Preparing for Baby
As you near the end of your pregnancy, you probably have everything sorted for baby but what about yourself?
You might have packed your hospital bag but even that's a bit of unknown territory as you're not really sure what you'll need for the labour or the days following. At least you've packed plenty of outfits for baby!
The following are a list of basics you might like to have on hand for yourself in the hours, days and weeks following the birth of your baby.
Hydrogel Breast Discs
If you're planning to breastfeed, these are an essential item.
The early days of breastfeeding can be very hard and many women suffer some discomfort or pain until everything settles down.
These hydrogel discs can be put in the fridge to chill so they provide cooling relief to sore nipples. Wear them between feeds for as long as you need.
Disposable Nursing Pads
There are plenty of reusable nursing pads on the market and it pays to have these on hand. However, having a stash of disposable nursing pads can make life easier.
Reusable and disposable nursing pads may have different absorbency so you might like to play around with either for night-time use or for when you're out of the house.
Some women don't need to use nursing pads at all whereas others will leak a lot - it's all individual!
Changing Mats
You might think this is the wrong list for changing mats but they're not only for your baby.
You might like to use these changing mats after birth to place on your bed where you will sleep.This will give you added security and peace of mind for any leaks during the night.
And of course, you can use these disposable changing mats of your baby's nappy changes when you no longer need them.
Medela Purelan
If you have dry, cracked or sore nipples, Purelan™ 100 lanolin cream offers natural soothing care and protection – and is safe for you and your baby when breastfeeding.