High School Transition

High School Transition

Year 6 children were recieving their high school decisions last week and everyone of them and their nervous parents were in my thoughts. This time last year we were in that position. Waiting desperately to find out if we had been given a place at our first choice. When we received the email informing us both twins had been offered a place at Oxted School, the school we were hoping for, I thought that was the end of our stress.  A bottle of champagne and a nice dinner out marked the end of a stressful couple of years of reseach, opinions, school tours and Ofsted reports. About three weeks after we found out the boys had got into Oxted, a Facebook post appeared on my thead. ‘Latest Ofsted Report shows school is failing its pupils’. Our first choice school had recieved a ‘Requires Improvement ‘ grading from Ofsted. I looked through the report and managed to rationalise most of it. In fact, the report didn’t concern me half as much as some of the comments being made by parents and people from the community about the school on the facebook post. Comments were being made about ‘teachers turning a blind eye to bullying, knife threats, picturing a school that worries more about uniform that its student welfare. Pupils being assaulted and nothing being done’ it just sounded like every mums worst nightmare. It was too late to apply for another school so I turned for a brief moment to the thought of private education….for all of 10 minutes. I worked out it would cost about £850,000 to send all our children and that is before University costs! Everytime I popped into town and met someone with a child at the school I spent 15 minutes quizzing them. I spoke to ex pupils and current pupils and everyone gave me the same feedback. It is a large school (over 3000 pupils) and there will always be bad stories, unfortunately the good stories never tend to make it to social media, but overall the feedback was positive. I emailed the head teacher with my concerns and ten minutes later I recieved a reply inviting me to pop in and see her. She explained exactly where she felt the school was lacking and how she planned to tackle the issues Ofsted had raised. She assured me that the door was always open if we ever had any more concerns. Right. I was reassured. I could start looking forward to my twin sons new life adventure.September arrived but, unexpectedly, that first week was probably the hardest of my whole ‘mum life’. We were so excited, the boys had all their uniform, pe kit and lesson equipment ready and off they went. I had spent the previous two days watching all my other mum friends from primary school post what a great first day their kids had and I couldn’t wait to do the same. I spent all day with an excited knot in my stomach, waiting to pick them up and find out how their first day at high school had been. I couldn’t wait to hear about all the friends they had made and wonderful teachers that they had met. It was nothing like what I had expected. They hated it. They told me they had made no friends and they wanted to move to the school that all their old pals had gone to (they were the only ones from their primary school to go to Oxted). They were so upset, both of them, they were crying and begging us not to send them back. I was devestated, and even though Mike is much more laid back when it comes to schooling than me, he couldn’t hid his dissapointment too. I completly and irrationally thought back to the Facebook comments earlier in the year and decided, despite spending two years researching secondary schools, I had screwed up. My boys were not happy, and that was the one thing I wanted for them. I posted my feelings on Instagram. Negative posts is not something I usually share but a friend had told me, as a parent blogger, it is important to share the sad times of parenthood aswell as the funny. It really helped me and acted more as reach out for some support. I was shocked at how many other parents said their children were experiencing the exact same feelings. Even though I felt like crap, I didn’t let the boys know, I adopted my usual positive manner. ‘It is your first day, you didnt have any friends on your first day at primary school, look at you now.’ ‘It seems hard and strange now but give it a couple of weeks and you will feel differently’ ‘I felt exactly the same on my first day at High School’ They were not convinced so I made a deal with them. I told them if they threw everything into this half term, if they joined extra curricular activities (enrichment) as the school calls it, and If they tried their best with school and homework and by the October half term they still felt the same I would look into different options. I had no intention of moving them unless it was really effecting them but it was important for them and our relationship that they understood I was listening to them. After that I became a ‘pushy mum’. I found the list of the enrichment activities and went through all the various clubs with them. They offered everything from science, art, drama, dance, table tennis and all sorts of sports. We agreed on a few each and I insisted they try, even if it was just once. Harrison went to Football and Rugby after school, Mikey went to drama, trampolining and hockey. Mikey put himself forward for the Christmas play and had a great time at the school roller disco. Harrison joined cross country and was invited to a inter-school meet within his first three weeks at school.I honestly believe that the enrichment activities they have put thselves