If you follow me on social media you will know that I haven’t got long until the baby arrives, as he is scheduled to arrive this week, via c-section. There are a number of reasons why this is the decision that the consultant and I have reached (mainly due to my previous two children being emergency caesareans). It does help to have some peace of mind at this time of year too, knowing that I will be in and out before Christmas.
Recently I have finally been on maternity leave, which has been amazing. Running two businesses is hard and when you’re trying to set it all up so that you’re able to step away from it for a little while, it has been a long journey. Throw in a pandemic that is still causing problems for us, and it makes it even harder. With the break from working over the past week or so, though, I have been able to get things in order and have been in major nesting mode.
The baby’s hospital bag has been packed for a little while, as I won’t need to use anything in the meantime. However, I have been packing a few bits and bobs that I will need to take to the hospital myself. Knowing I will have to be in for at least two nights means that there are quite a few different things that I need to take with me. Here are some of the things that I will be packing to take with me this time around.
WUKA Sustainable Period Pants
As anyone who has had a baby will know, you bleed afterwards. You can bleed a lot. Sorry if that is too much information, but you have one of the heaviest periods ever. Being a c-section it isn’t as much as it could be with a natural birth, but sometimes you need something more than just a ‘regular’ period pad. I have been using period pants for a little while now, before getting pregnant that is, and have been so amazed by WUKA and how well their pants work.
I have quite heavy periods usually anyway, and as you can choose their pants based on style and design, as well as the heaviness of the period, like you would with a sanitary towel or tampon, it really makes a difference. I like that they are comfortable to wear, and with my high-waisted options they work well for after a c-section. They are much more stylish and less grannyish than pretty much any other high waisted underwear out there, so they are a nice option to wear, as well as being comfortable. They are absorbent and leakproof, so it gives you some confidence as maternity pads that I have used in the past aren’t always the most effective.
As the pants aren’t disposable, and in fact are made from sustainable materials and are a carbon neutral brand, I know I’ll just be able to bag them up and the husband can take them home each day and put them in the washing ready to be used again.
Nipple Cream
Although I fully intend to breastfeed, as I have been lucky to be able to do this with my other two children, there is no getting away from the fact that it can be super hard to start with and your nipples can get really sore. Again, this might be TMI, but I’m just being real. There are so many good brands out there for nipple cream that do their job well and that are made from natural ingredients so it is fine for babies to come into contact with it. Honestly, until the milk comes in, after a couple of days, which works as a natural lubricant and healing balm, nipple cream will be one of your best friends!
Baby Wipes
I’ll be planning to take baby wipes with me anyway for the baby, but post c-section, it is hard to get up and about to get washed. You need to keep your wound dry for a certain amount of time anyway, so it can mean no showering, but baby wipes are a good way to freshen up, even if you can only wash yourself in bed. I’m really making this all sound super glamorous, aren’t I?!
Flip Flops and Loose Clothing
When you want to head to the loo, having some slip-on slippers or flip-flops is a must; you’re not going to be bending down to put any trainers on anytime soon. Plus, when it comes to going home, the same applies, you’ll just want something quick and easy to slip on. For clothing, anything loose that is comfortable will work well. The maternity wards are hot, so often a loose vest top can be fine, and if it is a scoop neck or a v-neck, it can make it easy to breastfeed with too. You don’t want anything too tight or too long sleeved, as you’ll still have things like a cannula in your arm and so on, as you recover post-surgery.
Lip Balm and Moisturiser
As has been mentioned, the maternity wards can be pretty warm, and as a result, can dry out your skin, especially if you’re not used to the heat. I hate having the feeling or dried out lips and skin so these are a must for me.
Snacks with Fibre
After surgery and being pregnant you can feel a little constipated; oh the glamour! So having some snacks with you that are full of fibre can help (and you’ll never know what you’ll get when it comes to hospital food). One thing that can also help if you feel that way is peppermint, whether mints themselves or peppermint tea bags. This can help with trapped wind but also any feelings of nausea which can occur after surgery.
Of course, this isn’t the whole list of things that I’ll be taking, but they are some essentials that can really make a difference to the post-caesarean stay in hospital. It would be great to hear what you think.
*this is part of a collaborative post, but all words and opinions are my own.
