Hospital bag checklist… the things I wish I had packed

Hi laura here!

So in the weeks leading up to the birth, I must admit I was extremely excited to pack my hospital bag. It was the start of being prepared as a parent. Packing all of the little baby grows, nappies, clothes that a little person can want or need. Yet on the other hand I found myself unpacking and repacking continually. If it wasn’t to check what I’d put in there five minutes ago.. bloody baby brain!!! It was to add extra items others had suggested.

You see the problem with going into hospital for a baby is that it’s unlike any other adventure you will undertake . How can you possibly know it’s size for clothes? How long you will be there? Etc. So after much research and seemingly getting no where I put it to social media who offered the following suggestions:

for baby: vests, baby grows, towel, teddy, nappies, Muslin squares, car seat ( most hospitals won’t let you travel home in the car unless this is with you!) and a first outfit for leaving the hospital.

Something I wish I had taken was a carrier bag to put in wet or dirty clothes. Because let’s face it babies wee.. and poo! A lot! The last place you wanna put a crappy nappy is back into your bag!

Things for Mum 🙂

The following items were suggested based on the practical elements!

baggy t shirt for labour or night dress- the last thing you wanna be doing is walking around with a giant towel/ bedsheet around your bottom half because you’ve had to take off your pj bottoms.

Socks- your feet will be freezing

Lip balm- it’s a lot of effort pushing it a baby and as much as you thing you will be able to drink sometimes it’s not practical. Also maternity wards.. are ridiculously warm!

Change for the car park, phone charger, hair bobbles, ear plugs, slippers, toiletries, toothbrush, snacks, camera and obviously your partner or birthing partner!

Despite taking all of this to the hospital I still felt that I wasn’t prepared. So I have complied an additional list for things I may have found useful. For example.. I forgot my anusol (piles get worse after labour) and boy did I know about it! Yet my cream was at home!

Nipple cream. Because nipples will get sore. When your trying to latch on baby it’s uncomfortable and after be first few attempts they can become dry!

Energy drinks and snacks for after the baby arrives. Although the ward was lovely, they stopped serving food after 5pm. I had snacks in my bag but to be honest in the hours that followed I could have eaten a scabby horse. I had never felt so Hungary and obviously this was my body’s way of recovering after the baby had arrived! I just wish I had taken more snacks with me!

Hair dryer- for the love of hair take your hair dryer! Just trust me! Because there is nothing worse than discovering the ward your on doesn’t have one!

Take in spare clothes and knickers! I know this seems very obvious, however we were not expecting to stay in hospital at all! So when little one needed to be in for several days I had begun to run out of the essentials like big pants! Lord! Asking the husband to locate several more pairs of big pants was not easy!

Following the birth you will want to shower or bathe. Trust me when I say that scent/ perfume free wash stuff is a must! The last thing you want to do is burn or sting your already ying yang! And take it from someone that knows! It’s already burning down there for add fuel to the flames!

I hope this has been useful!

Laura x

Bowling ball through a funnel springs to mind…

Hey laura here!

So after a seemingly long wait, a quick labour, long contractions and a dramatic entrance our little one arrived!

All 7lb7 ounces of squishy-ness! With the most dark blue, beautiful eyes i have ever seen! His cry was the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard and I knew right at the moment I saw him that I was in love. This little boy was going to take over my life forever!

We were only able to say a quick hello to our son as he was taken quickly to the neonatal unit. The room that was only moments ago filled with lots of people was now weirdly empty. The midwife was coming back to help me shower (after her much needed and deserved break) yet I was determined to shower myself and see my son.

Now I will be honest.. this was not as easy as it sounds.

A word of warning.. after seemingly pushing out a bowling ball sized object through a small funnel.. your bits are .. i would say painful but that’s obvious. I can only describe them as stretched beyond belief with the feeling that everything will fall out! Guys reading this.. to get an idea of how uncomfortable this is..

Open your mouth wide and pull on edges of your mouth using your fingers! Yeah keep going until it burns…

When I walked into the unit having contractions.. I walked down the corridor holding my thighs together convinced it would hold in the baby. (Who was no where near the exit). Now walking to the shower room I was holding my thighs together for dear life convinced my bits were falling out!

