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Dear Daisy, It is your first day at school...

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My first week postpartum and labour must have list


Like all ladies waiting patiently for their baby to come I packed my hospital bag, it wasn't finished when it was needed and did leave me in a bit of a panic but I'm not convinced a can of water spray would have made all that difference in labour anyway, so I wouldn't stress too much as long as you have the essentials! My biggest gripe was my stupid, scruffy slippers with holes in that ended up being picked up and being passed to me to wear! I would not have taken them by choice in a million years, they probably aren't as bad as you are picturing now but it's safe to say they're now in the bin and I now have a cute new pair! 

I read lots of blog posts and essential lists by mamas and papas of what to take in my bag for baby and me and what I would need after delivery but I thought I'd share some of my saviour items from labour and this first week with you as some of my lovely friends who are expecting have been asking.

(1) moist toilet tissues- sounds very glam huh! Well believe me it isn't and these were a life line, much more soothing and cooling than rough old tissue paper

(2) disposable knickers- self explanatory really. I was bought these for Christmas and I pulled a bit of a face at the time but what a great idea! No hassle just chuck away and you feel far cleaner. I had these from Emma Jane, worth every penny. 

(3) salt for the bath- I always knew things would be a little uncomfortable but not like they actually are! Again soothing but helps you heal after, avoid all perfumes etc as you don't want to irritate anything. 


(4) glucose tablets for labour- after hours and hours, days in fact I was exhausted and fairly early on into labour lost the ability to snack and it's really important you keep some energy reserves. I used the lucozade tablets and they were good for a little pick me up when I needed it! 

(5) snacks and lots of them! When you are recovering and even pretty much straight after delivery I was starving! Even more so now I'm feeding Daisy. Now isn't the time to be worrying about calories, you need all you can get! Make the most of it, you'll burn them off anyway. Biscuits and sweets have been my comfort along with my cups of tea! I'm still on a mix of normal and decaf- I don't fancy baby being up all night!!! 

(6) Lansinoh Lanolin nipple cream- again so glam! But miracle cream! Starting to breastfeed can be hard work on your poor sensitive boobs! Especially if like me it takes a little longer for your milk to come in so baby has to try extra hard to get their supplies from you. This was recommended to me by a few people and it really does make all the difference! 


(7) Carbs-for a few days after I'd have Daisy I felt a little weak once the adrenalin had gone! I was told when leaving the hospital I'd need to build back up again and lots of pasta and carbs in her real definitely helped in getting me back up to fitness! 

(8) my Peekaboobtique nursing scarf- see my last post on why here

 They are just a few things that I couldn't have gone without this week but everyone will be different, the usual Vaseline, straws, maternity pads etc are all must haves too but these are a few extra that I needed!


Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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Settling for a home birth...


I have mentioned a couple of times now that I'm edging towards a home birth for a few reasons, and well it looks like the plans are now in place. I say plans because as you'll know labour and pregnancy itself doesn't really like to follow a plan and anything could change, but the hope and dream is to have my baby in the comfort and familiar surroundings of my own home. 

What made me consider it?!

A friend of mine planned to have a home birth last year, sadly it didn't quite pan out that way due to her baby being too excited to meet her and coming early (you have to be minimum 37 weeks for babies health risks) and I guess this maybe planted a seed with me. But subconsciously maybe! 

Then when we started to have such regular trips to the hospital to see the obstetrician it hit me how nervous and clammy hospitals make me, this isn't a new fear and it's nothing new for me, I'm a regular fainter when it comes to hospital visits! I've no idea why... It also then made me realise I wasn't the only one who hated the environment, Ben isn't comfortable there either- I guess no one is really? 

With the visits to the hospital and the complications we have had it made me realise I want to be in a comfortable place I feel safe and content not only for the labour but for after delivery in those precious first few hours and days. I don't want nurses, midwives and other mummy's etc in and out of my space, I want time to just absorb our baby with Ben and adjust to the reality she is here! Lock ourselves away I guess and enjoy those first hours as a little family alone, all I keep thinking (dreaming) is of the cuddles in our own bed, with tea and toast after, just the three of us. Before we decide to show her off to our family! 

I should say that although we have had regular appointments with the hospital the pregnancy is a healthy, non complicated one and baby is showing no signs of being unhealthy in the slightest. If any of that was a doubt then they wouldn't agree for it to be planned at home and I wouldn't want to either, my baby's health is my priority! 

Other reasons for me are there are statistics out there that show that women who labour at home tend to have less intervention as they don't have the stresses of the environment which can have an affect in labouring such as slowing it down. Another big reason for me is that I want to attempt to have a water birth, our hospital has just one pool and if it's in use at the time then tough!!! So the likeliness maybe of me having that birth isn't necessarily in my favour where as at home I can hop in and out as I please. 


I make the 37 week mark tomorrow and this then gives us the nod to go for it at home all being well. I had the midwives come out yesterday to look at the house and chat through the process. It's exactly as I expected, they told you any reasons that I may need to be transferred to hospital before, during or after labour, they have to prepare you. Examples could be:

- labour is not progressing and I need a hand
- baby is showing signs of distress 
- I feel I need more pain relief such as an epidural (you can have gas and air and pethidine at home) 
- your waters go but within 24 hours no contractions have started

There are some serious reasons and some not so risky but either way you have to be open to the thought that you may well end up in hospital anyway. I have my bags packed just in case, I couldn't trust anyone else to pack it for me in a rush!!!! 

So when the midwives came out they brought their kit with them, a big yellow medical waste bin filled with lots of medical bits that they may need such as towels, gloves, catheters, sick bowls, you know all the really exciting, glamorous things!!! Eurghhhh! I also have the birthing pool now ready to go, I just need a test run of it so we know how to set it up and how long it takes to fill etc! 



I am really lucky that those that matter to us support our decision for a home birth, not everyone would like it and not every one agrees in general but it has to be your own decision. It definitely helps though when your family understand why you want to and are actually excited for you to give it a go! It will be Ben and my mum with me on the day and both show no signs of panic or distress at the idea, they know we will be in safe hands of the midwives and only a short ride from the hospital should we need it.

So I need to do a little shopping trip for a few things this week and then we are all set! 

- a liner for the pool for hygiene and cleaning reasons 
- a new hose to fill pool, you don't want to use the grubby garden hose that's been sat outside for 36 years!!! 
- some nice smelly candles, because I love them and it will make it cosy! 
- some snacks for labour and drinks- for me and the midwives! And my birth partners obviously!

So that's it...  :)

Lots of love,
Hayley xxxx


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