Hospital bag is packed! Waiting game is on!

I’m still scared at the idea of the birth. I guess more scared of the unknown, but I do feel like I’ve started to get my head around childbirth!!

It’s amazing how the body works, you get pregnant, you grow this human, the idea of how it comes out is terrifying, you’re thinking “I could never do this” but by the time 9 months comes around you are so ready for baby to arrive!

I have had a week of maternity leave so far – I have cleaned out the fridge, the pantry, my wardobe, the bathroom, our bedroom, the spare room and the babys room. Mum and Dad have asked if I’ll go round there and sort out a couple of areas for them, haha, “nesting” I think it’s called.

We packed the hospital bag last week. It was pretty exciting and a little surreal that we are getting so close. Guppy has been so wonderfully involved in everything, it makes me so happy to see him so happy at the idea of bringing our baby girl home soon.

I know a few of you reading this are a little way away from packing your hospital bag, but I’ve had some people asked what I packed so I thought I would list it for you (you’ll need another bag for birthcare, etc) –

For Baby

• 2 x singlets (One Cotton & one Merino)
• 1 x Merino Stretch and grow
• Woollen cardigan
• Socks
• Hat
• Merino wrap
• Woollen blanket

For Me

• A little bottle of Champagne!
• Toilet bag (shampoo, toothpaste, nice soap)
• Underwear (pretty essential I’d imagine!!! I went to Farmers and got some really comfortable ones, I’ve been told that’s key!)
• Maternity singlet + Maternity Bra (also from Farmers, Bonds had a really good range, just easy breastfeeding ones.)
• Fully charged camera!!!! And pack the charger!!!
• Food for your hubby (we haven’t packed this yet, but it can be a long day/night and you’d hate your hubby to miss the birth because he was trying to get twisties from the vending machine!)
• Trackpants and hoodie/Comfortable clothes (to go from hospital to birthcare/home whatever is next for you)

The other thing I have besides my hospital bag is my Cord Blood banking kit.

Now I’m sitting in Baby Guppy’s nursery looking at all the things she might hurt herself on, wondering if I need to start the room again. I was warned early on about this “Mummy Guilt” I would get. Get it before baby was born – right through until baby probably leaves home. I could cry just thinking about that! The guilt and her leaving home!

I’ve felt guilty throughout my pregnancy – am I doing the right things? Am I eating the right things? Exercise, too much or not enough? But now with google, all the books available, the different things we can take, try, drink, keep, freeze – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with what’s out there.

And there is a lot out there. I feel like I have read most of what new Mums can potentially do or try.

One that stuck with me – is Cord Blood Banking. And we have decided is something we want to do.

Ok, so what is Cord Blood Banking?

Cord blood (your baby’s umbilical cord blood) is a rich source of stem cells.

And Cord blood banking is the collection of umbilical cord blood stem cells that are in a newborn’s umbilical cord when they are born. What’s so special about those cord blood stem cells is that they are turbo charged and completely precious because the only time you can collect them is when the baby’s born. It can be used to treat dozens of disorders, including leukaemia, lymphoma and anaemia.

Some people never need them.

I spoke to two Mum’s who have done it. One actually had to use her childs cord blood, it was hugely successful, the other hasn’t needed to use the Cord blood. But she says she takes great confidence and comfort out of the idea that it’s there if needed – she likes to think of it as taking out a type of “insurance” for her children.

If you want to read more about it click here.

If you don’t – that’s totally fine, because one thing I have learnt without even holding this baby in my arms yet is you just have to do what’s right for you. And there should be no judgement about that, just support for one another!

Anyway I’ll stop preaching now!! Time for a nap…or to find another room to clean. Hope you guys are having a great week.

Talk soon,