I’d say it was almost like a period but I would be lying… blood everywhere… pouring infact. So believe me when I say take in sanitary equipment! Maternity pads! The bigger the better!

However Do not be fooled into buying the branded packets. They are expensive! With most major supermarkets selling their own version for £1 or less. Trust me these are amazing value. Because you will go through them like no tomorrow! Blood flow is very heavy and if you tear during the birth and require stitches you will need to change them regularly to reduce the risk of infection. So what’s the point of spending money on an overpriced item that will go into the bin very quickly!

After returning from the shower it suddenly became apparent of how alive I felt! I was bursting with excitement and as the adrenaline rushed through my blood I was almost bouncing back to my bed space to get hubby and go to the neonatal unit!

To me, I practically skipped back to my bed whilst doing the best impression of John Wayne that I could do. Yet I was incredibly lucky to be up and walking around! There was no tearing or stitches required after the birth.. mainly due to the preparation during the final weeks of pregnancy.. (which is coming up in another blog) but for many women this is not an option and every delivery is different. Much to the surprise of the midwife I was up dressed and ready to leave when she returned from her break.

However, I can tell you that I do regret being so determined to walk around and not take “it easy”. Because the following day was hard! I felt as though I had been run over by a train. Clearly from the amount of muscles it had taken to squeeze out the tiny human had an impact on my body.

But before long I was at my sons bedside and I was the most happiest I’ve ever been!

Laura xx

In the words of Adam Ant… stand and deliver!

Hey laura here!

So picking up were we left off…

I’m in labour. Actual labour! After the build up this was quite scary. At some point we were leaving the hospital with an actual tiny human being!

I can honestly say I’ve no idea what caused the labour. The 60 plus miles of walking didn’t seem to help, nor the raspberry tea .. which by the way just makes you need to pee more! And when your overdue and a pumpkin is already sat in your loins, you do not want to actually pee more frequently!

However I do think it was very coincidental that the night before I consumed a ton of fresh pineapple! If anything it was how relaxed hubby and I made it. We sat down to a lovely meal, chilled out and watched tv. Had snuggles on the sofa and it was like a really weird date. there was no worrying or stressing. The house was… by my nesting standards amazing 😉 (if I say so myself)! It was just calm and contrary to belief the baby came out when he was ready!

So after establishing that I was in labour.. I walked approximately 10 feet down the corridor. Although when contracting every couple of steps actually felt more like a mile. My bottom half wrapped only in a sheet ready but I quite frankly didn’t care. The baby was coming .. apparently!

Normally when your ill or in pain you make the most of any space to lie down. This does include hospital beds. I will be honest when I walked into that room.. that bed was not appealing to me whatsoever! Firstly being sat in traffic for almost 45 minutes and the examination had made up my mind for me…I was going to stand and walk around even if it killed me. And I almost certainly did not want to lie down!

Over the next four hours I paced the floor of that little room.. making a game of walking from one side of the room to the other. I inhaled a large amount of enternox (gas and air) then waddled to the other side of the now shoulder height bed!<<<<<<<<<
;Which by the way is good for 2 things..making you sound like Darth Vada (hilarious!) and the second is for making you feel epically drunk. A great feeling when you haven't had anything for months! Downside is I had a “drunk” conversation with the student midwife… I say conversation as in it was more one sided coming from me. Telling her not to work for in the UK but to take her career abroad! Thank you to the lovely student for listening and also you do what you want! <<<<<<<<<<
or the gravitational pull to do something to get this baby out of me! But sadly within this time nothing had actually happened. on second examination my waters hadn't broken and I wasn't any further dilated than when I arrived. However it was concluded that I did need to open my bowels. This in turn could be having an impact on the movement of things.

Now I will be honest. I know I needed to poo. I knew that from the moment I woke up. Could I go? No!!!! And the previous attempts to go to the toilet even for a wee during contractions was a horrid affair! It became so uncomfortable and painful at these moments that it just made me cry. To make matters worse I just needed to pee!! So I was also dreading the thought of needing that poo! So I was grateful when they offered the medication to help! My only advice on this matter is take it! Even if it does go up your arse! The relief that came from that moment of moving my bowels! It was like a pain relief all in itself!