forward for has helped their transition in secondary school. Needless to say, by October they had completely changed their mind about leaving Oxted. I am hoping this might help other parents struggling with children moving into secondary school. Extra curricular activities not only helps new pupils create friendships with people with similar interests but representing your school also embeds a sense of pride in your child and their school. Within two weeks the boys were happy at school, within two months they were really enjoying going into school. Now, half way through their second term, they love school. They have made incredible friends, represented the school in various sports and drama. They enjoy their lessons and learning and respect their school and teachers. Their parents evening was fantastic and I am so complementary and over the moon with the school.The parent – teacher communication is spot on, the oppertunities are in abundance and the standards and expectations are high. The school is also wonderful at sharing and celebrating students achievements, whether they in school or out of school. here is what I have taken from my first experience as a mum moving from Primary to Secondary school. – Don’t stress to much about other peoples opinions. What suits others may not suit your children, just go with your gut instict. – Encourage them to embrace all the oppertunities that the school offer. If they resist, push them. It is nerve racking for them, but it is well worth it and a good life lesson for them to push outside their comfort zone. – Keep an eye out for newsletters and emails. My boys are not always great at relaying information from school and gone are the days a letter is popped in their book bag. – When you hear about kids fighting at a school, don’t panic straight away. The boys have witnessed a few fights in their seven months and I worried at first. Untill they explain that the ‘fights’ are basically a couple of pupils pushing eachother and getting their handbags out. – If you have any questions or concerns go straight to the school. Headship teams understand parents concerns and should be on hand to put your mind at rest. – Become part of the school community. I dont mean you have to join the PTA (everyone who knows me knows that is not me). However, offering to help at school events means you are helping support and becoming part of the schools community. – Speak to your children. The boys and I have a very open relationship. I ask about their day at school, friendships, teachers, schoolwork, social media and general life. When they speak to me I try to never judge. I dont want them to ever worry about telling me something. – Keep in touch with friends from primary school. It is important for them to still have the familiarity and safety their old friendships bring. – Have realistic expectations of teachers and the school. Educational bodies are under a huge amount of pressure and need your support. Oxted School has been, so far, the best decision we have ever made for our boys and I hope it continues. I absolutly thrive on watching them grow, the friendships they are making and the experiences they are having. I am not suggesting it is a perfect school, but after a year of analysing I have come to the conclusion that no school is. Please share or tag any friends you have that are going through this transition. I would love to hear what tips you have for making the transtion smoother for year seven pupils and parents. Prehaps my other post on choosing a high school might help I asked aome of my wonderful blogging community for their top tips on starting Secondary School and here is what they had to say. Sarah at www.kippersandcurtains.com If they are walking to school – do a few practise walks over the summer hols so that they get used to the time it takes and the route. Find out if the school has a club on during the hols so they can familiarise themselves with the building and won’t feel so daunted. Debbie at www.myboysclub.co.uk Practice the journey to school and getting ready including full uniform, packing a bag and leaving the house at a certain time – especially as if it is different. Our morning routine totally changed. Also keep giving them more responsibility for their own routine. https://www.myboysclub.co.uk/2018/08/preparing-your-child-for-secondary-school.html Claire at www.mymoneycottage.com My son started high school last September. Take every opportunity you can to visit the high school with them before they start so that they know their way round as much as possible before they start. Cherry at www.thenewbytribe.com There are a number of things that will really help! Firstly, make sure you accept any open days/evenings/holiday dates etc that the secondary school offers your child – they’ll often put on several things for up coming Year 7’s and if you can get your child to them all then it’s a great way for them to get to know the school and other children. Also, spend some time going through the new school’s website – look at the photos, check out the newsletter and the comings and goings a the school – it’ll help your child get to know what the school is up to, and will also give them a chance to know names and faces of teachers before they start. If they are starting somewhere they will have to walk to or bus to, do that trip a good few times before they start so that’s one less thing to worry about on the first morning. Also, most Primary schools will do lots and lots of transition – they’ll learn how to read timetables, how to read maps etc which always helps!

