Labour bag - HELP PLEASE???

I have been given so many different lists about what to pack for labour and am now so confused

Just wondering if those experienced mums out there can tell me the thing they took that was a life saver or what they didn't and regreted later?

SB do you mean food for you or M or both? Have plans to buy the next book in a series I have been reading and taking that. Need to use my PP voucher from the Xmas pressie we got

For me, I didn't need anything to use during my labour. But i did find I wanted something to do after the birth, like a good book to read and yummy treats (although second time round I kept pinching my treats out of my bag before I even got to the hospital - no will power!)

And food, at NSH (not sure if this is the way with all hospitals) they give you food after your birth but nothing for the dads. Maybe take something for your support person?

They do have coffee and milo tho! And the sushi from Milford is pretty good if you feel the need!

The Milford sushi is fabulous!!!

But anyway....during acutal labour....the only thing I used was taknini top for in the birthing pool....past that....not a thing. I even ended up labouring in my t-shirt I was wearing in bed not the old grotty one I took to labour in. Oh we did use the camera afterwards.

I'd probably say some food like museli bars is a good idea for hubby though mine didn't eat his, he and my MIL took turns to get lunch during the labour while I was sleeping thanks to my epi.

For your actual hospital bag however I'd say more munchies (NSH food is yuk), something to read, I took my pregnancy book to complete while it was all fresh in my mind, maternity pads, breastpads. That was probably about it. I ended up using the hospital gowns for me but I took clothes for Maddie and used those.

Ummmm thats about all I can think of.

makeup! Sounds a bit silly, but after I had Taine (baby 2), I had a shower while everyone was fawning over him, put some tinted moisturiser, a bit of mascara and lipgloss and felt a MILLION times better. Shampoo and conditioner is great too.

for some reason I was told to take a tennis ball - no idea and didn't need. I also wantewd to take some dvds (with Jake) - i had visions of getting bored.

i so reccomend the make-up thing too. I learnt to do my makeup one handed with a crying baby in my arms lol. but even just a little comb, i remember the first pics of paris and me and i looked terrible. so with ayja i made mike get out my comb and i combed my hair down.

oh the food at NSH is pretty bad, but I loved the mashed potato that came with dinner!

And if you have a c section don't expect food till you can prove your bowel is working properly (basically you have to fart), until then it is juice jelly and in my case melted ice cream. Oh I loved the purple jelly too!

I asked for lollies while in labour, but didn't end up eating them until just after I gave birth when I practiacally inhaled the bag :o)
Makeup is a good idea and definately, definately nice sanitary pads. The hospital ones are truly aweful...well in HB hospital they were anyway. Also bring your own pillow for afterwards. Hospital ones are the greatest and its nice to have a few home comforts.

For labour I packed loads of things - CD's, massage oil etc which never got used. I did use water in a sipper bottle & I had a spray bottle of Aromatherapy Co facial spritz which I used heaps. It was so refreshing just to get someone to give your face a quick spritz. An old t-shirt was handy too when I jumped into the labour pool. I didn't take food for my suport people because I thought they could go get something at the hospital, but hubby & my mum were there with me the whole time from 2pm to 11pm without eating anything, so I would definitely take something for them next time around. I also used a wheat bag lots in early labour. That was mainly at home though. Oh & a camera was great for those 'minutes old' photos. I love looking back at the ones of Matt. A cellphone was good too for letting people know about the birth.