Candyfloss & Dreams

Tag: home birth

Hospital Bag Preparation
Packing your hospital bag for labour can be really quite daunting because you just don’t know how long you will be admitted for. It’s best to overpack if you’re partner is going to find it particularly difficult to get things to and from the hospital, like mine will, as he can’t drive. I am planning for a home birth so I am putting together two little birth packs so to speak. One is a little box of things to help me labour at home for as long as possible hopefully progressing to birth at home and one is a bag for hospital just in case I do need to transfer through. As I said in my birth plan post I like to be prepared so having a bag ready to go should I need it is really helping to prepare for all kinds of situations.

It isn’t really that long now with a due date of 21st September. We still have bits and pieces we need to get of course but I am starting to feel prepared and he has a good amount of clothes that should at least last him the first week of his life. We are not really looking to go anywhere and with the weather getting cooler he will mostly be in sleepsuits anyway. The biggest expense I have struggled with is the right size nursing bras as I plan to breastfeed. I’m so top heavy and it’s one thing I am really struggling to find in my size that isn’t at least £60. I just can’t justify that cost when you need a couple of nursing bras and then one or two to sleep in. I’m saving money with reusable wipes and cloth nappies and have a good collection of those which is good. I also want to make a list of things to keep stocked up in the fridge that can easily be squeezed into our hospital bag should we need to transfer over.

I was actually amazed to find you could buy prepacked maternity and hospital bags which is a great thing to do and takes the stress out of preparing and packing one.

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Here are my recommendations for things to consider packing in your own hospital bag or home birth box. Obviously you want to have your maternity notes in your bag ready to go and your birth plan right at the front.

Hospital Bag or Home Birth Box items
- TENS machine – We have the Babycare Elle TENS2 Machine. I used one in my previous labour and it really, really helped to take the edge off. Obviously you can’t use it in the pool but it’s so great to have so many different options in Labour and I think the more natural remedies I can use to help me cope with the pain, the better. If you don’t want to buy a TENS machine there are plenty of options to hire them as well which gives you lots of flexibility.
- Favourite scents or essential oils – essential oils can be really powerful in labour and favourite scents can really transform an environment for a better birthing experience
- Straws
- Hair bands
- Face cooling spray
- Socks/Slippers
- Headphones
- Eye Mask
- Tealights/Fairy lights (Loads of battery operated ones around, think dimly lit and intimate)
- Hot water bottle & cover or heat bag
- Hypnobirthing tracks/MP3
- A birth pool
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Food & Drink in Labour

I want freedom of movement in labour as well as being able to eat and drink when I want so having some of my favourite snacks will be great. You probably won’t want to consume huge meals, even if you’re at home, so think about high protein and high energy snacks you can have on hand to help keep those energy levels up. Some good ideas are:
- Coconut water/Isotonic/Electrolyte drinks
- Glucose tablets
- Honey – a spoonful of this can do wonders, apparently
- Your favourite sweets
- Flapjacks or ceral bars
- Bananas or your favourite fruit
- Soup – particularly in the really early stages of labour
- Squash – great if you’re getting bored of water. Staying hydrated is really, really important
- Pop grapes in the freezer or make fruit puree ice cubes
- Ice pops/Ice lollies
- Your favourite tea bags – because that cuppa post birth needs to be the best you’ve ever had
Hospital Bag Items for Mums

For this you want to thing of when you’re in labour and post natal. Think about things that you might need at home so that your partner can get these to you easily and if you’re transferred to hospital or if you need to stay a few nights. Even though money can sometimes be a bit tight do get yourself things you like that will make you feel comforted and excited. Having your baby will fill you with joy and then just having those few nice new extras post birth can give you an extra little boost.
- Dark coloured PJ’s – easy to open at the front if breastfeeding. Remember you will still be a bit bumpy and mishapen so think maternity PJ’s rather than you’re regular size.
- Dark coloured towel
- Maternity pads – pop a few drops of witch hazel and aloe on them, wrap them back up and pop in the freezer if you’re at home. The cooling sensation can really help if you’ve had any tears and feeling a bit bruised and swollen.
- Spritz for Bits – I’ve not used this before but heard it can work wonders so I’ll be getting some – you can spray this on your maternity pads to keep things feeling cool and help with soreness instead of using oils/aloe gel
- Small jug for pouring when you pop to the loo (or wee in the bath!) apparently the water dilutes the acidity in the urine which is what causes the sting. It should only last a couple of days but apparently leaning forward and using a jug of lukewarm water can really help.
- Flipflops – for getting in/out the pool and using communal showers. Shoes that are nice and easy to slip on are particularly good if you have a c-section because you wont want to be bending
- A pillow or small blanket from home if you’re in hospital
- Something to wear in labour, a big baggy t-shirt works well
- Big, black over the tummy knickers – again, if you have a c-section you want something nice and high, away from the wound and stiches
- Going home outfit – again, think maternity. Comfortable leggings and a nice top.
- Clean Toiletries and a flannel – avoid using a shower puff with stiches
- A little bit of makeup and a good moisturiser – because you are allowed to make yourself look nice and feel good after having a baby – if you want! If not, a nice face wash and moisturiser can really help make you feel fresh again.
- Breast pads
- Nursing bras
- Nipple Cream/Balm – this is also great for chapped lips which might happen if you use gas and air. I have the Kit & Kin Breast Balm packed in my bag ready to go!
- Phone charger. I have a portable one which I’ll be packing just in case for my hypnobirthing tracks and relaxing music playlist
- Camera
- Car park/Hospital room TV change
Hospital Bag Items for Partners