What do I need for Labour? Hospital or Homebirth

What do I need for Labour? Hospital or Homebirth

A few mums,  particularly first time mums,  have asked me to do a blog on what you actually need when you go into labour. I am going to start packing my hospital bag/homebirth box this week (I am 34 weeks pregnant) although you can get it ready whenever it suits you. Bear in mind, women are classed full term at 37 weeks and it certainly isn’t unusual for babies to come early so don’t leave it to late to get your stuff ready. I have broken it down a bit, this is just my personal list. 

For a hospital bagPregnancy Notes– Midwives and doctors will not be impressed of you turn up without them and the chances are your birthing partner will be sent back home to pick them up. 

Tens Machine – everyone knows about my love for a tens machine, I am lucky enough that a tens machine helps me from early labour to transition with bearable pain. Your tens will probably be strapped to you before you even leave for hospital (it is more effective the earlier you use it) but pop it in your hospital bag so you know where it is when you need it. 

Loose tracksuit – or trousers and a t shirt to travel home in, something that is not to tight (your tummy is still tender after baby is born). 

Knickers – pack a few pairs of maternity Knickers or a size bigger than you usually wear. Contrary to what posh spice would have you believe, you still have a   ‘Baby bump’ for a little while after birth.

Lipsalve or Vaseline – labour is hardwork and with all the panting you do or gas and air, your lips can dry out quickly. 

Hair bands – When I’m sweating and mean business I can not tolerate my hair sweaping in front of my face. 

Make up– look, everyone will tell you you don’t care about how you look when you are in labour and I would completly agree. However,  if you are staying in hospital for a day or so and are expecting visitors you might want to pop a bit of blusher and mascara on. Honestly,  my last few births I couldn’t care less, but I have been at home and able to hide upstairs from guests if I want to. When I had the twins (my first)  the next morning I couldn’t wait to have a wash and put some slap on. Yep that’s right,  I wanted to give the impression of totally nailing this baby lark. If I could give myself some advice I would say, why did you bother!?  no visitors even noticed you. They were too busy cooing over the new babies,  but it made me feel better and if it makes you feel better, pack it!

Wine gums – My midwives have always told me to have some wine gums or a similar sweets with you.   They give you a quick energy burst if you start to feel tired or weak during labour. 

Shampoo/bodywash/toothbrush and toothpaste – it always makes you feel better to have a good wash after delivery. 

Nipple pads – Obvs to prevent any leakages. 

Bikini top – Incase you fancy a water birth but don’t want to bear all in the tub 😉 

Book/ magazines – Some labours can go on for a while so you might want to take something to occupy yourself. This is why I would try to stay at home as long as you can,  I find it easier to pass the time at home rather than in a hospital. 

Phone / Camera and charger – labour can take a while and let’s face it,  none of us can cope for too long without Facebook or Instagram! If you’re not as sad as me you will at least want your phone charged ready for pics of your gorgeous new bubba. While on the subject of photos, may I give you a word of advice? Get someone to take photos straight after delivery. It is the last thing you think of when pushing baby out but I have no pics of my first cuddle with my first four children. My photo with George I absolutly cherish, I look rough as anything and it is far from a glamorous selfie,but looking at it reminds me of that wonderful moment. It is a regret I have with my others, I was too concerned about how I looked to let anyone photo me!

Newborn nappies –  4lb to 11lb usually covers all possibilities, whether you have a dinky dolly or a bigger beauty. 

Cotton Wool – you aren’t suppose to use baby wipes on newborn babies. You are told to use warm water and cotton wool.   I’m not going to lie,  at the risk of being told off, I never used cotton wool with my last two babies.   It’s fiddly and really awkward,  I use fragrance free baby wipes.

Clothes– three vests, three babygrows, a hat and a cardigan/coat. Anticipate that you might be in hospital for a couple of days after the birth. That is unlikely, and even if you do have to stay in I am sure someone could bring in some extra clothes for you. Having said that, babies can make a mess quite easily so I would pack at least three of each anyway. I have always been told, the rule of thumb is, a baby should always wear one more layer of clothing than you.   So depending on the time of year your baby is due you may need a couple of extra layers.

Blanket – to wrap your brand new bundle up in. 

Two bottles and formula – if you dont plan to breastfeed then take a couple of small bottles and carton / bottle of ready made formula.  my hospital provided both but just incase things are different at yours it’s best to be prepared. 

