I’m one for being organised. I have to make sure I have everything all there and ready as soon as possible. Before the baby arrived I was panicking about having everything I needed for the arrival. Here is some of things that I made sure I had before the baby was born.
Many of you know how much pain I was in before I had the baby as she was so high up in my ribs, so I tried out the Mum and Me Bump Gift Pack. This contains Smooth and Glow Shampoo, this I loved. With long very straight hair it can look limp but this brought it’s sheen back. Soothe and Nourish Body Lotion, another fab product. This really helped with the itchy, stretch skin on my stomach. Relax and Unwind Bath soak and Sleep Mist smelled lovely and definitely helped me relax. I would recommend this as a gift for any pregnant mummy. I also bought a few of the Baby Sleep Tight range for when the baby came. They have been very good as well. 
As I was planning on breastfeeding a good Maternity bra is essential and I recommend having at least 3. I have one white, one black, one neutral. That way you always have one ready while the other is in the wash and a spare if, well we leak a little. Even if you are not planning on breast feeding, you still need a good support bra that will grow with you during pregnancy and again afterwards. It is also best to have a non wired bra so they are not restricted and don’t dig into your bump. The best ones I have found are from Bravado Designs. Their website has tons of information on measuring yourself to get the right fit throughout your pregnancy and beyond. The bras’ themselves fit great, feel great, wash great and look great. Not forgetting the clasp at the back has many fixtures so you can go smaller or larger as you grow and shrink. I found them so comfortable and even slept in them at the end of the pregnancy. Once I had the baby they kept my breast pads in place and didn’t look bulky like some do. There is also some extra padding in case of any leakage and the pads are held in place with another section of material. The clips on the straps are easy to use, making breastfeeding easy to start when the baby is crying. I also bought one of the tank tops which are fab for any time of the day or night. I was not disappointed with these bras.
A decent feeding pillow is another one of my must haves. I’ve had difficulty breast feeding in the past and a pillow definitely helps with holding and getting a good position. I like the Theraline range. They are bright colours, looking great and also firm giving the good support you need for feeding. As you can see my little lady was quite at home on hers. 
Due to the issues I’ve had with breast feeding in the past and currently have, I have always made sure that I got some bottles for formula. They also work well for breast milk which if us mums need a rest our partner or someone else can give to the baby. The best bottles I’ve found are the Dr Brown bottles. My youngest boy Tyler has very bad colic and these bottles were a God send. They made a huge difference so I wouldn’t go for anything else. Your baby doesn’t have to have colic before you go onto these they are great for helping cut down on the air that goes into the baby’s tummy causing them pain and distress. 
Being a previous bottle feeder as well as breast feeding at the start I need a good steriliser. I have used Milton in the past and loved it and got it again for this time. I love the smell of the Milton solution and the ease of it. I got the large tub which you fill with cold water to the required line, add in a tablet, let it dissolve and put in your bottles, dummies, nipple shields, teethers, anything that the baby will be near. I’ve used steam sterilisers in the past but this is still the one I keep going back to. You can store the items for up to 24 hours in the liquid and is ready to use in 15 minutes. No worries about melting with the heat or burning your fingers taking them out to quickly, we’ve all done that. The wipes are great for getting hard surfaces clean. One of the best products is the mini soother steriliser. This is a little pod where you fill with water, put in a mini tablet and store your dummy in it and keeps it sterile for up to 24 hours. It comes with a clip so you can take it on the go attaching it the buggy or bag. I love Milton products. 
A changing bag is a must, one that can store all your bits and pieces in as well as the mountain of stuff you have to take for the baby. I use a designer changing bags from Pink Lining. These are well made and look great. I love the fact there are pockets at the front for my mobile, keys, etc for easy access. The bag itself has loads of pockets in the inside for storing a spare set of clothes, bibs, etc. There are also two insulated pockets to keep the baby bottles warm when on the move and they work, I’ve tried them out. Also a separate clear pocket you can store your nappies, wipes and nappy bags in to take out to the changing room. The changing mat is very cute too. I have used this bag for several weeks now and I love it. I have one with cute little cupcakes on it and it’s pink since I have a little lady now, you can have a look at the range here. 
I also make sure I have a nappy purse, which is great for travelling light, I use this for nipping over to the in laws, my mothers, etc. Places where you don’t need to take the whole load of stuff with you. It is great when the baby gets older when you don’t need to take as much kit with you and especially as toddlers when they just need their nappy changing. I love Ruby and Gingers Nappy Purse. The fabric is water and dirt resistant, meaning any little accidents which may go onto the purse can be wiped off easily. It has a great changing mat, which has been made bigger due to customer feedback and is perfect I have to say so. I also have their toy tie, this is perfect for clipping any toy to the car seat, buggy, etc. If like me your child has a favourite toy, you don’t want to lose it. I did when my youngest boy was little and it was a nightmare, this time I’m prepared not to lose one. It works really well and easy to use. They also have a great car seat cover which I was given as a gift and I love it. I’d recommend all Ruby and Ginger items. They really have thought about what would be really useful to mothers and babies and went with it. 
I didn’t buy any outfits and only bought a few baby gros and vests for when the baby arrived. I wanted to wait and see what she was like before getting some. However, you do need to have some available for the hospital bag. I used The Essential Ones for this. Their items are gorgeous, so soft and look amazing. They come all wrapped in tissue paper and look so cute in their little bags for storage. Not forgetting the scent. They have a light newborn scent that comes from them, I’m not kidding their clothes smell amazing when you open the packet. Brings back all those newborn smells. How cute does my little girlie look in her The Essential Ones outfits. I highly recommend all their clothing, it’s comfy, easy to put on and so soft. 
Disclaimer:- I was sent some of the above items as stated in the post, others I have purchased myself. I’ve not been paid further for mentioning any of these products in this post. All words and opinions are my own and the links have been included out of courtesy.
This post is protected under copyright. SusankMann 2009 – 2014