Dads or partners can sometimes get a bit left out but they might need a few bits and pieces too, especially if you’re going to be in hospital for a long time. Here are a few things dads can pack for themselves.
- Change of clothes – if your partner wants to be in the water you might get a bit wet. Plus, babies are messy. Having a spare top to refresh yourself after labour and birth will do you some good – as will the cooling face spray if you get overly warm
- Energy drinks to keep you going or at least some decent tea or coffee
- A book – the early stages of labour can be quite boring and if you’re partner is in the zone with an eye mask and doesn’t really ‘need’ you at that point, you might aswell have something to read
- Your favourite snacks/sweets because you need to eat too!
Hospital Bag Items for Babies

Babies don’t really need a lot of stuff so you can leave things like teddies and comforters at home however babies also make a lot of mess and you might not know how long you need to be in hospital for so always consider a few of each thing. We have packed our changing bag for the things the baby will need:
- Small bag of newborn nappies – we are using the Kit & Kin eco-friendly disposables. If you’re using reusables from day one TotsBots TeenyFit STAR all in ones are perfect for babies under 9lbs but they do fit up to 12lbs.
- Baby Wipes – again we are using the Biodegradable Kit & Kin wipes. Aqua Wipes are another great option if you want biodegradable wipes.
- Vests
- Sleepsuits
- Blanket
- Going home outfit – something cosy
- Car seat
- Coat
- Muslin Cloths
- Hat
- Bottle feeding – you will need premixed formula bottles. It’s recommended to have at least six bottles but if you’re anticipating a longer stay in hospital you might want to consider having extra just in case.
- A dummy/pacifier if you’re planning on using one.
What did you pack in your hospital bag? Are there any other essentials you would recommend?

For more pregnancy content please head to my hub post which contains links to all my relevant pregnancy based blog posts. My second High Bmi Pregnancy.
September 6, 2018
Why You Should Write A Birth Plan for Every Pregnancy
Writing a Birth Plan to some people might seem completely pointless and I totally get that. Birth is unpredictable. You might be given a due date but that baby could turn up anytime really from 38 weeks when you’re considered full term. Sometimes it even happens before that and sometimes you’re left their waiting until 42 weeks after hanging on to your due date for so long. You don’t know how, where or when labour will spontaneously happen either. If having a plan sounds a bit too much then think about it as your birth preferences. Think about a plan A, your ideal birth experience and then have some things in mind for a plan B and C just in case things do become a little more unexpected. People have said to me just “go with the flow” but I really can’t do that. I’m not that sort of person. I like knowing what type of pain relief is available and thinking ahead of the type I would prefer to have. I like working things out in stages and even if things change I know exactly what course I would like to follow after a particular change. Having a high BMI also makes me more at risk and makes monitoring harder and the type of monitoring I want to have isn’t something I want to think about whilst I’m trying to let my body do what it should know what to do!

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My first pregnancy was really straightforward however with an induction and then failure to progress during pushing which then lead to an unplanned c-section so this time around I am hoping for an at home VBAC birth but I also have an idea of how I’d like to have a planned c-section. In all fairness, I really don’t want to have a c-section at all. The idea of having another round of surgery whilst being overweight and the longer recovery period is making me feel increasingly worried, however, on the flip side, being induced increases the chance of scar weakening and rupture. It’s really hard when you’re a high risk pregnancy but that’s why I think it’s even more important to have a birth plan or birth preferences in mind. I’ve put together a list of books that I think are must reads when pregnant which could really help with planning a positive birth.

