18 hints and tips for labour, birth and beyond

melsared - 14 Feb 16

Firstly LABOUR:

1) Call the hospital as soon as your contractions start… thanks to my incredibly long labour the hospital had so much warning with me they knew when I was ready to come in, everyone has different pain thresholds and its hard to judge over the phone, a friend of mine was told as she talked through contractions she wasn’t close, she was 10cm

2) I found the best way to deal with the contractions was to relax. I tried to let my body go as floppy as possible and “breathe out” each contractions – not as easy as it sounds but helped me deal with them much better than tensing up which was my initial reaction.

3) Eat if you can, I also stocked up on energy drinks but I couldn’t stomach them, I managed a small piece of toast but really didnt want anything but you dont know how long you will be going for so take what you can

4) Be comfy – for me first time around this was a little bit of makeup and pjays… but just go with what you feel like at the time there is no right thing to wear or right way to look, with my second labour I was in a hideous animal print pj top with some weird stretchy bottoms, I wish I’d been more organized despite thinking I wouldn’t care what I looked like I actually did.

5) There is a water breaking issue so you might want to consider a towel or black bag under your sheet on your bed or you can buy actual matts from e.g. mothercare. We used a black bag but didn’t need it just thought we might as the labour was so fricking slow.

6) Lastly I tried the bath but it didnt work for me not comfy as I’d expected but sitting on the toilet was (yay) give everything a try!

THE HOSPITAL

7) Don’t worry about remembering everything, the people around you will bring you anything you need that you may have forgotten

8) Feeding, button up tops helped me with breastfeeding but plenty of people do without, this was just easier for me.

9) Food (again) the one thing I will be eternally grateful for is packing flapjacks in my bag, we got moved to the ward and I was so starving but didnt want to speak to people or leave my newborn so being able to eat something was awesome (not everyone is hungry but I’d suggest packing something just in case)

10) Phone charger – mine went flat and i had to borrow hubby’s phone for my first night in.

11) Ask for everything when you’re in labour… pain relief options, codeine, paracetamol, timings for last hit of drugs / epidural etc (if you go that route) I asked for a poop pill so I didnt poop on the baby – who wants to do that?! I asked for a straw so I could keep drinking easily. I asked for a sandwich. I asked how to use the gas and air. I asked for the aromatherapy smells. If you want anything ask ask ask… yes I am a control freak

12) Tenna pants – say no more

13) First night… if you’re exhausted and the baby wont sleep don’t be afraid to buzz and tell them, I didnt because i thought they’d tell me to just deal with it and then I got told off for sleeping with the baby. I’ve also heard that a lot of newborns (not mine) sleep at night so you might get lucky!

GOING HOME

14) Depending on your labour it may hurt to sit and stand, mine lasted a few weeks (a few weeks longer than i had expected) after 4-5 hours of pushing (it was actually only 2 I found out later) it can take its toll, lavender oil can help healing

15) If you’re breastfeeding make sure you have nipple balm.. carry it around with you and use it all the time its brill. Controversial –  don’t be afraid to start expressing when you feel ready. Be aware some babies cluster feed and some just like sucking (not feeding) try to check they are swallowing and not using you as a dummy as it just makes feeding last longer! Maybe have formula in the house just in case, we did so I knew we could give him a bottle at any point – took the pressure off massively

16) The first few weeks are very blurry you will have good days and bad days, i had total euphoria followed by lots of tears, it’s a rollercoaster but you will ride it out. If you need some sleep or a break don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.. EVER

17) For the first week or so during the night my darling husband changed the baby and brought him to me so I could feed him, it meant we both did our bit rather than it all falling on me and the fact i was struggling to stand meant this really helped he also let me sleep in the afternoons – labour is tough on your body and you are in recovery – its only a couple weeks of their life but you’ve given up 9 months to get this far so its not a bad trade. I think partners generally are so in awe of their wives they will do whatever they can to help.

18) The best thing I read is “you may not feel like it now but you will learn your babies cries and cues and know them inside out before you know it” I remember thinking oh that’s his tired cry, it’s amazing because to begin with its just all crying and you cant differentiate it and dont know how to help, it does get easier!

melsared

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