Car Seat – It’s easily forgotten when you are in a rush to get to hospital but don’t forget you will need a car seat to bring baby home in.  Some hospital won’t discharge you without one. 

Maternity pads– giving birth is a messy business!  my tip is to actually forget maternity pads and get incontinence pads from the supermarket,they are usually cheaper and….. The thicker the better. Imagine your heaviest period…the hours/days post birth is worse! 

Pjs– a nice clean set of maternity pajamas so that you are as comfortable as possible after baby is born. I love the Anita range, they are super comfortable but pretty with it. 

For a Homebirth: For a homebirth you will still need everything listed above. It is still best to have everything packed in a hospital bag,  just incase,  like me,  you have to dash to the hospital at the last minute. 

Birthing Pool– I loved my water/homebirth.   It was more simple than you would think to set up.  I used an Eco Pool which came with everything, I highly recommend it. https://www.birthpoolinabox.co.uk/home Just make sure you set it up early and close to a toilet /bathroom so you don’t have to walk around the house soaking wet.   

Four or Five Towels – preferably old towels so that you can just throw everything away afterwards but you can buy cheap towels from primark or tesco if not. 

Bin bags – to scoop everything up and throw away. 

Incontinence Bed Pads – you can buy these of Amazon,  they are so cheap and I used them for a couple of weeks after the births.   They save your bedclothes/mattress/sofa and if you have some left over,  put them in the cupboard and they come in useful if your darlings go through a bed-wetting stage! 

Paracetamol – it might sound silly but make sure you have some handy as those early contractions can be controlled by paracetamol and it will help you get a bit of sleep before showtime. 

Movies – Download a couple of good movies or box sets and have some music ready. 

Clean duvet covers and bed sheets – I always make sure I have a fresh bed set in my bedroom.   Whether I give birth in hospital or at home, there is nothing nicer than getting into a fresh bed with your new baby after you have showered and put your clean clothes on. This obviously isn’t essential,  just a good way of putting that ‘nesting’ energy you have a few days before birth to good use. For more natural pain relief options take a look at my other post If you have found this post useful or know someone who is expecting a baby please share this on your social media. 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

