In this episode I’m sharing my top tips for what to pack in your bag for an induction. Including some thing that you probably hadn’t thought of. So, get as comfy as you can, and enjoy!
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast
Hospital bag list – Here’s a link to download my complete Hospital Bag List for Induction
Peanut Ball – Here’s a photo of me demonstrating the peanut ball. There are loads on Amazon, here’s the one I have below.
Eye mask – I have these from Manta Sleep, they’re so comfy and you can easily open and close your eyes while wearing them.
The Positive Induction Course – A hypnobirthing course specifically for induction, which is easily accessible via an app and can be completed it a few hours: https://positiveinduction.com/course
Transcript
In this episode I’m sharing my top tips for what to pack in your bag for an induction. Including some thing that you probably hadn’t thought of. So, get as comfy as you can, and enjoy!
You’re listening to the positive induction podcast, a podcast for those who have chosen to have an induction of labour or for those interested in how they can make induction a more positive experience.
I’m your host, Jade Gordon, clinical hypnotherapist hypnobirthing teacher, and positive induction coach. As always, I want to remain to you. Positive birth means different things to different people, for example it may be feeling in control, being respected and informed.
It does not mean perfect, birth rarely goes exactly to plan. My aim here is to bring you tips, inspiration and real-life experiences. So let’s get started.
I remember packing my hospital bag, and feeling so excited and of course a little apprehensive, it definitely made it all feel a bit more real. In my first labour which was an induction I packed soooo much stuff, I downloaded every hospital bag list I could to make sure I hadn’t missed a single thing.
Packing my bag felt like something I could take control of in a time where I was grasping for control. I wanted to feel as prepared as possible and this was one way to meet that need.
There are of course many hospital bag lists out there, we even have our own you can grab in the show notes, but what about induction specifically, are there things you should add that are useful for induction?
Why, of course, or this would be a rather short podcast episode. Today I want to share some of my top extras for induction:
Number 1. A Peanut Ball
These are actually useful generally, but not many people use them, but they’re top of my induction bag list.
Now there’s a chance your hospital have these available but many don’t. There’s also a chance you’ve no idea what I’m talking about right now! I’ll explain and I’ve added a picture of me demonstrating using one to the show notes too, at positiveinduction.com/episode12
They are similar to the regular birth balls, the big inflatable gym balls, but they are the shape of a peanut shell, or monkey nut as we used to call them growing up!
Why are they useful? It’s a great way to keep an open birth position whilst lying down, a lot of my clients love this for early in the induction process, while they are resting with a pessary, balloon or rods inserted.
It can be useful throughout labour though and is actually really comfortable for resting in front of the TV in the last few weeks of labour.
Usually with a regular birth ball you inflate it fairly firm, it’s often more comfy to have a bit of give in these if you’re using it between your knees.
Number 2. Something to Entertain You
It’s not always the case, but you’ll often hear people talk about how labour can take some time to get started with induction, and it is something it’s good to plan for. Sometimes you can go home, but other times you may be in hospital waiting for things to get going.
Take something to entertain you while waiting for things to get going, or to speed up.
Download some movies or shows to a tablet, I’m a big fan of bingeing Netflix series, like Workin’ Moms, Emily in Paris or Schitt’s Creek, nothing that requires too much brain power, but whatever you’re into is good!
Magazines, podcasts, anything that helps you pass the time.
Things which make you laugh or bring back happy memories, are bonus extras as they can boost your own oxytocin. But you don’t need to force yourself to watch rom coms is that’s not your thing.
Number 3. Some Extra Clothes
Again, this is in case it takes a bit longer to get going, if you’re in a ward for a few days before things start up you’ll need some extra clothes. Pack some extras, or lay them out for your partner at least. Comfy clothes, jammies. Flip flops, slippers, and a dressing gown can be helpful if you end up waiting a while for things to get started.
I always feel like wearing your own clothes when waiting around in the hospital can help you feel a bit more like yourself and less like a patient counting every minute passing. I had some comfy wrap dresses that I loved wearing, because it was roasting in July the year my son was born.
Number 4. Snacks and Nice Drinks
Let’s be honest for a moment, hospital food – it’s not got the best reputation! Of course, it varies from place to place, but it can also be a bit bland, and sometimes the portions aren’t great.
So pack some snacks that you really enjoy, maybe your favourite movie snacks for watching movies, or something healthy that will help you feel great.
Thinking about when labour actually kicks off bring a mix of sweet and savoury, things you can eat a little of that will give you a boost, because you probably won’t know what you’ll feel like until you’re in labour.
Having some different drink options is great too, hospitals can be warm, and staying hydrated in labour is important, so pack something you actually want to drink.
Some ideas from clients and our community group are Haribo, trail mix, fruit – getting your partner to bring in fresh fruit can be a great boost. Cereal bars, cake. It really is a personal preference and sometimes you don’t know what you want until you actually want it, so having a selection is good.
Number 5. Ear Plugs and an Eye Mask
In many areas the initial phases of labour are in wards with other people, it can be hard to get into the zone! With others chatting around you, or sometimes with their labour starting. It can be hard to tune it out and focus on you and baby.
Of course, if you’ve got headphones on watching a movie that will help, but earplugs can be great for sleep.
The other consideration is the lighting, in a ward room you don’t have control of the lights, and it’s rare that the lights are off properly.
Darkness helps our own oxytocin, the hormone that gets our labour going and keeps our contractions coming. So taking a eye mask is a great plan.
I love the ones with the cushion rings so you they don’t actually touch your eyes. You can open and close your eyes comfortably while they’re still ok. I’ll share a picture and a link in the show notes so you can see what I’m referring to.
Number 6. Something Homely
Many people plan to give birth at home or in a midwife unit, perhaps you’ve even prepared a room at home for your birth (if so you should check out Episode 3 with Sabrina Taylor), or you’ve visualised birth in a calming room, dimly lit, perhaps with a pool.
And of course, in some areas the induction wards are set up to have nice touches like that.
But for most people, it means a pretty stark, brightly lit, clinical setting.
And for many people this is a challenge. It’s harder for us to get comfortable and relax.
It reminds us that we’re in a clinical setting, it maybe doesn’t feel as natural, it may not feel as safe. And this can contribute to our fight/flight/freeze response being alerted more.
And it can increase the chance of moving into ‘patient mode’, where we feel like we have no control over the situation.
So what can we do to help?!
Finding a way to make this settling more homely, will give us something else to focus on.
It can be a few small things, such as your own pillow, it could be your partner’s hoodie, or a favourite essential oil, a blanket, music, your scan photo printed out, I’ve even hear of people taking in their dog’s blanket to remind them of snuggling up on the sofa with their dog.
Think of all your senses, and what helps you feel more at home. If course an eye mask and earplugs may help you with this too.
So just to summarise, the six things to add were:
Number 1. A Peanut Ball
Number 2. Something to Entertain You
Number 3. Some Extra Clothes
Number 4. Snacks and Nice Drinks
Number 5. Ear Plugs and an Eye Mask
And
Number 6. Something Homely
If you have something else you think is a great thing to add let me know, send me a DM on Instagram, I’m @positiveinduction
Thanks for listening. Head over to the show notes for this episode at positiveinduction.com forward slash episode twelve, where you’ll find links to additional resources, and of course the positive induction course, a hypnobirthing course specially created for induction.
Thanks again for being here with us today and do get in touch, if you have any questions, you can email me jade@positiveinduction.com.
I hope you have a lovely week.