Following this the next stage was to break my waters.. this was done by the lovely midwife (glad I chose nursing). Again not a pleasant experience! But please don't be scared of what can only be described as a crotchet needle going into your foo! One it's a lot smaller and two it has to be done. What I did find is that the tiny hook is best used during the contraction.. this is because the sac surrounding the baby blushes during this time and makes it easier for your waters to be broken. It is uncomfortable but no where near what I was expecting from my "waters breaking."

Please take note…don't feel like a fraud when you call triage and your waters haven't gone. Because I didn't even notice! There was no loud pop, no waterfall effect, no gushing, no sounds, I didn't feel like I'd wet myself. Absolutely sod all! Nothing like I was expecting at all!

Hoorah! Finally something seems to be happening.. I can't get comfortable! Not even standing is working. Sitting on the god damn ball is NOT working! Nothing! Gas and air is now not helping!

I NEED TO PUSH!!

The pressure sensation changed very quickly and this was not a pain.. this was an urge. I needed to push. But was this a trick of the mind again. I mean my waters only broke 30-45 minutes ago…

No not a trick! I'd gone from 4 cms to 10 in that short space of time and part of believed it was because I did a big poo! Nothing to do with the waters at all!

Before I know it I'm on that same sorry looking bed. I've raised the back rest up so it's now in an L shape and I'm leaning over the back of it.. screaming for an epidural… yeah missed that mark right there.. so gas and air it was. This was it. The baby was coming! Shit!

Do I have enough pairs of pants in my bag? (Clearly the gas and air is working well)

The next 40 minutes were a bit of a blur. I remember the gas and air being taken away. (Something to do with confusing the body… not that I understand why and I did put up a fight to let it go!…. my bad) I remember pushing as hard as I could and worrying about whether I was still pooing. Because the thought of any of my fellow colleagues seeing that was probably my biggest fear. I do remember the midwife saying don't push into your throat… at the time I was like what the hell are you taking about.

I totally got this the day after.. don't make any noise! Just push down and keep quiet… easier said than down but otherwise your throat will be unbelievably sore the next day! Something no one has ever mentioned!!!!!<<<<<<<<<<
ard to remember the full events…. because the amount of concentration it takes to do each push is like sitting 3 Exams at once in advanced maths.. or to that extent.. but you actually can't really take in what the hell is happening at this stage. Something no one ever bothered mentioning either!

The hardest part of the whole delivery was getting the babies head out. It felt like it went on forever! I mean have you tried to push out a tiny melon through your ying-yang? Clearly a hole that's designed for this specific purpose but you'd think with evolution that it might have adjusted or something by now… ?

To make matters worse once the head was out the little one turned back on himself and became lodged in my pelvis and the contractions stopped. (This is a rare event so don't panic)

Again this stage is a complete blur. I do know at this stage that about 20 people entered the room and assisted. My legs were now practically above my head and I was curled up into a ball like a hedgehog.. minus the spikes of course. I would be lying if I wasn't a little bit scared. But I knew as soon as the team came in I was in capable hands. Both of us were safe and I just let them do what they needed to do. Getting worked up was not going to help anyone. That and when your trapped in stirrups what else can you do? <<<<<<<<<<
iam arrived at 3pm.

Approximately 2 hours after the waters broke. His dad says he shot out like a little rocket ship. Propelled by his own poo. He was whisked to the other side of the room where the medical team intervened and assisted his breathing. I held him for only a couple of minutes before he went to the neonatal intensive care unit. Again I was calm… He was in safe hands. Also not much you can do when your patiently waiting for the after birth to follow.. which also got bloody stuck! I do remember thinking that none of this was in my bloody birthing plan!!!!!! There was no delayed cord clamping. He wasn’t put straight to my breast for feeding. We didn’t even know his gender when he came out. This was no episode of Call the Midwife. <<<<<<<<<<
traumatic entrance into the world, a bilateral pneumothorax, intravenous antibiotics for serval days my son is now at home. He is 17 days old and doing really well. I can't thank the staff enough at Derriford hospital. Their quick actions and response were amazing! They were compassionate, caring and made our journey wonderful!

