Packing my hospital bag for labour & birth | First time mum | UK 2022

[@kieramoore6501]

Ugh....how is it that every pregnant lady on KZbin looks like a friggin beautiful glowing queen, while I'm here looking and feeling like a potato that's been forgotten in the dark cupboard for weeks?! It's not fair 🤣😂

[@anniewhitmore7627]

Ah bless you - I'm sure you're looking more beautiful than you know 😊

[@ashleyjvarela]

I feel the same way 😂

[@sawerachohan9680]

Same love 😂😂😂 I feel like a couch potato

[@hayleyv207]

Amen to this 🤣🤣

[@philippacrabtree4114]

I packed my bag this week too….! The only extras I have to you are my own towel and a dressing gown. Thanks for reminding me about shampoo/conditioner! Somehow managed to completely forget those 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

That's ok, so glad this video was useful for you! 🥰

[@Katie-West]

How exciting! I totally agree with taking little luxury items with you to make yourself feel better afterwards, with my first boy we had to stay in for a few days and he obviously spent a lot of time asleep 🙈 Our hospital rooms had private bathrooms and we had a bath in ours so I had a bath a couple of times and it was lovely. Advice after my experience would be to pack a “just in case” bag and leave it somewhere at home incase you do need some extra bits for you and baby, it’s so much easier to say to someone to just collect the whole bag rather than them trying to find the items, that’s based on my partner anyway who brought 3-6 month baby grows and non matching tracksuits for me when I sent him home for extra bits 😅 x x x

[@Katie-West]

Also, if you want to be extra organised, maybe a single duvet and a pillow left in the car for Harry, could just leave in car if ever needed, sleeping for the Dad’s is so uncomfortable they either have the chair or literally a mat on the floor with no blanket and if you are in there for a few days and he wants to stay may make it more comfortable for him x

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

@@Katie-West Thank you for all your advice Katie! So helpful to hear! 🥰

[@1185Elizabeth]

I’m not sure what the UK equivalent is but, I was told to squirt a line of A&D in the nappy (it’s like Vaseline but not). As baby moves, it spreads and acts as a barrier against poop against skin, to prevent rashes. - I have lots of tips, but won’t overwhelm you. Enjoy every moment, it’s an amazing time 💞💖💖💖💞

[@steffi9536]

what's A &D may I ask?

[@1185Elizabeth]

@@steffi9536 OVERVIEW of A + D Ointment… Forms a protective barrier to seal out wetness & prevent diaper rash A+D is pediatrician recommended Helps relieve the discomfort of chapped, chafed, and cracked skin Contains vitamins A & D Free of dyes, phthalates & parabens

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@tashaadam7515]

Haemorrhoid cream! I took my own stool softener as well (laxido) just incase. Highly recommend wearing big pants with a pad and then putting a pair of boxers or boy shorts over the top to keep everything secure and to minimise leaks. Your own long gown for after labour is also very handy if for whatever reason you have a catheter in, more comfortable than hospital gown. Nursing pillow is also a good idea to get off to the best start with breast feeding and finding best position for latching on. From a first time mama of a five week old, remember you’re not supposed to know exactly what you’re doing so do be vocal whilst I’m hospital and don’t be afraid to ask for support! And most importantly of all just enjoy it as there’s nothing quite like the first time you give birth ❤

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

Thank you so much for all these tips Tasha, sooo nice to hearing from other new mammas! Congratulations on your little one🥰

[@1185Elizabeth]

I snacked on Tangerines 🍊😃 it was Christmas 🎄. I was eternally grateful when a friend showed up with an electric pump when I got a little sore.

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

That's a good idea! x

[@TheWoolfordFamilyLove]

This was literally me as a first time mum I over packed. Excepting my second now and my back is no where near as full as this. I like that fact that you are remembering to take your self care stuff very important ❤

[@chrisbradley6175]

Daddy may need a bag too! Especially if he’s with u overnight! Clean t shirt! Snacks for him too! He’s going to need to keep he’s energy levels up!

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

This is a good idea, thank you!

