Your birth bag – what do you need?
Whether you are planning on having your baby at home or in hospital, it can be useful to have a few things handy to help you feel more comfortable and calmer in labour.
Here’s the basics:
- Birth ball
- Pillow
- Water & food to keep you both going, plus chocolate buttons and/or jelly babies for a quick energy boost
- Blanket/dressing gown for comfort and warmth
- Socks – in case your feet get cold
- Relaxing music, especially if you have used it in pregnancy. An MP3 with headphones can be useful so you can focus and stay calm
- A small fan and/or water spray to help you cool down
- A straw to make drinking water easier
- You birth preferences list, your maternity notes and any handouts to remind you of positions and breathing
- Lip balm – your lips can become dry in labour, especially if you are using gas & air
- Inflatable bath pillow – perfect for using in the birthing pool
- Hair clips/bobbles if you have long hair
- Some women also like to use Rescue Remedy to help keep them calm
- Massage oil
- TENS machine
This is by no means a set list, what did you find useful in labour…
Rebecca Seal
Arnica and camera. Old pants and BIG maternity pads!
When I hire out my birth pool I also encourage the dad-to-be to think about his comfort too. In the birth bag he may need drinks and snacks, list of people to contact, and also any medication he might be on. With a birth pool he may be sitting at the side holding his partners hand or massaging for example so I always recommend they try out a few different stools or chairs beforehand to see which feels the most comfortable. I know from personal experience there is nothing worse than a man complaining about how cold/tired/hungry/uncomfortable he is while you are in labour!
Janine Rudin
fab thank you missus x