High School Transition

High School Transition

Year 6 children were recieving their high school decisions last week and everyone of them and their nervous parents were in my thoughts. This time last year we were in that position. Waiting desperately to find out if we had been given a place at our first choice. When we received the email informing us both twins had been offered a place at Oxted School, the school we were hoping for, I thought that was the end of our stress. A bottle of champagne and a nice dinner out marked the end of a stressful couple of years of reseach, opinions, school tours and Ofsted reports. About three weeks after we found out the boys had got into Oxted, a Facebook post appeared on my thead. ‘Latest Ofsted Report shows school is failing its pupils’. Our first choice school had recieved a ‘Requires Improvement ‘ grading from Ofsted. I looked through the report and managed to rationalise most of it. In fact, the report didn’t concern me half as much as some of the comments being made by parents and people from the community about the school on the facebook post. Comments were being made about ‘teachers turning a blind eye to bullying, knife threats, picturing a school that worries more about uniform that its student welfare. Pupils being assaulted and nothing being done’ it just sounded like every mums worst nightmare. It was too late to apply for another school so I turned for a brief moment to the thought of private education….for all of 10 minutes. I worked out it would cost about £850,000 to send all our children and that is before University costs! Everytime I popped into town and met someone with a child at the school I spent 15 minutes quizzing them. I spoke to ex pupils and current pupils and everyone gave me the same feedback. It is a large school (over 3000 pupils) and there will always be bad stories, unfortunately the good stories never tend to make it to social media, but overall the feedback was positive. I emailed the head teacher with my concerns and ten minutes later I recieved a reply inviting me to pop in and see her. She explained exactly where she felt the school was lacking and how she planned to tackle the issues Ofsted had raised. She assured me that the door was always open if we ever had any more concerns. Right. I was reassured. I could start looking forward to my twin sons new life adventure. September arrived but, unexpectedly, that first week was probably the hardest of my whole ‘mum life’. We were so excited, the boys had all their uniform, pe kit and lesson equipment ready and off they went. I had spent the previous two days watching all my other mum friends from primary school post what a great first day their kids had and I couldn’t wait to do the same. I spent all day with an excited knot in my stomach, waiting to pick them up and find out how their first day at high school had been. I couldn’t wait to hear about all the friends they had made and wonderful teachers that they had met. It was nothing like what I had expected. They hated it. They told me they had made no friends and they wanted to move to the school that all their old pals had gone to (they were the only ones from their primary school to go to Oxted). They were so upset, both of them, they were crying and begging us not to send them back. I was devestated, and even though Mike is much more laid back when it comes to schooling than me, he couldn’t hid his dissapointment too. I completly and irrationally thought back to the Facebook comments earlier in the year and decided, despite spending two years researching secondary schools, I had screwed up. My boys were not happy, and that was the one thing I wanted for them. I posted my feelings on Instagram. Negative posts is not something I usually share but a friend had told me, as a parent blogger, it is important to share the sad times of parenthood aswell as the funny. It really helped me and acted more as reach out for some support. I was shocked at how many other parents said their children were experiencing the exact same feelings. Even though I felt like crap, I didn’t let the boys know, I adopted my usual positive manner. ‘It is your first day, you didnt have any friends on your first day at primary school, look at you now.’ ‘It seems hard and strange now but give it a couple of weeks and you will feel differently’ ‘I felt exactly the same on my first day at High School’ They were not convinced so I made a deal with them. I told them if they threw everything into this half term, if they joined extra curricular activities (enrichment) as the school calls it, and If they tried their best with school and homework and by the October half term they still felt the same I would look into different options. I had no intention of moving them unless it was really effecting them but it was important for them and our relationship that they understood I was listening to them. After that I became a ‘pushy mum’. I found the list of the enrichment activities and went through all the various clubs with them. They offered everything from science, art, drama, dance, table tennis and all sorts of sports. We agreed on a few each and I insisted they try, even if it was just once. Harrison went to Football and Rugby after school, Mikey went to drama, trampolining and hockey. Mikey put himself forward for the Christmas play and had a great time at the school roller disco. Harrison joined cross country and was invited to a inter-school meet within his first three weeks at school. I honestly believe that the enrichment activities they have put thselves forward