[@amysebry3059]

This has been so helpful ❤

[@martamorello4598]

Hi where u bought a mini fan?

[@emmamcguinness9073]

Little socks for the baby that they can wear under the babygrow, their little feet can be cold. I would advise packing more short sleeve vests aswell for all the runny poos at the beginning. Definitely a dark towel for yourself & face cloth & a little hooded baby towel. A nice cooling mist along with the fan will be heaven, it can be really hot in hospital. Good luck 💙

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

Thank you for all these tips Emma! So helpful! xx

[@marwamouselly7422]

Am I the only one who didn’t pack all those stuff 😂 I stayed with the white flat hospital rope for one day and then left back home !

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

Everyone does it their own way I guess! ❤

[@rachaelporter763]

Hi Olivia. I would pack another hat. Only because they will need to put a hat on baby as soon as it’s born then you can use another one for leaving hospital when it’s cold 🥰. Hope everything goes well 💙 xxx

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

This is a good idea, thank you! 🥰

[@kerrihayes3988]

I take a hat for when there born as it tends to get full of blood and minging ha then once there clean and sorted have a hat as part of my outfit. I’m taking dummies may not need them but find it’s better to have too much then not enough xx

[@jenniferclements6483]

Sleepsuits with zips, the ones where you put over the head can be so fiddly. Also try and use the hospital blankets as it's one less thing to wash when you get home. We took our own blanket for the car journey home. I would take your own fluffy towel, the hospital ones are so tiny and scratchy!

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

Thank you so much for your advice Jennifer!! 🥰

[@OCD1-e8u]

I just packed my clothes for four days and clothes for the baby. Some towels and washing products for me. The nursing stuff for yourself and the baby, you get in the hospital. When the baby was Born, my man brought the drinks and the snacks for the visites.

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

This is good to know, thank you!

[@clrhmphrys1735]

Definitely bring your own towel in a dark colour. The hospital ones are awful, thin, small and scratchy 🙈 And for baby, button up or zip up onesies as over head are nightmare to get on and off, and you’ll want to strip baby off for lots of skin to skin! X

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

Heard both of these from a lot of people, thank you so much for your tips! xx

[@MuhammadZama]

nice presentation

[@sayhello5377]

The fan is perfect! When I was having my son, the AC in my room was broken and it was 79° in there and I about died. I sent my husband to the store to buy me two fans. 🤣 Also, I’m not sure if it’s the same in your country, but at least here in the United States, the hospitals provide all of that “postpartum recovery“ stuff. Personally, I would recommend saving that to use when you come home. It will be a pain in the butt to have to dig through your hospital bag to find it when you have a crying newborn and you’re exhausted. 😬

[@laurenjane6432]

The Fridamom grey boxer shorts are pointless - they don’t absorb anything, I couldn’t understand what the were for - big disappointment. If you don’t tear too badly, as I didn’t, you won’t need most of their stuff but if you do it will come in handy. I would recommend the expert midwife nipple balm, and make sure you have a lot of thick pads as you will bleed a lot. I had a natural birth without pain killers as, even though I was going for a natural birth I did end up wanting an epidural but the NHS don’t have enough staff at the moment and they couldn’t do anything. If you want the drugs - and do not be ashamed to ask for the drugs - ask for them early. Good luck, it’s an amazing journey! Women are amazing for what we go through and what we can do.❤

[@laurenjane6432]

Oh and also - breast pads! You will massively need them if you’re breast feeding. Get months and months worth!

[@laurenjane6432]

Sorry another thing! You won’t be snacking or drinking anything after a certain point so just make sure your birth partner keeps actually giving you the water and making sure you drink it. With the fan - you won’t be holding it so again make sure they do that for you, or just make sure the windows are open in your room as it’s nice and cold in the UK now which will work in your favour. I used water wipes on my baby but he got a sore bum so cotton pads and water cleared that up immediately and I never went back :) he is 6 weeks now and no problems since. Midwife said those wipes cause a lot of soreness in many babies she sees.

[@OliviaRoseSmith]

@@laurenjane6432 Thank you for all your useful tips, so nice to hear from other mums! 🥰 xx