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What you need for the baby If your car has an airbag, do not place your baby restraint in the front seat. For further information on the child car seats law, see www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk or www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk WASHING BABY CLOTHES If you use a washing machine, don’t use enzyme (bio) powders, as they may irritate your baby’s skin. Always rinse very thoroughly. Fabric softener may also cause a skin reaction. 88 I N THE CAR If you’ve got a car, you must have a safety restraint right from the start, even coming home from the hospital. It’s illegal for anyone to hold a baby while sitting in the front or back seat of a car. From September 2006, children under 3 years must use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in any vehicle (except in the rear of a taxi). The only safe way for your baby to travel in a car is in a properly secured, rear-facing, baby seat, or in a carrycot (not a Moses basket) with the cover on and secured with special straps. However, rear-facing baby seats must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag (unless the airbag has been deactivated) because of the danger of suffocation if the bag inflates. Some areas have special loan schemes to enable you to borrow a suitable baby seat when you and your baby first return from hospital. Ask your midwife or health visitor. Do not buy a secondhand car seat as it may have been damaged in an accident. Look for European Standard number R44/03 when you buy. From June 2007, driving an unbelted child, including failure to use an appropriate child restraint, can incur three penalty points and a maximum £500 fine. F EEDING If you’re breastfeeding, you will probably want nursing bras. They should open at the front and have adjustable straps. Cotton is best because it allows air to circulate. If you try on bras at about 36–38 weeks, they should fit when needed later. A supply of breast pads may also be useful. If you’re going to bottle feed, you will need to get: • six bottles with teats and caps; • sterilising equipment; • a bottle brush; • infant formula milk – don’t buy this too far in advance and remember to check the ‘sell by date’ on the pack. C LOTHES FOR THE BABY Babies grow very quickly. All you need for the first few weeks are enough clothes to make sure that your baby will be warm and clean. You’ll probably need: • six stretch suits for both day and night or four stretch suits and two nighties for the night – use socks or bootees with the nightie if it’s cold; • two cardigans, wool or cotton rather than nylon, light rather than heavy – several light layers of clothing are best for warmth; • four vests; • a shawl or blanket to wrap your baby in; • a woolly or cotton hat, mittens, socks or bootees for going out if the weather is cold – it’s better to choose close-knitted patterns for safety; • a sun hat for going out if the weather is hot or the sun is bright.
11 Labour and birth This chapter describes a hospital birth because that is w<strong>here</strong> most people have their babies, but the information will also be useful if you are having a home birth. G ETTING READY FOR THE BIRTH PACKING FOR HOSPITAL Pack a bag to take to hospital well in advance. Many hospitals have a printed list of what to pack. If you’re having your baby at home, your midwife will give you a list of things you should have ready. You may want to include the following: • pyjamas or large t-shirts if you’re going to breastfeed, and a night shirt for labour if you’re not going to wear a hospital gown; • dressing gown and slippers; • two or three nursing bras, or ordinary bras if you’re not breastfeeding (remember, your breasts will be much larger than usual); • about 24 sanitary towels (super absorbent), not tampons; • five or six pairs of old pants, or disposables – you’ll probably want to change often to stay fresh; • your washbag with toothbrush, hairbrush, flannel, etc.; • • towels in a dark colour if possible; change or a phone card for the hospital payphone; • a book, magazines, personal stereo or some knitting, for example, to help you pass the time and relax; • a loose comfortable outfit to wear during the day; • a small bag for labour with one or two large T-shirts, a sponge or water spray to cool you down, a personal stereo with your favourite music and anything else which you feel will make labour more pleasant for you; • clothes and nappies for the baby. For coming home Pack loose, easy-to-wear clothes for yourself, baby clothes (including a bonnet), some nappies and a shawl or blanket to wrap the baby in. IMPORTANT NUMBERS Keep a list of important numbers in your handbag or near the phone. T<strong>here</strong>’s space for you to write them down at the beginning of this book.You need to include your hospital or midwife, your partner or birth companion, and your own hospital reference number (it will be on your card or notes) to give when you phone in. If you don’t have a phone, ask neighbours for the use of theirs when the time comes. STOCKING UP When you come home you may not want to do much more than rest and care for your baby, so do as much planning as you can in advance. Stock up on basics, such as toilet paper, sanitary pads (for you) and nappies (for the baby), and, if you have a freezer, cook some meals in advance. 89
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Pre the nancy gbook Your complete g
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Pre the nancy gbook Your complete g
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11 LABOUR AND BIRTH Getting ready f
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Your pregnancy at a glance 16-20 we
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Introduction Every parent is differ
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Your health in pregnancy • Eat pl
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Your health in pregnancy VEGETARIAN
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Your health in pregnancy S MOKING W
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Your health in pregnancy P HYSICAL
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Your health in pregnancy Foot exerc
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obstetrician. If you do catch toxop
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2 Conception To understand about co
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Conception T HE WOMAN’ S MONTHLY
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Conception T HE BEST TIME TO GET PR
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Conception K NOWING THAT YOU’ RE
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How the baby develops WEEKS 4-5 Wee
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How the baby develops WEEKS 15-22 T
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4 Deciding where to have your baby
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Deciding where to have your baby HO
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Page 41 and 42: 5 Feelings and relationships From t
Page 43 and 44: Feelings and relationships WORRYING
Page 45 and 46: Feelings and relationships FAMILIES
Page 47 and 48: Feelings and relationships C OPING
Page 49 and 50: 6 Mainly for men Some pregnancies h
Page 51 and 52: Mainly for men PRACTICAL SUPPORT Yo
Page 53 and 54: 7 Antenatal care and antenatal clas
Page 55 and 56: Antenatal care and antenatal classe
Page 69 and 70: The feeding question B REASTFEEDING
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Page 73 and 74: The feeding question HOW OFTEN AND
Page 75 and 76: The feeding question B OTTLE FEEDIN
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Page 79 and 80: 9 Problems Your body has a great de
Page 81 and 82: Problems FEELING HOT IN PREGNANCY D
Page 83 and 84: Problems can empty it properly. The
Page 85 and 86: Problems VAGINAL DISCHARGE Almost a
Page 87 and 88: 10 What you need for the baby This
Page 89: What you need for the baby O UT AND
Page 93 and 94: Labour and birth PAIN RELIEF IN LAB
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Page 97 and 98: Labour and birth AT THE HOSPITAL Go
Page 99 and 100: Labour and birth • The heartbeat
Page 101 and 102: Labour and birth You can have your
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Page 107 and 108: When pregnancy goes wrong been due.
Page 109 and 110: 13 The first days with your new bab
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Page 115 and 116: Babies who need special care I NCUB
Page 117 and 118: The early weeks: you L OOKING AFTER
Page 119 and 120: The early weeks: you T HE ‘ BABY
Page 121 and 122: 16 The early weeks: your baby The b
Page 123 and 124: The early weeks: your baby Sadly, w
Page 125 and 126: The early weeks: your baby CHANGING
Page 127 and 128: The early weeks: your baby WASHING
Page 129 and 130: The early weeks: your baby W HERE T
Page 131 and 132: as green, leafy vegetables and brea
Page 133 and 134: Rights and benefits How much is it?
Page 135 and 136: Who gets it? Pregnant women and new
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Page 139 and 140: • your baby is born before your M
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Rights and benefits (MAT B1 form),
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Rights and benefits Giving notice f
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Rights and benefits If you return t
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• state that this is an applicati
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USEFUL ORGANISATIONS Some of these
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In Northern Ireland: Northern Irela
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INDEX A abnormalities tests to dete
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The Pregnancy Book “It contains e
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