For labour/birth:

Heat patches and body wrap: Heat helps reduce pain in labour and Midwives will often recommend a heat pack*. This Birth Box includes two FlexEze heat patches and one FlexEze body wrap; the heat patches stay warm for up to 12hrs so you don’t need to frequently re-heat your wheat bag through early labour. Many hospitals do not allow re-heating wheat bags in the birthing suite as they can be a fire risk. These heat patches will help when you are labouring at home, during the car ride to your birthing facility and when at the hospital.

Birth/acupressure comb: This wooden comb* is a simple and effective pain relief tool for labour, using acupressure points to distract you from contractions similar to the Pain Gate Control Theory. Read more about the use and benefits of a birth/acupressure comb here. After labour, you also have a handy hair comb!

Packing list for hospital (written by a Midwife) and Tips from a Midwife: With so many lists online, it is easy to get confused as to what you actually need for labour/birth and your hospital stay. You don’t need as much as you think, but there are some great items on this card to add to your hospital bag to make your stay even easier. This packing list was written by a Clare, the Labour Loot owner who is also a Midwife and mother of three. After purchasing your Birth Box, you will receive via email instructions on how to use the heat patches, acupressure comb and perineum cool packs. It also includes Midwife tips and links to evidence-based resources, videos and support services from Clare/Midwife about pregnancy, labour/birth, early days/weeks after birth, breastfeeding and newborns.

Goats milk soap: Treat yourself with this honey and oatmeal goats milk soap by Suave Soaps. Hand made from all natural products (including goats milk from their own goats) on a farm in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. The first shower after birth is always amazing, add this soap to your toiletries bag. Size: 60g; 7cm wide x 1.5cm thick x approx 6.5cm tall.

Face/neck washer: Labour is hard work and a cool cloth for your face, neck or forehead can be helpful. This quality Morgan & Finch, soft, 100% cotton washer can then be used after birth to bathe your baby.

Mirror: When used during the second stage of labour (the pushing stage), a mirror can give women an increased sense of control, it can help with motivation when pushing and be very empowering. Other women couldn’t think of anything worse than watching – and that is ok! Not too big or small (13cm x 18cm) so if you want to look, you have one in your hospital bag. It is also handy if you want to look at your perineum or wound after birth (rather than take a photo).

Scrunchie: When you’re working hard in labour and want to tie back your hair, this gorgeous scrunchie will do the trick.

Eye mask: This white satin eye mask comes in its own drawstring bag. A great use in labour when you want to get into your zone and focus on contractions/surges and also helpful after birth when staying in hospital, to block out bright lights for sleep.

For the first week after birth:

Partum Panties disposable undies: Blood loss after birth is called lochia and it is like a heavy period for the first few days. These disposable undies are easy, just pull them up and don’t worry about pads and washing undies! Partum Panties is an Australian business and were designed by a Midwife, they have a soft and stretchy waistband which is important for women who have had a caesarean section, absorb 800-1,000mls and have an inner leg liner to prevent leakage. They are also helpful in pregnancy/labour when your waters break. Each pack contains 5 disposable undies and two packs are provided in the Birth Box. Select your size at checkout (click here to check what size to pick).

Absorbent pads: Absorbent pads (also known as bluey’s, but ours are white in colour!) are used by hospitals to … you guessed it … absorb fluid! This Birth Box contains 3 absorbent pads, each a generous size (90cm x 60cm) and they absorb up to 700mls. These can be used at the end of pregnancy for some peace of mind to protect your bed sheets in case your waters break in bed, in the car for the ride into hospital to protect your car set and after birth, they will continue to protect your sheets from blood loss. If you have any leftover, they make a great portable change mat for your baby.

Heat patches and body wrap: After birth, some women experience after birth pains when the uterus contracts to return to pre-pregnancy size. Heat patches* will help relieve the discomfort from these cramps in the early days after birth. The Birth Box includes two FlexEze heat patches and one FlexEze body wrap for the period after birth (the Birth Box contains a total of four heat patches and two body wraps). Listen to The Great Birth Rebellion podcast on Managing Labour Pain Without Medicine (episode 47), Mel and B discuss the benefits of a a heat pack, in particular, this style that wraps around you and stays hot for a long period of time (just before 1:00:05).

Ice packs for your perineum: After birth, some women experience pain and swelling of the labia and perineum. Your Midwife* may recommend applying ice to this area. Applying ice regularly can help reduce pain and swelling. Medichill Perineal Ice Packs are simple and easy to use at home after birth. The pack contains 10 ice packs and 10 covers, while they can be re-used, this can be messy. With 10 provided, you can discard after each use to save time cleaning and re-freezing.