Every labour is different and what one person finds essential may stay in the bottom of the bag of another. These items were just what I found incredibly useful during my labour.

Your contractions have been going on for a while and they are getting stronger, longer and closer together. You ring triage and hear the words you’ve been waiting for “It’s time to come in”.

But have you got your bag packed with the absolute essentials that you need? Here’s what I took along with me and found genuinely useful.

1- An Extension Lead

There’s a lot of waiting during labour, it takes a long time (normally) for your body to dilate to 10cm. So you have a lot of time to wait and distract yourself with your phone. As your battery drains you try find a plug and it might as well be on the other side of the country. While most recommend a long charger, I much preferred the extension lead as it gave me extra sockets for multiple devices, a fan and whatever else you could desire in arms reach.

This is the one I used, I found it incredibly handy as it had multiple options of ways to plug in devices. It is also very flat so takes up minimal space in your hospital bag.

2- Snacks

Labour is not quick and requires a lot of energy, keeping yourself fueled up with snacks helps to maintain your energy levels. I took along some snacks for enjoyment like sweets and crisps. However I also took along granola bars and crackers as something more substantial to properly fuel me. Don’t forget snacks for your birth partner too, a hungry partner is not a helpful one.

3- A Birthing Comb

To help and distract from the pain of labour I used a birthing comb to provide counter pain. This didn’t stop the pains of contractions but helped my brain focus on something else while I waited for the next wave to wash over me. This is the one I used

Initially I planned to use a regular plastic comb. Then I did a practice squeeze at home and bent the teeth. Seeing that I decided investing in a sturdier one was probably a good idea.

4- Lip Balm

I used gas and air throughout my time in labour and one side effect of it was a dry mouth and lips. This is caused by the friction of the mouthpiece on your lips along with the gas itself being dry. I took a nice lip balm along with me and reapplied regularly to prevent my lips from becoming sore.

5- A Dressing Gown

Depending on your labour you may be hooked up to multiple things that need access to your stomach. During mine I had constant monitoring and a drip so a dressing gown meant that I was fully covered protecting my dignity while I laboured (until I reached the point where I didn’t care anymore). The dressing gown allowed for me to move around but stay warm. I only took a lightweight one, I think I would have died in a big fluffy one. This is the one I used.

It was actually my partner’s. It was loose, lightweight and fully covered me, which was all I really needed. You don’t need a super fancy one designed for labour if you don’t want one.

6- A Water Bottle

You will need to drink water to keep yourself hydrated for your labour, and again if you are using gas and air it will dry your mouth out. A good water bottle that holds a decent amount is very handy so you don’t have to constantly refill it. The one I used also had a straw this was incredibly useful when I was laying down so I didn’t have to sit up and lose my comfortable position. By the end of labour, being able to drink without moving was a luxury.

7- A Portable Fan

Your hormones are no joke. Combined with the physical exertion your body is being put through to get your baby out can make it feel like you are melting. Having a small rechargeable fan in your bag can help to cool you down and feel human.

This is the one I used, I liked that I could change the speeds, hold it or set it down on the bedside table and the colour options were lovely (I went with pink of course).

Looking back, there were plenty of things I packed that never came out of my bag. These however, were the items I actually used and was grateful to have bought with me.

Labour is unpredictable, but having a few comforts from home can make a long day a lot easier. And if nothing else, at least you’ll have snacks.