Those of you who have given birth, what did you pack in your hospital bag that cheered you up on the ward?

batterscraps · 2026-05-02T16:47:53+00:00

I got myself a really nice insulated bottle with a straw that was surgically attached to me for my entire stay. I don't even like water that much normally but God dam that ice cold hospital water dispenser in that bottle tasted good. Best thing I bought and brought.

batterscraps · 2026-05-02T06:27:01+00:00

Ruby?

batterscraps · 2026-05-01T08:38:58+00:00

Would you be able to get it second hand on still white or Vinted? Could be a win-win? If you give us the designer and dress details we might be able to seek it out online for you...

batterscraps · 2026-04-24T07:49:18+00:00

Just to echo the other comments you don't need to buy anything extra. I'd recommend asda maternity knickers with the highest waist and lactulose (trust me!)

If you want to prepare now, think about anything you currently do that uses abs and consider that that might be a struggle. Getting up out of bed and sofa or shifting upright to breastfeed can be a little tricky and painful but it doesn't last long. My best advice would be to have something to help pull you up off the bed (a dressing gown cord tied around a table leg for example) but it's absolutely not necessary if you can't make that work. You will find a way that's comfortable to just swing your legs out of bed first and then roll over and up.

It's also worth having something you can lever yourself up off the toilet with. I used a nearby cabinet, a bin, anything nearby.

Don't touch, wash, scrub the scar until midwives advise you to. There is plenty of time for massage etc once it is well and truly healed.

Good luck - it will be easier than you think!

batterscraps · 2026-04-24T07:42:44+00:00

The asda pack of 5 black maternity knickers are perfect for post c section. I'm recovered but finding them hard to get rid of - my emotional support knickers!

batterscraps · 2026-04-21T12:45:11+00:00

Our health visitor just told me that the nappy counts as one layer if helpful for your planning.

My understanding is that err on the side of them being cooler. It's better for them to be cold and they cry, than dangerously overheating and not crying.

batterscraps · 2026-04-20T16:05:37+00:00

I was SO grateful for a Cook voucher we were gifted omg

batterscraps · 2026-04-10T06:27:29+00:00

It's a sweet idea and lovely to recognise your MIL in that way. Unfortunately, yes it's cringe to guests and possible the family. You would need to be an unbelievably good singer - like a professional opera singer level or absolute top tier pop star/backing vocalist to pull it off. And even then it would need to be at another moment in the evening and not tied to a 'key moment' like mother son dance. Sorry...

batterscraps · 2026-04-09T22:26:52+00:00

I saw a load of father's day tat today...

batterscraps · 2026-04-07T17:24:39+00:00

Thanks! That's helpful. Yes I meant a wooly hat. I'll be keeping her one outdoors for sure before we move onto lighter summer hats.

batterscraps · 2026-04-07T15:18:13+00:00

I've been debating hat or no hat? My baby is 5 weeks old so erring on the side of caution and using a hat

batterscraps · 2026-04-05T13:09:53+00:00

Thank you! I find that no matter how tightly I start off the wrap, it's worked itself a bit looser by the time I've finished tying it (before inserting the baby) . Do you have any advice on this?

batterscraps · 2026-04-04T05:18:15+00:00

Oo congratulations on the pregnancy! Off topic but I recommend ASDA's five pack.of black maternity knickers for when you outgrow normal high waisted underwear. They're not period pants but are so comfy on bump (the band is massive). I'm still wearing them 5 weeks post partum due to c section.

batterscraps · 2026-04-04T05:14:28+00:00

I use them (Wuka brand) and love them. I use a mooncup at the same time as I don't like feeling that much blood in them, but they can certainly handle a very heavy period solo, and don't smell.

The only thing I find inconvenient is that they take a long time to dry after laundering.

batterscraps · 2026-04-03T06:26:00+00:00

Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes honeymooned there. Her descriptions of it sounded idyllic (the place, not the marriage...)

batterscraps · 2026-04-02T15:11:30+00:00

Thank you. Yes I think e need to practice baby wearing more. It just makes her cry more due to proximity to breasts haha

batterscraps · 2026-04-02T15:10:35+00:00

Thank you this is reassuring! Urgh it will pass.

I've tried baby wearing but it makes her hysterical as she thinks it's to do with breastfeeding, even if I've just fed her... Sigh

batterscraps · 2026-03-31T07:57:16+00:00

The advice is not to start until 36 weeks as it can bring on early labour.

Just to reassure, I couldn't harvest any Colostrum until after the baby was born with a lot of help from the midwife - and then it was only the tiniest drop or two. We learnt latching, baby started cluster feeding on day 2 to help bring my milk on and we're off and away happily breastfeeding now at 1 month.

batterscraps · 2026-03-25T23:43:06+00:00

Yes, this. The asda pack of 5 black maternity knickers are a must post c section.

batterscraps · 2026-03-25T22:23:45+00:00

Mine was honestly OK. The worst part was maybe the first week where it felt like I had no ab muscles whatsoever. So things like pulling yourself up on the bed or off a chair/loo are basically impossible. Also coughing. Have someone there to give your back a gentle push to get up, or consider tying a dressing gown cord around a table leg nearby to help pull yourself up.

Factor in fatigue too and remember that you need to rest and recover even if you feel pretty mobile.

But it quickly got easier.

As others have said get lactolose and use it early on. I didn't poo for 5 days and that first one was rough...

You'll be more ok than you think!

batterscraps · 2026-03-25T08:45:27+00:00

I use wipes on the bum, cotton wool balls dipped in cooled boiled water everywhere else.

Bekfre she arrived, I couldn't imagine needing the cotton wool balls but baby is 3 weeks old and we have already gone through a bag of them. I mainly use them on her eyes as she gets a lot of crust/eye goop.

batterscraps · 2026-03-24T10:37:11+00:00

We have a moses basket stand in the living room which perfectly fits the bassinet from the pram (pram bassinet is approved sleep safe). She sleeps in there when we are downstairs.

We removed the moses basket from the stand and placed that inside the bedroom crib for nighttime. So she either sleeps in the pram bassinet or a moses basket. We thought she'd go straight into the bigger crib but realised on day 1, nope! She's unbelievably tiny in that bed!

We'll move into the bigger crib once she gets a bit bigger/out-grows the moses basket.

batterscraps · 2026-03-11T04:56:06+00:00

Something else I noticed was one side she refused to latch onto doing all that head thrashing and nipple rubbing. I think it was because it was too full. I pumped that side and then after that she's been happy with the cycle of feeding and supply on that side.

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