An epic adventure into the start of motherhood eh?

Laura xx

And it began…

Hey laura here!

So at 41 weeks and 3 days. Our little boy decided it was finally time to come out!

I will be honest having many false starts, I actually was in denial when the contractions started yet again. At 3am I got up and walked around the living room, grabbed the hot water bottle and slept on the couch until 5am. There was a slight intensity of pain but to be honest nothing that I hadn’t experienced in the previous 5 weeks. Although! A major factor in deciding I was in labour was in fact the inability to use my stairs. I mean this is like any other house in Britain, it has about 12 stairs. Yet the 20 minute commute to the landing was no way I would call “fun.” However at this stage I was extremely determined to get to the top and have a warm bath. Given that paracetamol and a hot bottle were bloody useless too.

Yeah again this part was no picnic. Trying to lift my legs into the bath and back out again.. not cool! I only lasted 10 minutes in there before concluding that the hospital was the only way forward.

Lesson one. If one thinks they are in labour do not go up the bloody stairs. It took another 30 minutes to get to the bottom, in which time hubby had packed out belongings had a shower and was now stood at the bottom with my shoes (he is a gem).

The car journey to the hospital was bloody awful. It was uncomfortable! With contractions lasting for 2-3 minute and every minute apart. Yet part of me was in denial. I didn’t honestly think this was labour at all! I was actually petrified of getting to triage and they saying nope still only 3cms down.. go home.

To make matters worse we got stuck in traffic outside the hospital for what seemed like a life time. We could see the hospital. It was literally in arms reach but to be sat in the bloody car next to it.. was not great 😒. At the one I was extremely anxious and also was also very aware of the drivers and passengers in other cars. I’m not sure why but I was utterly convinced they knew what was happening. So looking out of the window wasn’t an option for distraction. I didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone, convinced that they would know that the grimacing face was a gateway to the bowling ball out of the vagina situation.

On arrival to the maternity doors, I gave my name and booked in. Out particular hospital, the maternity ward is down one level from the actual reception. In my infinite wisdom decided that walking there would be great. Yeah considering the amount of time it took me to get up the stairs you would think I would have learnt my lesson. Just no. Walk two steps.. contract for 2 mins.. now they are a little more painful.. lovely husband currently parking the car but I knew I had to get to maternity! I can’t describe it. I just knew I had to get to the unit! I needed pain relief, I needed it now!

(Thank you to the lovely midwife louise, who stopped before the start of her shift to walk with me down to the unit. She was kind, considerate and very patient!)

Finally at 7.30! We all arrived at maternity triage. Next stop assessment and delivery!

Laura xx

Whatcha got cooking?

Hey laura here!

So at 40 plus 6 weeks there is still no baby! We are indeed overcooked… and boy has it been a long long few weeks! my lovely uterus still irritable like a fish out of water! Confused by the little one being in the cephalic (down postition) but equally being back to back, the uterus can’t make up its god damn mind! Leading to several false start labours!

However, after the second false start I was a little naughty. You see after 2 days the contractions would ease.. and I would emerge into the daylight.. bewildered from lack of sleep. At the third one I ignored the pains. (This is not recommended by the midwifery team and please always seek advise as each case is different)

I still monitored each episode. Pain would start in my lower back accompanied by period type cramping in my lower abdomen. After a short while they would build and build until the pain was unbearable. Typically the pain then moves into the upper abdomen over the fondus area (top of the bump) and everything seems to build in a rhythmic pattern.

Normally over the space of a few hours. After 12 hours they were 2-3 mins apart lasting between 1-2 minutes. But after 3 days… they stopped. This has happened five times! FIVE! In total. Warm baths, movement and regular paracetamol did not help.

These my fiends were no Braxton hicks! These have been contractions!

