What you may need after the birth
Hospital stays tend to be very short these days - many women stay
in less than 24 hours after a normal delivery. But whether you are home
or in hospital for the first few days, you are likely to need a few things
to make you feel comfortable.
- Nightdress or loose comfortable clothes like a tracksuit or leggings and t-shirt (you
may need more than one set of clothes, depending on the length of your stay)
- Maternity sanitary pads and paper pants or cheap cotton pants that can be washed a few
times and then thrown away. If you have bruising and feel sore try storing the maternity
pads in your freezer, once you are home.This way they are cool and soothing when you put
them on. You may need to put them inside a plastic carrier bag, so that visitors who go to
the freezer are not too shocked!
- Some hospitals require you to take disposable nappies for your baby. Others supply them
for the first few days. Check with your midwife. At home you will need a good supply of
nappies - either disposable or reusuable.
Try to make sure you have enough to last the first few days without having to go shopping
or do a major wash
- Plenty of cold drinks. Most women find breastfeeding makes them very thirsty and you
need to keep the room the baby is in warm, which may also make you feel thirsty. Choose
fruit juices or squashes, and try to avoid fizzy drinks which often have high levels of
caffeine in them
- Foods high in bran - such as fresh fruit, bran biscuits or fruit cake - will help ensure
that your bowels begin working again. Remember that you'll need both the extra fluids and
a high fibre diet to prevent constipation
- Some women find the homeopathic remedy Arnica in tablet form helpful for stitches and
bruising
- Your breasts will increase in size over the first few days whether or not you are
breastfeeding, so a good, well fitting, supportive bra is essential. Breastfeeding mothers
usually find they need two or three feeding
bras and breastpads
to help cope with any milk leakage
- Take a book or some magazines to read and some writing paper, pen, envelopes and stamps
if you expect to be in for more than a day
- If you're planning to breastfeed, a good book on breastfeeding can be invaluable
along with the telephone numbers of your local breastfeeding counsellors
- Don't forget that your baby will need some clothes to go home in and,
if you plan to take him home by car, your partner will need to bring
in a car
safety seat, so your baby is safe for his very first car ride
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