Driving Miss Daisy (and what to pack for going there)

It’s coming to two weeks of the confinement month – how time flies! In response to my last post about the birth story of Scout, I was most amused that some mummies found it unusual for me to drive myself to the hospital. I know all the books say, have someone drive YOU to the hospital instead of driving yourself, but of course the hubby and I talked about it before hand and decided that it would probably be the best way. Unless of course, I had the urge to push while driving. HA! (Thank God that didn’t happen!)

The hubby did ask if it would be more convenient for me to take a taxi, but I felt that that left too many variables open. I’d have to bundle up everyone, wait for a taxi, put everything into the taxi (especially if the hubby was at work, he might have to go straight from work to the hospital), and then lug everything to the hospital. And, although I would say 80% of the time I’m pretty lucky to get decent taxi drivers, there are those who probably should not be on the road and whose driving could probably induce a quicker labour. So unless bo bian, I think I trust my driving better than some taxi drivers’. Even with contractions. (I sound like such a road bully, don’t I??) Plus, after Abacus’s birth, we more or less had an idea of what was going to happen, just that it might happen quicker (it didn’t, they were quite similar).

So after the boys had lunch I had my helper help me load up the car with all the bags and stuff. I even packed two separate bags – one with the essentials that I’d need in the delivery suite or in case I did have to take a taxi, and the other larger bag with everything else in it that the hubby could get from the car/home. I already pre-packed and pre-delivered most of the boys’ clothes for their stay at the ILs, so there was less for me to worry about in case I needed to leave the house in a frenzy. Which did not happen, but you never know.

For reference, especially for newbie mums, here are some of the things that I packed:

Grab and go bag – all the stuff I need just for the delivery suite

• Doctor’s and Hospital admission information, Medisave and Singapore Cord Blood Banking documents.
• Magazines and books – in case I have to wait. I flipped through the magazine a little but it wasn’t very engaging, and there wasn’t anything interesting on TV.
• Phone/iPad/etc charger – you never know how long you have to wait.
• Disposable bed “sheets” – I also had one in the car and I sat on it (while driving, or even if you’re a passenger) just in case there was show or my water broke. In the end, nothing drama happened.
• Biscuits – I’m not sure if you should have anything to eat in the delivery suite, I suspect not in case you need an emergency C-sect or the labour progresses slowly, but I ate one or two biscuits (while the nurses were not looking) and kept the rest for the late night munchies.

Hospital Bag

• Half the bag was taken up by presents for the boys “from” their little sister.
• New actvitiy books to entertain the boys, which also counts as part of the many presents we have for them. We didn’t use all, but I had them just in case.
• Mittens’s Fuji Instax camera which he got for his birthday, but he ended up playing with his toys and not taking many photos.
• Baby’s clothes – two outfits (I wasn’t sure how big or small she would be), socks (I don’t do booties), mittens (which I didn’t use in the end), a receiving blanket, and a beanie (although I hardly use these too).
• Medela Swing breast pump and Avent manual breast pump in case I need to use either (I didn’t use them at all!).
• 2 packets of 5 Disposable undies – because you seriously do not want to have to deal with anything soiled. I bought these from NTUC and the quality is pretty good these days and it isn’t like those big fat ones they give you at the spa.
• Sanitary pads – they give a packet but it’s usually not enough. I don’t buy maternity loop because no one really knows how to use the loops (why do they keep selling them then??) and you can make do with the super maxi night pads and just keep changing them if there’s a need. I needed lots of pads over 2 weeks+.
• Toiletries – some hospitals do provide this but I wanted my own because the minute I’m able to, I jumped into the shower!
• Marriage certificate (and ICs of parents) – so that we can register her birth at the hospital instead of having to go to ICA.
• Some clothes for the hubbs. I didn’t pack any work clothes or shoes for him.
• Clothes for myself – I had too much of these, ha! Some hospitals will “advise” you to bring/wear your pajamas, but seriously, walking around the ward in your Pikauchu pajamas? I wouldn’t be able to face my visitors.
• Nursing shawl – for when there are visitors. I’ve actually been to full month parties where the mother just disappears because she’s nursing. Be the hostess with the mostest and get a nursing shawl or bib, honey.
• Camera!
• Ear plugs. When I’m at home I sleep next to the hubby and can just push him to his side when he snores, but in the hospital he sleeps on the bed that’s further away, so when I had Mittens I couldn’t get up to push him over! Plus sometimes there can be quite a bit of noise outside the rooms so it was so handy that I had earplugs this time round.
• The infant carrier/car seat.

You could also bring:

• Shoes/slippers/socks
• Nipple cream – I forgot this but the lactation consultant had small sample sachets.
• Those big blue Ikea bags that you can buy for $2 to put all the flowers/hampers etc if you want to bring them home.

Oh, and if you have time, get a pedicure before you’re due. I read this “advice” from a book before I had Mittens, and you will definitely feel pleased with yourself for doing so. Most of all, don’t worry too much about the labour – it will be over in a matter of hours, and I always say that getting pregnant and having them (kids) is easy, but bringing them up is the tough part! Enjoy 😀