for has helped their transition in secondary school. Needless to say, by October they had completely changed their mind about leaving Oxted. I am hoping this might help other parents struggling with children moving into secondary school. Extra curricular activities not only helps new pupils create friendships with people with similar interests but representing your school also embeds a sense of pride in your child and their school. Within two weeks the boys were happy at school, within two months they were really enjoying going into school. Now, half way through their second term, they love school. They have made incredible friends, represented the school in various sports and drama. They enjoy their lessons and learning and respect their school and teachers. Their parents evening was fantastic and I am so complementary and over the moon with the school. The parent – teacher communication is spot on, the oppertunities are in abundance and the standards and expectations are high. The school is also wonderful at sharing and celebrating students achievements, whether they in school or out of school. So here is what I have taken from my first experience as a mum moving from Primary to Secondary school. – Don’t stress to much about other peoples opinions. What suits others may not suit your children, just go with your gut instict. – Encourage them to embrace all the oppertunities that the school offer. If they resist, push them. It is nerve racking for them, but it is well worth it and a good life lesson for them to push outside their comfort zone. – Keep an eye out for newsletters and emails. My boys are not always great at relaying information from school and gone are the days a letter is popped in their book bag. – When you hear about kids fighting at a school, don’t panic straight away. The boys have witnessed a few fights in their seven months and I worried at first. Untill they explain that the ‘fights’ are basically a couple of pupils pushing eachother and getting their handbags out. – If you have any questions or concerns go straight to the school. Headship teams understand parents concerns and should be on hand to put your mind at rest. – Become part of the school community. I dont mean you have to join the PTA (everyone who knows me knows that is not me). However, offering to help at school events means you are helping support and becoming part of the schools community. – Speak to your children. The boys and I have a very open relationship. I ask about their day at school, friendships, teachers, schoolwork, social media and general life. When they speak to me I try to never judge. I dont want them to ever worry about telling me something. – Keep in touch with friends from primary school. It is important for them to still have the familiarity and safety their old friendships bring. – Have realistic expectations of teachers and the school. Educational bodies are under a huge amount of pressure and need your support. Oxted School has been, so far, the best decision we have ever made for our boys and I hope it continues. I absolutly thrive on watching them grow, the friendships they are making and the experiences they are having. I am not suggesting it is a perfect school, but after a year of analysing I have come to the conclusion that no school is. Please share or tag any friends you have that are going through this transition. I would love to hear what tips you have for making the transtion smoother for year seven pupils and parents. Prehaps my other post on choosing a high school might help I asked aome of my wonderful blogging community for their top tips on starting Secondary School and here is what they had to say. Sarah at www.kippersandcurtains.com If they are walking to school – do a few practise walks over the summer hols so that they get used to the time it takes and the route. Find out if the school has a club on during the hols so they can familiarise themselves with the building and won’t feel so daunted. Debbie at www.myboysclub.co.uk Practice the journey to school and getting ready including full uniform, packing a bag and leaving the house at a certain time – especially as if it is different. Our morning routine totally changed. Also keep giving them more responsibility for their own routine. https://www.myboysclub.co.uk/2018/08/preparing-your-child-for-secondary-school.html Claire at www.mymoneycottage.com My son started high school last September. Take every opportunity you can to visit the high school with them before they start so that they know their way round as much as possible before they start. Cherry at www.thenewbytribe.com There are a number of things that will really help! Firstly, make sure you accept any open days/evenings/holiday dates etc that the secondary school offers your child – they’ll often put on several things for up coming Year 7’s and if you can get your child to them all then it’s a great way for them to get to know the school and other children. Also, spend some time going through the new school’s website – look at the photos, check out the newsletter and the comings and goings a the school – it’ll help your child get to know what the school is up to, and will also give them a chance to know names and faces of teachers before they start. If they are starting somewhere they will have to walk to or bus to, do that trip a good few times before they start so that’s one less thing to worry about on the first morning. Also, most Primary schools will do lots and lots of transition – they’ll learn how to read timetables, how to read maps etc which always helps!

