Any other expectant Dads?

[eatontrifles]

Just popping in here to say that we are due our first on 7th December. I've been reading through the thread when I can but am only up to page 35 so far...!

Any tips on what to put in my hospital bag?

[Vaud]

eatontrifles said:

Just popping in here to say that we are due our first on 7th December. I've been reading through the thread when I can but am only up to page 35 so far...!

Any tips on what to put in my hospital bag?

You can be in for hours or even days (for an induction/complex birth)

For dad:

ipad loaded with films/tv - there are sometimes hours of calm
phone / chargers (they allow them in most wards now)
Change for vending machines
Snacks for mum and dad
Toothbrush
Anadin
Earplugs
Spare clothes (in the car in case)

[Shakermaker]

eatontrifles said:

Just popping in here to say that we are due our first on 7th December. I've been reading through the thread when I can but am only up to page 35 so far...!

Any tips on what to put in my hospital bag?

A pair of shorts. Maternity wards are kept at a nice warm temperature but as I found, after spending 36 hours in the same pair of jeans I was almost ready to just walk around in my pants. This was in January so as cold as it was outside, it was roasting inside

[Animal]

Vaud said:

eatontrifles said:

Just popping in here to say that we are due our first on 7th December. I've been reading through the thread when I can but am only up to page 35 so far...!

Any tips on what to put in my hospital bag?

You can be in for hours or even days (for an induction/complex birth)

For dad:

ipad loaded with films/tv - there are sometimes hours of calm
phone / chargers (they allow them in most wards now)
Change for vending machines
Snacks for mum and dad
Toothbrush
Anadin
Earplugs
Spare clothes (in the car in case)

I'd also suggest:
a big bottle of water
a large jumper/hoodie and a travel pillow

I ended up sleeping 3 nights in a stty chair - I'd have sold my soul for a pillow!

[Vaud]

Animal said:

I'd also suggest:
a big bottle of water
a large jumper/hoodie and a travel pillow

I ended up sleeping 3 nights in a stty chair - I'd have sold my soul for a pillow!

I ended up on the couch in the freezing cold day room for 2 nights. Angels of nurses brought me toast and tea at 6am (and told me that if I was asked that I had come in early and not slept there)

[Jonnny]

Drinks, food and a charger/battery pack.

I preferred my battery pack as the plugs in the hospital are miles from the table/chair etc.

I took a spare t-shirt and jeans, but as above it is boiling so maybe shorts in the car too.

Our little man is 9 days old, just been 'discharged' by the community midwives.. He managed to keep me awake until 3:30am last night, he's now yawning and sleeping today

[ST_Nuts]

So us dads to be are allowed to stay overnight until the birth although restricted to a crappy chair for sleeping?

I've already started decorating the nursery room and we're only around 6 weeks in.. Even went to ikea today furniture shopping and realised we're preparing way too soon!!

Can't wait for the first scan

[chip*]

Missus had her appointment with the Obstetrician today, and all checks are good, so they booked the date for an elective C-section on Jan-19 (our first was also EC-section for medical reasons). It does feel strange to know the birth date, but it makes domestic planning so much easier.

For our first child, I stayed overnight (sofa bed) next to my missus and the new baby, but this was in a large room shared with 3 other new mums and their partner. Found it a bit noisy with the stream of visiting guests, so we will book a private ensuite room for my missus to recover in peace.

[Jonnny]

ST_Nuts said:

So us dads to be are allowed to stay overnight until the birth although restricted to a crappy chair for sleeping?

I've already started decorating the nursery room and we're only around 6 weeks in.. Even went to ikea today furniture shopping and realised we're preparing way too soon!!

Can't wait for the first scan

Mine was induced so I stayed with her on the antenatal ward until about 2am, went home and came back the next day (midwives said its best to as I should sleep well rather than in a chair) I think I could have stayed with her but only 5 minutes from the hospital and meant I could sleep properly for 4 hours.

Stayed with her when waters broken in labour ward, although in a chair.. Had 20 minutes sleep.

PostNatal was brutal, 9am-9pm.. Militant about times, this is visiting hours, Dad or family friend, didn't make a difference.. Which was annoying. She was moved there at 8pm and I had to go, she hated being left on her own, and I hated leaving my 'new' family.

