shot of pethidine if the pain was too much (AHHH...YES!). So after arguing with the midwife about not wanting the shot in my butt (remnants of a painful childhood memory rearing its ugly head), we compromised and had the shot in my leg. I needn't have worried, with the pain of the contractions, the needle felt like a lovely massage...

Well, let me tell you...I think there is a conspiracy about Pethidine....I reckon that Pethidine in labour is less for the pregnant woman, and more for the birth partners and midwives! It did nothing to me but make me quiet! I was still in increasing pain, I just didn't have the energy to cry out or make any noise. To be fair however, I did fall asleep between contractions (5 minute power naps)...

About an hour later, I felt desperate to go to the toilet, and after going, standing holding on to Mr. Mercenary, sitting, standing (repeat) for about half an hour, I told the midwives I had an overwhelming urge to push. They suggested I get on the bed, which I (semi)-politely declined and was advised that I'd be having my baby in the toilet if I didn't get on the bed! Well, that was enough motivation (who wants to tell their child that they were born into a toilet!!).

I don't remember too much of the details of the pushing, but I now know why after pregnancy and birth, you have no problem with people looking at your more private areas...I really didn't care who was looking! I do remember the "ring of fire" which accompanied bubba crowning (and me tearing). I also remember Mr. Mercenary (who was adamant that he was NOT going to look, because he'd never be able to look again) having a good look at her being born. I was secretly relieved that he did want to look, because it really is an amazing part of life. The Dr arrived at some point, added an episiotomy to my tear, and my beautiful baby girl was delivered at 3.44pm on the 28th Feb.

During some skin to skin contact with a sticky baby, and after the delivery of the placenta, the Dr was working his magic with his sewing needle and a local anaesthetic. She had a breastfeed then weighed in at 8lb 12.5oz or 3.98kg. She was 51.5cm long and my little chubba chops had her first immunisations. During this time I remember feeling very immobile, as I was leaking blood (I think), and a midwife eventually pushed on my abdomen and got a hell of a lot of fluid out...After a much needed shower, we walked (!) to our room on the ward.

In hindsight, I am eternally grateful that I was able to have a natural birth. I am not sure how I would have coped if I were bed ridden...and there was another mother on the ward that I knew through people who was bed ridden after her caesarean. I attribute my natural birth to three factors...the Dr giving me the extra 2 hours to labour (he told us later that he was surprised it worked!), the midwife moving my cervix, and the pethidine for allowing me to relax enough to dilate. All in all I have to say, it was a relatively easy labour...I would categorise the stages as 4 hours of period like pain contractions (7-11am), 3 hours of intense contractions (11am-2pm), an hour and a half of excruciating pain (2pm-3.30pm), 14 minutes of pushing... (3.30pm -3.44pm).

Well...Now the fun really begins!