Hospital bag essentials

[Princess81]

Wow that's amazing! I'm all about positive birth stories. I cannot stand hearing trauma stories of which there are far too many! I'd love to hear more women saying 'you know what it was tiring but it was the best experience of my life' I just want to enjoy it as much as I possibly can - it is the most important day of my life after all! X

oh and try to go on YouTube and watch “the baby’s coming” it’s a homebirth series by independent midwife Virginia Howes and it’s very empowering. I can’t watch OBEM, kills me! X

 

[Natalie8964]

oh and try to go on YouTube and watch “the baby’s coming” it’s a homebirth series by independent midwife Virginia Howes and it’s very empowering. I can’t watch OBEM, kills me! X

I'll definitely give that a watch. I'm the same, used to watch one born and it really does just make birth seem truly terrifying. I dont want to be scared, why would I be scared, it's what I'm supposed to do! So lovely to have a midwife on here too. I've not seen my midwife since I was 8 weeks pregnant and I'll be seeing her next week and will be 24 weeks! X

 

[Princess81]

I'll definitely give that a watch. I'm the same, used to watch one born and it really does just make birth seem truly terrifying. I dont want to be scared, why would I be scared, it's what I'm supposed to do! So lovely to have a midwife on here too. I've not seen my midwife since I was 8 weeks pregnant and I'll be seeing her next week and will be 24 weeks! X

Can’t decide if it’s a blessing or a curse being a pregnant midwife there are good birthing books too, “the positive birth book” and “birthing the easy way” are amazing x

 

[Rose83]

Just had to comment to say that labour for me is literally the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. The excitement of meeting your tiny human is amazing. I’m pregnant with my fourth and after each of the previous 3 I have (much to the delivery team’s amusement) said I would do it al again straight away. And none of them have been easy: I’ve had 18 hour natural labour back to back, baby in distress with grade 3 meconium and ending in a forceps delivery in theatre, a 10lb 1oz baby induced and then in distress with grade 2 meconium and finally baby 3 was missed breech at 37 weeks so has him turned via ECV, then was induced at 39+2 with no foetal movement detected on ultrasound after I went in with reduced Movement, induction took two days, he was also distressed. All 3 of them I had failed epidurals (they just don’t seem to work on me) So by no means easy labours but I swear I’m not scared of anything, every experience has been incredible.

to add to previous lists, a sleep eye mask and foam ear plugs can be very useful if you go in for induction and end up in overnight before baby is born because then the lights and stuff going on in the ward don’t disturb you. Vaseline for dry lips if using gas and air.

 

[jorgi]

After my first I couldn’t wait to do it again, its the most exciting feeling you’ll ever have and you’ll be amazed at how well you cope knowing the outcome! Fast forward to second baby and I felt the same again, I had no massive issues, natural births in me led birth centre, no drugs, just some paracetamol, I was very lucky! Dont get me wrong it was painful but It’s over before you know it, and the best sense of achievement you’ll ever have!

 

[Natalie8964]

Thank you both for your stories! That helps so much. I love heating that women loved their births despite issues or pain they experience. You really do just get the best prize at the end dont you! X