Just trying to remember what I had and needed in that first week:

Arnica Pillules - Nelsons ones, from Holland & Barrett
Sports Water Bottle - for spraying / rinsing over your bits when weeing
Kitchen Roll - by the loo to dab dry rather than rub and not have bits of tissue sticking
Diclofenac & Paracetamol - both safe to take together, both safe when breastfeeding, both on prescription
Lansinoh - Nipple Cream - on prescription
Nipple Shields - for breastfeeding - literally a life (and nipple!) saver for us
Breast Pads - Tommee Tippie were best I found, the Johnsons went kindof hard and the stores own were thick and crinkly?
Always Night time pads with wings - along with maternity pads but as soon as you're happy to make the swap they are sooo much comfier! Beware of scents / gels but deff a good one to have in I found
OOO Unscented bum wipes - for you! - stores do their own brands or think andrex do them too - flushable type, for number 2's - trust me, well worth it!
Erm I think Anusol or another heamorroid cream - better to have in than have to send out for it!
I think it was Tea Tree Oil and Lavendar - a few drops of each in tepid water in a shallow bath - to help heal stitches. No nice but necesary. Hubby is under instruction not to leave me to do this by myself, it was a cold clinical lonely soak in the tub

General stuff:
Paper plates / cups: much easier if you want to grab some toast or sandwich and no plate to wash (unless you'e lucky enough to have a dish washer!)
Few frozen meals / easy-cook meals in the cupboard - and a lit of these on the fridge for other people to see! Include tins of soup, hot dogs, frozen meats like bacon or sausages that can be bunged in the grill / oven, instant noodles or rice packets etc.
Some 'portioned' drink like cans, cartons, bottles - to remind you to keep hydrated and you're more likely to drink as you just have to grab one from the fridge!

All I can think of for now xx

Good idea this post !!! x

Thanks Meg

Ah sure you focus so much on what to buy baby / what you've already got (even what baby needs 'just in case' and what others can buy for baby...) Then remember things YOU need!

It's all in a bid to help me organise my thoughts instead of panic at the very thought of it all again xx

Thank you! I think living with my mum though I'm going to be slightly spoiled lol x

Lol, in which case, pass her a list - and include some treats on there! xx

Lansinoh a definate

Soft big gently elasticated knickers

Gonna try some washable breast pads this time as always found the disposables itchy

Some preprepared caelyn meals this time i thinkfor daddy to warm up for her.

Soft button up mens shirts, so much morecomfy for bf-ing if you know aregoing to be staying in

Downstairs pillows! Not as in for your 'downstairs' but for proper couch snuggling purposes, kept dragging mine up and downstairs with me last time

2 moses basket stands, one up one down so jst transfer the basket.

I had some fab knickers from primark, well not fab as in nice but they were £2.50 for 5 and they were really comfy!

This pillow is snuggly and a bit of a bargain
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1270475.htm

Some nice new pj's and/or slippers, dressing gown or loung-ey pants and tops would be a nice treat to have... H&M have fab strappy tops that are good to wear instead of a bra when you just can't be doing with one on!

Oh - and apprently a good green cabbage about day 3 when the milk comes in and your boobies are ready to pop - a leaf on each one supposed to help. xx

A nice big comfortable cushion to sit on incase you have stiches, i couldnt sit properly for weeks afterwards, all i can think of at the mo thats not been said

Loose socks easy to put on! I wore OHs fora while before and after C

xx maxi xx wrote:

A nice big comfortable cushion to sit on incase you have stiches, i couldnt sit properly for weeks afterwards, all i can think of at the mo thats not been said

I was gonna say this too!! I remember sitting at our dining table with a cushion from the sofa - I had to do this for about 8 weeks!!!

Erm, I used to use Badedas (bath stuff) because my MW told me the chestnut oil (I think) helps with the healing. xx

I read in a magazine about a rubber ring (fetching) but I'm hoping the pillow idea will do...

Just to add - have started stocking up on some quick-grab snacks & drinks and boiled sweets / chewing gum - just to have to hand for a quick boost / mouth freshen! Plus it helps having some bits and bobs left over from Christmas to add to the stash. Was buying things anyway for hospital bag snacks so worked out more thrifty to do multipacks / bags anyway.

I'm pretty sure the books would advise having fruit and some lovely veg and dips or similar but I can't really pre-stock those - plus I have a feeling that an apple at 6am won't be as appealing as a cereal bar / choc bar

im going old school and im going to say cabbages cabbage leaves in the freezer for ten minutes then down the bra really helped my poor boobies!

and lansinoh have changed their breast pads and now they are really comfy

i would also say loads and loads of super cheap, big, soft knickers and extra nappy bags...i ended up using them as disposables for the first few days and they needed to be wrapped up yuck!

oh and i barely thought of paracetamol/ibuprofen beforehand, i didn't realise how achey my poor bones would be

two water bottles - one to carry everywhere to make myself keep drinking (even though i was scared of peeing for a while ) and one for toilet times - although i didn't use one for that cos it was too cold, so i kept jumping in the shower for a splash down under

pads pads and more pads...for the boobs..for the foof....for wherever really i used tesco maternity pads, then tesco slim maternity pads with wings - my friend had an awful experience using plastic backed sanitary towels *apparently* (and this is only word of mouth) they are designed to kind of soak up blood - which in fact also helped her many stitches come loose and she was really poorly - that is the reason i stuck to maternity pads BUT that might have happened no matter what she used

mmm and loads of milk cos my heartburn didn't give up for a few weeks after elijah popped out

and fruit and fibre to make yourself poop that first time!

i can't believe i have forgotten half of it all already, thats sort of sad...i remember promising myself i would never ever forget!