There are labour lists all over the net, but these are the things that I personally couldn't have done without:
here’s the stuff I couldn’t have done without.


*Arnica – available from health food stores, and pharmacys you will want the 20x stuff – and might only be able to get it from here: www.h-e-c.com.au I highly recommend their birthing 5 remedy kit. You can take it a few days before the birth, or during the birth, or just after the birth – it helps reduce swelling, and bruising. (Yes, that WILL happen lol)
*Rescue Remedy – Available from health food stores and pharmacies – put 4 drops in a cup of water, and sip it whenever you feel shakey, scared, stressed, or panicky. *A nappy bucket with VERY hot water and cloth terry squares in it – I used these to drape over my belly, and to drape on my fitball to sit on. Warm towels on your perineum are VERY soothing.
*A cool cloth for my forehead –you get amazingly hot. This is VERY soothing.
*Frozen ribena icecubes, keeps the energy up, keeps you hydrated, and are nummy.
*Clary Sage Oil – this is what made my labour big – a few drops on the hot towels I was sitting on, and I was off and away.
*Chocolate. (Enough said)
*Birth Pool – www.simplybirth.com.au
*Lots of pillows, a beanbag, and a fit ball – stuff to help you get comfy
*Heater, keep the room WARM.
*Phone, with a list of numbers
*Baby clothes, to focus on, and keep you grounded.
*CAMERA – my labour photos still make me tear up *wub*


*Tracky Dacks, socks and a dressing gown. (So you don’t have to wear the uber uncomfy hospital gown)
*Pads (cloth ones are nice and cushy)
*Medi honey for any tears (helps it heal, available from Chemists)

For afterwards
Sposie pads, wet, and frozen
ARNICA
Panadol (freaking afterpains were worse than labour)
Empty capsules, to stuff with placenta to eat
Calendula pillules (check out the mother and baby kit at www.h-e-c.com.au

I forgot about the towels, I had a huge stack of them, about 12 or so, and a lucious purple one for post birth (That I forgot to use...)

We picked them up cheap at K-mart on sale. The ones that we used for cleaning up and stuff, we picked up for a song at the local op-shop. They were a bit thread bare, but good for general mop up on the floors.

I never used the ural.... we used a squirty bottle to ease stitch stings.

lol I DID wash the towels first.... they were crappy towels!

(Or I had a supremely hairy baby)