Like in my last post there are differences! (Yes I know I haven’t had any other pregnancies to compare but I am a lady who is nosey and likes to be informed so I asked my midwife)

Braxton hicks can normally be eased with rest, hydration or movement. These little contractions are and have been buggers.. they have literally been regular to a T.

After each episode I’ve been exhausted. Mainly spending most of the time sleeping throughout each day, eating and drinking plenty. Building up for the next episode as they occur. Because when this happens you can’t concentrate on anything. You feel like you just want to pee all of the time. Your bowels are equally confused as the little persons head is buried deep in your pelvis everything becomes a mystery to your body.

Each time there have been different signs. The first two episodes were at around 35/36 weeks and then nothing for a f w weeks. At this point we went to the hospital. If anything because we were advised to and there is a 25% of pre term labour. (So not completely naughty after all). Only 1/2 cm dilated we went home.

Again advised not to bring on labour by using natural methods due to the position of baby. But continued walking each day. Mainly to prevent the inside of my house from feeling like a prison cell. There is only so much nesting one can do!!! And also to feel just a little bit like I hadn’t lost the ability to walk. I mean I can’t see my feet but that doesn’t mean they aren’t actually working..

The fourth episode, at 39 weeks and 4 days, I felt extremely tired. The episode only lasted about 18 hours. However I did lose part of the mucus plug. (Yes it’s true. It doesn’t always come away in one go.. and yes it doesn’t mean that you are labouring. In fact it’s probably just a nice way to know that the cervix has started to do something) HOORAH-ish! But still no further dilation of the cervix boooo! But still a little exciting!

At 40 weeks I underwent a membrane sweep. Now this is no picnic! The midwife does not make you sweep the floor. You are in a similar position to that of a smear test. So we all know how uncomfortable this can be. The idea is simple. The midwife uses a finger to stimulate the opening of the cervix thus creating a chemical response within the body. Designed to make your body comply and help kick start labour.

Please be patient, it can be uncomfortable, painful depending on the position of the cervix and you may experience a lot of darker discharge… so wear the correct panty liner for afterwards. The midwife will also be able to tell you how effaced, dilated and position of the cervix at this point too.

At this stage I’m 1cm, not effaced and the cervix is posterior… ffs! But I’m now encouraged to walk more! Yay! Come on baby let’s encourage you out!

That was Wednesday…. nothing happened . Nothin at all! However Thursday was a whole different kettle of fish! Large cramping has now also taken over the top of my legs. I feel like I’ve run a marathon. They are weak and like jelly! On top of all of the other areas. I time the contractions they come and go again every 2-3 mins. They are relentless. Unbearable! I can’t walk, talk the pain takes my breath away. My whole body is stopping me in my tracks. So of course I call triage! They agree labour has started!

After driving to the hospital for examination..the midwife confirms we haven’t progressed and it’s best to go home. Fully effaced cervix, it’s in the wrong position and still only 1cm… 1 fucking cm dilated!

Again we go home. Still contracting.. this lasted for three days. Three days of lying over the gym ball, pacing the floor, trying walks (I say trying… getting to your front door and having to stop every 2 mins is not fun.. and you look like a tit to everyone else and you make almost mooing noises 😒)

Sitting on the gym ball, lying on the floor with your pelvis in the air! The baby has also changed position. No longer can I feel it’s little bottom under my belly button hut I can not feel a little spine. The kicks are further away than they have been and we were ready to keep going.. until we got to Saturday and everything just stopped!

They just stop! Just like that! No warning. No nothing they literally just stop! Although Slightly relieved that I can now sleep but equally extremely disappointed. I can’t do anything to bring on contractions. The baby has also wriggled itself back to back… for the love of this child! Luckily yesterday I went for another sweep. We are now three cms dilated, the cervix is soft and fully effaced and nearly in the correct position. The second sweep really took it out of me. I have felt nauseous, extremely tired and very emotional. The only advise I can seem to find is a change of hormone that occurs after this process but not every women or sweep is the same.

No contractions as of yet but the tightenings are increasing.. hopefully this time it may not be a false start. Failing that induction begins next Monday!

I can’t wait to meet the little one!

Laura x