The benefits of a birth plan for me have been:
- Helped with my anxiety. I feel I’ve ironed out every detail in my mind of how I’d like to birth and I feel really positive about labour.
- A plan A, B and C has allowed me to think of best and worst case scenarios for the birth and where it will happen
- I have made my preferences clear to my midwife, consultant, doula and consultant midwife – all of which are being helpful, positive and supportive
- I understand a lot about the risks and benefits of the type of birth I want as well as what might happen if things don’t go to plan
- I feel more connected to my body and baby
- Midwives can easily see exactly what I want and expect from the birth as well as my newborn preferences
- In the throws of labour I shouldn’t need to answer lots of questions about what I want as it’s clearly marked out and I am hoping easy for my midwife to be really in tune with
- It has taken away a lot of the overwhelm and helped me come to terms better with my previous birth
I wanted to share some top tips when it comes to writing a birth plan and how I’ve made some of the decisions I have for having a positive birth experience as well as explaining some of my choices for this birth and my baby.
1. When writing a birth plan, put the most important information at the top so it’s clear. For me, I have put that I have anxiety, that I’ve been in an abusive relationship and that my consent for internal examinations is important. I feel this really sets my birth plan off in the right way and will hopefully eliminate the issues I had with my previous pregnancy and the lack of communication and empathy I had from my previous birth and hospital.
2. Add names of your birth partners and the location in which you are planning to give birth. I have named myself, my partner and my doula as well as what we like to be called. This makes it nice and easy should I be transferred to hospital during labour and for any midwives handing over to know who we are and what to call us. I know it sounds obvious but it just makes it nice and straightforward.
3. Try and keep it to one page. Think of it as an overview for the birth. Mine is two pages because I have one for a VBAC and another for a planned c-section should it get to that stage. I have laid it all out in sections from staying at home, first stage of labour, transition to hospital, second stage of labour, the placenta and my newborn preferences. These are headings you might want to consider.
4. If you’re a planner, like me, you might want to consider writing everything down in list form and then condensing down. My birth plan was originally eight pages long and went into a lot of detail which I’ve managed to hammer out after writing letters to my consultant and talking through with my doula. I now feel like my notes and my birth plan represent exactly the type of experience I want.
5. If you prefer visual birth planning I strongly recommend the Positive Birth Book which will direct you to free images to use to create a visual birth plan. Or you can get really creative and draw your own visual birth plan if that helps! It should be an experience that makes you feel good and prepared.
6. Make time to talk through your birth plan with your health care team when you approach the third trimester.
For more pregnancy content please head to my hub post which contains links to all my relevant pregnancy based blog posts. My second High Bmi Pregnancy.
July 24, 2018
30 Weeks Pregnant Update

I am 30 weeks pregnant! My second pregnancy is flying past and I can’t quite believe it’s now just under ten weeks until my due date. I have to admit I’ve actually quite enjoyed this pregnancy so far and I’m so grateful that it’s been quite gentle up until this point. I think that’s largely down to trying to stay as active as possible and all the wonderful emotional support I’ve had from my Doula, Midwife, Consultant and friends. This sort of feels like we’ve peaked the hill and we’re now starting to slowly walk down with it getting steeper and steeper as September draws on in.

Symptoms at 30 Weeks Pregnant

Since my 28 week update nothing has really come about thankfully although I’m starting to get more uncomfortable physically. I struggle getting dressed in the morning which must be quite a comical and glamourous view. My back hasn’t really suffered though, nothing seems to be swelling up and I haven’t seen any new stretch marks. Plenty of old ones, but nothing new!

Dealing with a Summer Cold

This has really got me down and has been so frustrating. I’ve had a bit of a cold and cough for a few weeks now that is fading very slowly. It’s just lingering on so I’m back to feeling quite congested and generally a bit rubbish. I’ve been having warm honey and lemon, paracetamol, cool showers and slathering my chest and feet in Vicks vapour rub. It’s been hard dealing with a cold and the heat as I just want to rest. I’ve been really quite lazy since we got back from holiday but now school for Evie is almost over I really need to get back on track! Hopefully by the time this is published my cough will have gone and I’ll be feeling much better and healthier.

30 Weeks Pregnant Bump: How Am I Looking?

I think my bump is becoming a bit more noticeable now although I still feel I have to make it known to other people that I’m pregnant because I just get so caught up with others thinking I’m just really fat. I don’t feel good about my appearance at all and I’m going to join Weight Watchers thanks to a free 12 week referral from my GP at my post natal check. I hope that weight watchers and breastfeeding as well as getting swimming again as soon as I can will all really help with weight loss.

Growth Scan at 30 Weeks Pregnant

I had the first of three growth scans on Monday. It was so nice to see Baby Boy again. I have another on 30th July and then again on 23rd August. This should give us a more accurate picture of his weight come the birth.

Upcoming Appointments

I seem to have appointments pretty much every week now with the Anaesthetist clinic, Growth Scans, Hypnobirthing, Confident Birthing antenatal class, Consultant appointment, routine midwife checks and another chat and planning session with my Doula and again with my consultant midwife. This is keeping me going until September so at least I’m keeping busy.

Any Concerns?

Not really. I do worry that because of my BMI my chance of a successful VBAC is really, really low but I would much rather try for a natural birth than not. I am just going to try and stay as active as I can and as things get closer look at ways to help my body spontaneously go into labour as well as accepting some cervical sweeps with the possibility of having waters broken artificially if they don’t go naturally. I also want to start paying more attention to my hypnobirthing book to relax, get some birth affirmations down and to find ways I can really help Oxytoxin do it’s magic come labour.

Home Birth/Hospital Bag

I am currently putting together a box for a planned home birth as well as preparing a bag for a possible hospital transfer or if things end up going to plan C a bag ready for a planned c-section. I’d love to know what you recommend packing?

For more pregnancy content please head to my hub post which contains links to all my relevant pregnancy based blog posts. My second High Bmi Pregnancy.

July 19, 2018