What do I need for Labour? Hospital or Homebirth

What do I need for Labour? Hospital or Homebirth

​A few mums,  particularly first time mums,  have asked me to do a blog on what you actually need when you go into labour. I am going to start packing my hospital bag/homebirth box this week (I am 34 weeks pregnant) although you can get it ready whenever it suits you. Bear in mind, women are classed full term at 37 weeks and it certainly isn’t unusual for babies to come early so don’t leave it to late to get your stuff ready. I have broken it down a bit, this is just my personal list. For a hospital bag: Pregnancy Notes– Midwives and doctors will not be impressed of you turn up without them and the chances are your birthing partner will be sent back home to pick them up. Tens Machine – everyone knows about my love for a tens machine, I am lucky enough that a tens machine helps me from early labour to transition with bearable pain. Your tens will probably be strapped to you before you even leave for hospital (it is more effective the earlier you use it) but pop it in your hospital bag so you know where it is when you need it. Loose tracksuit – or trousers and a t shirt to travel home in, something that is not to tight (your tummy is still tender after baby is born). Knickers – pack a few pairs of maternity Knickers or a size bigger than you usually wear. Contrary to what posh spice would have you believe, you still have a   ‘Baby bump’ for a little while after birth. Lipsalve or Vaseline – labour is hardwork and with all the panting you do or gas and air, your lips can dry out quickly. Hair bands – When I’m sweating and mean business I can not tolerate my hair sweaping in front of my face. Make up– look, everyone will tell you you don’t care about how you look when you are in labour and I would completly agree. However,  if you are staying in hospital for a day or so and are expecting visitors you might want to pop a bit of blusher and mascara on. Honestly,  my last few births I couldn’t care less, but I have been at home and able to hide upstairs from guests if I want to. When I had the twins (my first)  the next morning I couldn’t wait to have a wash and put some slap on. Yep that’s right,  I wanted to give the impression of totally nailing this baby lark. If I could give myself some advice I would say, why did you bother!?  no visitors even noticed you. They were too busy cooing over the new babies,  but it made me feel better and if it makes you feel better, pack it! Wine gums – My midwives have always told me to have some wine gums or a similar sweets with you.   They give you a quick energy burst if you start to feel tired or weak during labour. Shampoo/bodywash/toothbrush and toothpaste – it always makes you feel better to have a good wash after delivery. Nipple pads – Obvs to prevent any leakages. Bikini top – Incase you fancy a water birth but don’t want to bear all in the tub 😉 Book/ magazines – Some labours can go on for a while so you might want to take something to occupy yourself. This is why I would try to stay at home as long as you can,  I find it easier to pass the time at home rather than in a hospital. Phone / Camera and charger – labour can take a while and let’s face it,  none of us can cope for too long without Facebook or Instagram! If you’re not as sad as me you will at least want your phone charged ready for pics of your gorgeous new bubba. While on the subject of photos, may I give you a word of advice? Get someone to take photos straight after delivery. It is the last thing you think of when pushing baby out but I have no pics of my first cuddle with my first four children. My photo with George I absolutly cherish, I look rough as anything and it is far from a glamorous selfie,but looking at it reminds me of that wonderful moment. It is a regret I have with my others, I was too concerned about how I looked to let anyone photo me! Newborn nappies –  4lb to 11lb usually covers all possibilities, whether you have a dinky dolly or a bigger beauty. Cotton Wool – you aren’t suppose to use baby wipes on newborn babies. You are told to use warm water and cotton wool.   I’m not going to lie,  at the risk of being told off, I never used cotton wool with my last two babies.   It’s fiddly and really awkward,  I use fragrance free baby wipes. Clothes– three vests, three babygrows, a hat and a cardigan/coat. Anticipate that you might be in hospital for a couple of days after the birth. That is unlikely, and even if you do have to stay in I am sure someone could bring in some extra clothes for you. Having said that, babies can make a mess quite easily so I would pack at least three of each anyway. I have always been told, the rule of thumb is, a baby should always wear one more layer of clothing than you.   So depending on the time of year your baby is due you may need a couple of extra layers. Blanket – to wrap your brand new bundle up in. Two bottles and formula – if you dont plan to breastfeed then take a couple of small bottles and carton / bottle of ready made formula.  my hospital provided both but just incase things are different at yours it’s best to be prepared. Car Seat – It’s easily forgotten when you are in a rush to get to hospital but don’t forget you will need a car seat to bring baby home in.  Some hospital won’t discharge you without one. Maternity pads– giving birth is a messy business!  my tip is to actually forget maternity pads and get incontinence pads from the supermarket,they are usually cheaper and….. The thicker the better. Imagine your heaviest period…the hours/days post birth is worse! Pjs– a nice clean set of maternity pajamas so that you are as comfortable as possible after baby is born. I love the Anita range, they are super comfortable but pretty with it. For a Homebirth: For a homebirth you will still need everything listed above. It is still best to have everything packed in a hospital bag,  just incase,  like me,  you have to dash to the hospital at the last minute. Birthing Pool– I loved my water/homebirth.   It was more simple than you would think to set up.  I used an Eco Pool which came with everything, I highly recommend it. https://www.birthpoolinabox.co.uk/home Just make sure you set it up early and close to a toilet /bathroom so you don’t have to walk around the house soaking wet. Four or Five Towels – preferably old towels so that you can just throw everything away afterwards but you can buy cheap towels from primark or tesco if not. Bin bags – to scoop everything up and throw away. Incontinence Bed Pads – you can buy these of Amazon,  they are so cheap and I used them for a couple of weeks after the births.   They save your bedclothes/mattress/sofa and if you have some left over,  put them in the cupboard and they come in useful if your darlings go through a bed-wetting stage! Paracetamol – it might sound silly but make sure you have some handy as those early contractions can be controlled by paracetamol and it will help you get a bit of sleep before showtime. Movies – Download a couple of good movies or box sets and have some music ready. Clean duvet covers and bed sheets – I always make sure I have a fresh bed set in my bedroom.   Whether I give birth in hospital or at home, there is nothing nicer than getting into a fresh bed with your new baby after you have showered and put your clean clothes on. This obviously isn’t essential,  just a good way of putting that ‘nesting’ energy you have a few days before birth to good use. For more natural pain relief options take a look at my other post If you have found this post useful or know someone who is expecting a baby please share this on your social media. 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