There were side rooms in postnatal rather than on a ward, but Dad still couldn't stay so didn't make the £100 worth it really.

[Jonnny]

Oh, and welcome to parenting.. I'm posting here as its 2:30am and he needs a change and feed

[eatontrifles]

Thanks for the tips chaps. Will get packing tomorrow, although probably should have done it a couple of weeks ago.

A week tomorrow until D-day, time will tell when the little one decides to make an appearance. I just hope that for my wife's sake it all goes smoothly and the baby is healthy. I'll be there to do my best to help.

[Jonnny]

eatontrifles said:

Thanks for the tips chaps. Will get packing tomorrow, although probably should have done it a couple of weeks ago.

A week tomorrow until D-day, time will tell when the little one decides to make an appearance. I just hope that for my wife's sake it all goes smoothly and the baby is healthy. I'll be there to do my best to help.

Just try and do everything she asks, and pick up on things the midwife is asking her to do and help do them/comfort your wife into doing them.

Food and drink at hand, mine preferred sports cap bottles so water and Lucozade ready for her, and some sweets.

[Jeenyus161]

Today is my last day in the office as number 2 is expected on Monday. Out of Office until January 3rd - OH YEAH!!

I will look forward to seeing you all posting at 3am

[TwistingMyMelon]

To be Honest I never packed that much, I just bought a book, jumper , headphones and phone charger : Job Jobbed

[Vaud]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46399467

On a related topic, parental leave: The good, the bad and the unexpected...

[Gary29]

I wasn't allowed to stop overnight, it was a "normal" birth.

Bag items? I should've just put my race boots and helmet next to the front door, that would've been the most appropriate, 45mins from getting into the car to qualify in Q3 drive to the hospital, baby was born.

As long as Mum has a bag pre-packed and waiting to go for her, Dad can blag whatever he needs, you will need half an hour to yourself after the event to come to terms with it all so can go to a nearby shop etc.

Ours is two months old already, finally starting to sink in that she is ours, our relationship definitely changed in that period of time, we are just about getting over it now and getting back to some kind of normality and being a couple again rather than just house mates looking after a baby.

Your limits of patience definitely get tested, so if you already know your fuse is relatively short, practice lengthening it before the event, you will need to bite your tongue, agree and smile politely more than any other point in your life, good luck to everyone!

[juggsy]

Jonnny said:

Mine was induced so I stayed with her on the antenatal ward until about 2am, went home and came back the next day (midwives said its best to as I should sleep well rather than in a chair) I think I could have stayed with her but only 5 minutes from the hospital and meant I could sleep properly for 4 hours.

Stayed with her when waters broken in labour ward, although in a chair.. Had 20 minutes sleep.

PostNatal was brutal, 9am-9pm.. Militant about times, this is visiting hours, Dad or family friend, didn't make a difference.. Which was annoying. She was moved there at 8pm and I had to go, she hated being left on her own, and I hated leaving my 'new' family.

There were side rooms in postnatal rather than on a ward, but Dad still couldn't stay so didn't make the £100 worth it really.

When our first was born I asked for a private room on arrival, which I later found out happened to have a fold out ‘dad’ bed in the cupboard, so I was lucky to be able to stay every night (we had a 3 night stay). I did a run home every day to bring food and supplies, and brought my wife a cooked dinner to stave off the crap hospital food. Obviously works differently in different hospitals/trusts, but definitely worth asking what’s available when you get there (as often you can’t pre book).

[Blown2CV]

samsock said:

Can I join? We are 10 weeks in, first scan coming up. A bit shellshocked tbh! I was wondering if any one had any observations on behavioural changes in the mother at this point, what is normal, what I should be concerned about. Seems like a different person in many ways, in terms of energy, willpower, enthusiasm, moods. I'm wondering how much of this is biological or might there be other reasons.

Congrats! On your question, in which direction has she changed, on those things?

[samsock]

Less energy. It's quite subtle, and it does seem across the board. My guess is, that it is normal and need to support where possible.

[Vaud]

samsock said:

Less energy. It's quite subtle, and it does seem across the board. My guess is, that it is normal and need to support where possible.

First child. Mum is experiencing lots of things for the first time - new hormones, a baby plumbing itself in, a whoel bunch of energy going into that. Plus the concept that the rest of her life has changed.

Normal, but keep an eye on it...