Sorry to everyone who is sick of my pregnancy posts, but I could use some help from women who've given birth (yes, I could post on a random new mommy forum, but then the women responding wouldn't respond while taking into account that i have PTSD). Is it feasible to call a taxi to take me to the hospital when I go into labor? I will be going alone, there is no one to go with me. What things would you recommend I bring with me to the hospital? I've got baby clothes, receiving blanket, some cream ... but is there anything else? I need to start packing a bag to have at the ready now, so any suggestions will help.
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- Post starter Casey_03
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I told my Midwife if they had a certain type of person working there I would leave. Take music, your own undies but don't expect to take them home, your own clothes PJ's again not expect to take them all home. I binned two sets of pants and about 3 pairs of undies. Maternity pads, like a couple of packets. Nice washing stuff, like your soap and hair washing stuff. Your favourite ones. Anything you use to deal with triggers, bring them all. Feel free to ask me any more questions you might have ok.
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Cheers Mamma salt!
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- Weekend Bag. Even if not planning on staying the night, it's an easy thing to throw together, and then you're not bothered if you do need to sleep over. Comfy change of clothes. Toiletries. (Travel shampoo/conditioner/hair ties, etc. If they have a shower? You'll wanna wash your hair. Labor is seriously sweaty.) Makeup if you wear it. Normalizing things.
- Car seat! :) ((Or whatever device you're planning on carrying baby home in home in.))
- Bathrobe (x2 if you've got them. Birth & New Babies are messy. For awhile it's just like aaaaaaah! Everything is leaking! Eeeeew. Gross.). And what with being naked from the waist down for several hours, and then needing to nurse/naked from the waist up half the time? Bathrobes just simplify things.
- On that note... You can't use tampons for awhile, it takes a bit for things to tighten back up, so either pads or nicking some of the baby's diapers for use as pads = better coverage (just use scissors to cut off the scratchy flaps)... But either require rather large underwear to hold in place (Huge. As in they may come with their own postal code.). And those knickers usually end up stained beyond worth keeping, despite the pads (post birth bleeding is very different from menstrual bleeding), and won't fit you in a couple weeks, anyway. So it's worth grabbing a few cheap pairs of giant bum covering tents you can do a little victory dance over when you throw them in the trash later.
- Boredom (and grounding) supplies :) Labor is a lot like having the stomach flu. Pain comes and goes, and the waiting in between can drag on. Sometimes you'll be completely normal in between bouts, other times vaguely out of it / can't focus on anything for long (like whilst sick). So having things to keep,you occupied during both during times when you're you're normal self, and when you just keep reading the same page over & over and not taking in any of it? Super valuable.
- A. Really. Big. Cup. You're not only sweating like keeeerazy, but losing tons of body fluids (colostrum, milk production, bleeding, amniotic, pregnancy swelling). So prepared to be *wicked* thirsty for a few weeks... And it starts right after birth.
- Car seat! :) ((Or whatever device you're planning on carrying baby home in home in.))
- Bathrobe (x2 if you've got them. Birth & New Babies are messy. For awhile it's just like aaaaaaah! Everything is leaking! Eeeeew. Gross.). And what with being naked from the waist down for several hours, and then needing to nurse/naked from the waist up half the time? Bathrobes just simplify things.
- On that note... You can't use tampons for awhile, it takes a bit for things to tighten back up, so either pads or nicking some of the baby's diapers for use as pads = better coverage (just use scissors to cut off the scratchy flaps)... But either require rather large underwear to hold in place (Huge. As in they may come with their own postal code.). And those knickers usually end up stained beyond worth keeping, despite the pads (post birth bleeding is very different from menstrual bleeding), and won't fit you in a couple weeks, anyway. So it's worth grabbing a few cheap pairs of giant bum covering tents you can do a little victory dance over when you throw them in the trash later.
