What's In My Hospital Bag

With due date looming ever closer, I wanted to do a post on the things that I have packed in my hospital bag. Well I say bag, what I really mean is suitcase!

Hopefully this post will help anyone else due to give birth soon that may be wondering on what to pack. There are lists available online, places like Mothercare etc, but this one will be more personalised and about the items that'll make you feel like you.

It is no joke when I say during my last pregnancy I was one walking tower of misery. Ashamed to say it, I've mentioned it before I'm sure but I did not enjoy it! This led to me not feeling like, well, me. My skin was dull, my hair was frizzy, I wore crap maternity clothes and lost all my confidence. I told myself this was not happening second time round! And this will carry on during labour and after birth.

What to give birth in? Well, last time I wore the frumpiest, ugliest nightdress I'd found in Peacocks! Labour isn't pretty and clothes are likely to get ruined, but I've opted for something much prettier. I still want to feel like me afterall. I found some really lovely pieces from George at Asda at fantastic prices.

I ordered the satin-esque robe above, it is lightweight but still luxurious and perfect for before and after labour. I also bought the soft feel nightdress in the same print, along with the satin two piece pyjama cami and short set. I sized up in all three items, to make room for feeding and skin-to-skin. You can find all of the items here. The nightdress will be the item I'll wear for birthing in, shorts just aren't practical!

Comfortable slippers are a must for walking around in, staying upright and keeping active is a great tool during labour, so I've ordered these slippers from Next.

I already have these in the chestnut colour currently, but wanted some new ones to take with me.

I've been using this face mist every day recently, it is so hydrating and has a beautiful scent to it. I'm taking it with me to keep my face feeling moisturised and cool, It is also multifunctional - I use it to spray my beauty sponge to help apply my makeup and it also great for giving life to products about to die. For example, my liquid eyeliner is on it's last legs, but a spray of this on the applicator helps bring the product back to life. Also great for using on any dried out cream eyeshadows!

I will be taking my makeup bag with me. This might sound stupid to some, but once you've given birth, there'll be lots of photos being taken and I want to feel my best. I'm at my best (I think anyway!) with a full face on. It's what makes me feel good and that is exactly what I'll want after labour. 

The first shower after labour is the best shower of your life! So I'll be making mine even more heavenly with this shower oil from Rituals. I cannot even begin to describe how amazing this smells and it makes my skin feel divine after using it. It goes without saying you won't be needing any products to use below the waist and above the thigh - warm water will be enough. But why not use something lovely everywhere else to start making you feel more human!

Other things that are coming with me include breastfeeding essentials such as Lansinoh lanolin nipple cream. I believe this product came from God and is what got me through the first few painful weeks of feeding Matilda. Also the disposable Lansinoh breast pads were the best I'd come across. I ordered both of those products from John Lewis as they had the best prices. I've got a feeding pillow from Mothercare and a pregnancy pillow from, wait for it, Aldi! Both will help keep me and baby comfy during feeds.

I've got a birthing playlist on Spotify to help get me through, I'm a huge music lover so I'm counting on this to help me deliver our little girl. Other essential items include wine gums, lucozade sport isotonic drinks and lipbalm. You'll need some big comfy pants for afterwards, I found some at George at Asda again and they weren't expensive so can be discarded of if need be. Don't forget maternity towels too, oh it is just so glamourous! 

If anyone else has recommendations on items to take please do let me know!

Chloe x

New In: Beauty

I'm the crappiest blogger going, I know.

I've got a mini beauty haul of products I am loving currently and which seem to be working wonders for my pregnant body!

First are two products from Garnier's SkinActive range - the tissue mask which I like to use once a week for a complete hydration injection to my face! I don't feel like my face has suffered this pregnancy, it can look dull at times but nothing a good mask can't sort! These were reduced to 99p a mask in Superdrug recently, so I stocked up. The night cream here is (I think anyway) a total wonder product! It was about £6, it has a wonderfully light texture so it is perfect for using every night. I wake up in the morning and can really tell the difference, my skin feels plump and looks dewy, it's a great drugstore night cream.

My hair is driving me mad at the moment! Ever since I made the terrible decision to have a full scalp bleach 18 months ago, my hair has never been the same. It breaks when I brush it, my scalp itself is much drier than it used to be and it looks as dull as bloody dishwater frankly! In comes this wonder mask, I'd seen Victoria from Inthefrow recommend this in one of her YouTube videos and Look Fantastic were offering Redken products at 20% off so I got this for £17.49 at the time. I use this once a week and I must say my hair feels a lot softer, doesn't break as much as it used to and has a nice smell to it. I think I probably need to use this for longer to get my hair back to it's old form!

Bit of a theme here now with all of these masks! This Body Shop mask is fab, has a lovely light fragrance perfect for sleeping in and is not greasy at all. When I wake, I have a slight residue which once washed off, makes my skin look radiant and feel so soft! I only use this once or twice a week, in between my other creams and masks! I've enjoyed a few products from the Vitamin E range so far as they aren't heavy on my skin. This isn't too thick, the pot says to apply a generous amount all over your face, rub in gently then leave it to sink in overnight - heaven.

Finally, a cult product some may say, the This Works pillow spray. Excuse the travel size spray! This has been helping me drift off to sleep throughout the final weeks of my pregnancy. I'm getting to the stage now where sleep is an issue, just because of the extra weight and the aching hips (I'm really not moaning here though, I've had the best pregnancy and will be sad for it to end!) 

A few sprays of this on my pillow before settling down for the night really helps me relax. So many people recommend this product, if you're someone that struggles to drift off at night why not give it a try?

Chloe x