Packing a Hospital Maternity Bag

So, I’ve now reached 35 weeks and, try as I might, there is no escaping the fact that I’m having a baby. People keep asking me if I’m scared about the labour, and my reply tends to be “I’ve sort of painted myself into a corner here, this thing is coming out one way or another. No point panicking!”

That said, there is still plenty to have a little panic about. One of those things was packing the hospital bag. I feel like this is one of the defining moments: The minute that bag is packed, zipped up and ready to go, that means it’s definitely real. I Am Ready. Labour could happen any weeks now, and I have a bag to prove it.

I naively thought I would be swanning into the hospital with a lovely weekend bag, with just the essentials, but in reality those essentials take up a hell of a lot of room, so I’ve ended up with something twice the size. Admittedly, I did read every single hospital bag checklist in existence, so I’m sure you could cut out some extraneous matter, but I thought I would share what I have deemed ‘necessary’ for labour and afterwards, just in case you’re feeling a bit lost about what to include in your own.

For Mum:

• Birth Plan
• Old nightie for labour
• New nightie for after (make sure it can be rearranged for breastfeeding!)
• socks (x3)
• Cheap pants (I went to a discount store and bought a multipack of pants I wouldn’t mind throwing away. Something about disposable paper pants just doesn’t sit right with me. Don’t forget to buy a size up - those maternity pads are substantial!)
• Light dressing gown (I’ll be giving birth in July - if you’re a winter mummy-to-be, a heavier gown might suit.)
• Slippers
• Fluffy Towel
• Hairband/Hairclips
• Breast Pads
• Maternity Pads
• Toiletries - 

shampoo

conditioner

shower gel (perfume free is best for delicate bits!)

sponge

facial wipes

deodorant

makeup (just the basics, but still!)

moisturiser

• Clothes for journey home (something comfy!)

For baby:

• towel
• blanket
• scratch mitts
• sleepsuits (x2)
• vest suit (x2)
• bibs
• socks
• nappies (I’m taking a whole pack of newborn sized nappies, just in case. In case of what I don’t know, but I’ll take loads anyway!)
• Going home outfit (A nice outfit you want to first show them off in!)

Miscelleneous:

• Snacks for labour - I hear it’s a long process! Things like energy bars, lucozade, well, basically anything that will give you sugar or glucose for energy are recommended. As I have gestational diabetes, I will be taking cheese and nuts as snacks instead. (Check with your midwife though to make sure you’re allowed to eat once admitted!)
• Books/music/magazines - Again, long process. But OH and I have had a lovely time making a playlist for this special occasion.
• Massage oil (Might as well take advantage!)
• Mobile phone charger
• Mobile Phone - for pictures, videos, and spreading the good news!

So, I think that’s everything I’m taking. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but baby brain is a terrible thing. I highly recommend the lists provided over at BabyCentre, Bounty, Emma’s Diary and OhBaby.co.nz, if you’re looking for some handy yet extensive checklists.

I do love a list, especially a checklist.

DIY: Customising Clothes for Maternity Wear

Everyone can make interesting and unique things quickly and easily, but for some reason, they don't. 

I’ve always been a fan of DIY; I love making things and creating my own projects. My biggest problem has always been follow through. That’s why I’ve come to appreciate quick, easy crafts that can be started, enjoyed and accomplished in the space of a day or two.

This brings me to one of the easiest DIY arts that there is: T-Shirt Customisation. There are a million ways to pimp out an old shirt. A simple google or Pinterest search will immediately bring up hundreds of techniques for restyling and reinvigorating old clothes. But I want to talk about my favourite of all - simple fabric paint.

It’s easy to make your own fabric paint using acrylics and pva glue, you just have to mix them together and iron the finished design to help it stay, but I went one step easier than that. I went to Poundland.

For exactly £1, I picked up a pack of 10 tubes of fabric paint. They may not be top of the line, but I figured I was going to make a bit of a mess for a while anyway, and it beat paying £3.95 per colour at the craft store. I also bounced into Primark and filled a basket with tank tops, vest tops, camisoles and t-shirts. I bought them all a size larger than usual, to accommodate for my current blimp-like proportions.

I got them home, whipped out a paintbrush, and started playing. My favourite design so far has been my Tardis/Dr Who design, which I think is quite clever. I’ve since seen some (far better) versions on Etsy with the same sort of idea, but as those are going for about $32.00, I somehow prefer my own design. Also, there’s something very satisfying about wearing something that you created yourself.

I’ve also been experimenting with fabric remnants from other projects. By cutting up leftover bits and sewing them on to cheap tops, you can easily make amazing designs and pockets to rejuvenate your wardrobe.

So, if like me, you’re feeling too big for your old clothes and too poor for awesome maternity clothes, I give you... Fabric paint!