- Boredom (and grounding) supplies :) Labor is a lot like having the stomach flu. Pain comes and goes, and the waiting in between can drag on. Sometimes you'll be completely normal in between bouts, other times vaguely out of it / can't focus on anything for long (like whilst sick). So having things to keep,you occupied during both during times when you're you're normal self, and when you just keep reading the same page over & over and not taking in any of it? Super valuable.
- A. Really. Big. Cup. You're not only sweating like keeeerazy, but losing tons of body fluids (colostrum, milk production, bleeding, amniotic, pregnancy swelling). So prepared to be *wicked* thirsty for a few weeks... And it starts right after birth.
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scout86
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How fast and reliable is the taxi service where you are?
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Taxies are grand :) Just tuck your weekend bag IN the car seat, so you don't forget it!
One thing you might consider, is ordering a cab now-ish and testing out how to install a car seat, so you're not struggling for the first time leaving the hospital. That said, most cabbies are really adept at getting those buggers in. I can't tell you how many times, in how many countries, I've had these little old men wave me aside with "5 kids! I do! I do!" (Of course, to be fair, out of the country it's a coin toss whether they don't want a car seat used at all. It's either, they've got it! Or Not needed! Not needed! Safe driver.) If they're BMWs/Mercedes cabs? SUPER easy. LATCH systems rock, and they all come standard. If the cab's a jalopy of some kind? Ungh. Honestly may be safer not to use a seat except as a bassinet & hold. IDK the kinds of cars in your area, & you're smart, so I'm sure you'll figure out the best way for the situation at hand.
Whether or not your water breaks before you go to the hospital is fairly 50/50. Movies always show it, but that's just for drama. You'll usually know loooooog in advance of your water breaking that you're in labor*. If it does? Go stand in your tub and move a bit awkwardly and the little remaining pocket "gushes" (no where near the first title wave) will sort themselves out IF there are any. The leakage at that point is about heavy period levels. Just use a pad. No worries :)
One thing you might consider, is ordering a cab now-ish and testing out how to install a car seat, so you're not struggling for the first time leaving the hospital. That said, most cabbies are really adept at getting those buggers in. I can't tell you how many times, in how many countries, I've had these little old men wave me aside with "5 kids! I do! I do!" (Of course, to be fair, out of the country it's a coin toss whether they don't want a car seat used at all. It's either, they've got it! Or Not needed! Not needed! Safe driver.) If they're BMWs/Mercedes cabs? SUPER easy. LATCH systems rock, and they all come standard. If the cab's a jalopy of some kind? Ungh. Honestly may be safer not to use a seat except as a bassinet & hold. IDK the kinds of cars in your area, & you're smart, so I'm sure you'll figure out the best way for the situation at hand.
Whether or not your water breaks before you go to the hospital is fairly 50/50. Movies always show it, but that's just for drama. You'll usually know loooooog in advance of your water breaking that you're in labor*. If it does? Go stand in your tub and move a bit awkwardly and the little remaining pocket "gushes" (no where near the first title wave) will sort themselves out IF there are any. The leakage at that point is about heavy period levels. Just use a pad. No worries :)
1. Big ugly nanna panties. If you happen to end up having a c-section your cute little hipster undies will sit RIGHT in the scar. And if you have no-one to send out for big ugly nanna panties I suggest you buy some cheapie pairs now and hopefully you won't need them.
2. Anhydrous lanolin also known as wool fat. Should come in a tube available at your local pharmacy (fingers crossed!). Smear a thin layer on your nipples every hour or so. No perfumes or taste so no need to wipe off before breastfeeding. Stops your nipples cracking. Saves your sanity as nothing makes your toes curl like a baby sucking the scabs off the end of your nipples every couple of hours.
2. Anhydrous lanolin also known as wool fat. Should come in a tube available at your local pharmacy (fingers crossed!). Smear a thin layer on your nipples every hour or so. No perfumes or taste so no need to wipe off before breastfeeding. Stops your nipples cracking. Saves your sanity as nothing makes your toes curl like a baby sucking the scabs off the end of your nipples every couple of hours.
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