I brought a little bottle of lavender essential oil but just unscrewed the cap and sniffed it occasionally (didn't put it anywhere or diffuse it or anything). It helped me relax and no one else seemed to notice.

We also brought a mini speaker and didn't even think to use it until one of the doctors said "really? you don't want music? wouldn't music be nice?" so we threw on a random playlist we had made for our wedding a few years ago. I honestly don't remember hearing the music because I was just about to start pushing. It seemed like the doctors and nurses were just happy to have it on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to have an epidural and end up not having complications, labor is not what I had pictured at all. It was completely calm, even somewhat boring, I finished some work (as did my husband) as I went into labor a bit unexpectedly, watched some tv, and there weren’t any nurses or doctors in there most of the time. Would’ve been weird to have a playlist going or scented candles

It’s always funny to see labor depicted on tv because it was so different than my experience

The scented oil and candles are trying to distract you from the sensation of your vagina being pried open like a watermelon. Of course it wasn’t what you pictured - you clearly had an uncomplicated birth, and a well placed epidural. Not everyone gets so lucky.

Now imagine enduring the sensation of your vagina being pried open while also experiencing a reaction to someone’s oils.

I was not fussed about any of this. A softer light sounds nice, but I can imagine the medical staff needs brighter light.

Anonymous wrote:I had quick labors but they were unmedicated - and I have to say, although I'm totally the sort of person who would want to personalize the room I didn't care whatsoever and even had zero idea of what the environment was.

Agree. The experience of being in labor really makes you tune everything out. (And I'm an architect & interior designer)

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to have an epidural and end up not having complications, labor is not what I had pictured at all. It was completely calm, even somewhat boring, I finished some work (as did my husband) as I went into labor a bit unexpectedly, watched some tv, and there weren’t any nurses or doctors in there most of the time. Would’ve been weird to have a playlist going or scented candles

It’s always funny to see labor depicted on tv because it was so different than my experience

Agreed. With #2 I had an induction so we watched basketball most of the day, I got my epidural, and then it was all welp, time to push! Baby was born in 20 minutes. We were very lucky but it was so uneventful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to have an epidural and end up not having complications, labor is not what I had pictured at all. It was completely calm, even somewhat boring, I finished some work (as did my husband) as I went into labor a bit unexpectedly, watched some tv, and there weren’t any nurses or doctors in there most of the time. Would’ve been weird to have a playlist going or scented candles

It’s always funny to see labor depicted on tv because it was so different than my experience

The scented oil and candles are trying to distract you from the sensation of your vagina being pried open like a watermelon. Of course it wasn’t what you pictured - you clearly had an uncomplicated birth, and a well placed epidural. Not everyone gets so lucky.

I mean I felt some contractions before the epidural was placed, enough to know that scented candles wouldn’t have done jack shit to distract me.

This is something I thought a lot about when I was expecting my first child. I brought photos, made a special play list, asked for dim lights in my birth wish list, packed lotions. I ended up having a super quick, intense labor. I didn’t want any music, just silence. And I ended up not caring about the room at all. My focus was so internal. I did like wearing my own clothes though and did so for my next two births as well.

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to have an epidural and end up not having complications, labor is not what I had pictured at all. It was completely calm, even somewhat boring, I finished some work (as did my husband) as I went into labor a bit unexpectedly, watched some tv, and there weren’t any nurses or doctors in there most of the time. Would’ve been weird to have a playlist going or scented candles

It’s always funny to see labor depicted on tv because it was so different than my experience

The scented oil and candles are trying to distract you from the sensation of your vagina being pried open like a watermelon. Of course it wasn’t what you pictured - you clearly had an uncomplicated birth, and a well placed epidural. Not everyone gets so lucky.

OMG please do not even consider scented oils. That is insane and could cause major allergy issues for others in the hospital. WTF.

Anonymous wrote:Out of consideration for others, I would not bring anything that is scented. Some of the medical personnel moves from your room to other problems. The anesthesiologist, for example. Scents can really stick to clothes and many people are allergic or have bad reactions. given that it is a medical facility, I would not want to put the people assisting you, or their other patients, in that position. and I say that as someone who likes to wear perfume at times. I never, though, where it to medical facilities, churches where people don’t have room to space, or other places where it’s more likely to irritate people. Give him the other ways to make a room soothing, with music or images or your spouse being there with you, I would avoid scents.

I agree, or bring a little bottle with you and smell it under your nose if you like. Don’t be the person subjecting others to perfume.

Out of consideration for others, I would not bring anything that is scented. Some of the medical personnel moves from your room to other problems. The anesthesiologist, for example. Scents can really stick to clothes and many people are allergic or have bad reactions. given that it is a medical facility, I would not want to put the people assisting you, or their other patients, in that position. and I say that as someone who likes to wear perfume at times. I never, though, where it to medical facilities, churches where people don’t have room to space, or other places where it’s more likely to irritate people. Give him the other ways to make a room soothing, with music or images or your spouse being there with you, I would avoid scents.

I brought my own gowns, no other special items though because Covid.
I had a 20 hour induction. Music and cards were nice at the beginning, we watched like two episodes of the office on a tablet, but once things got moving all I wanted was dark and quite
And the gown thing is true, don't bother with your own. I changed like 10 times and by the end was down to a sports bra and nothing else.

I say this as someone who had planned for a home birth and had to change halfway through pregnancy due to complications. So I get the need to control your environment...but I promise it doesn't matter in the end.

I was induced and never turned on a tv or played music. I just preferred silence during the pain of it all so it’s really up to you. The smell of fragrances can give me headaches so that was out of the picture. I literally bring barely anything and use all hospital given items - one less thing to worry about packing and also cleaning when I get home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had quick labors but they were unmedicated - and I have to say, although I'm totally the sort of person who would want to personalize the room I didn't care whatsoever and even had zero idea of what the environment was.

Yeah the room environment was the last thing on my mind.

+2, I was laboring in there for like 5 hours tops and then an extra hour or two after as they prepared my recovery room. I guess if I was facing a longer induction I might have cared more but .... meh, lol.

Personally, I love how sterile, tidy, and uncluttered the L&D rooms feel. I **hated** it when my husband started to unpack random comfort items and to this day, I don't know why I didn't ask him to keep our stuff more organized (during three unmedicated labors!!) since it bothered me so much that it's a defining memory of my labors. I'm not a tidy person in general, but in that context, I really just want things orderly.

I think it's great to have a good playlist or two queued up, and you should definitely download some shows or movies to binge watch since the hospital wifi can be spotty. I've had three very different labors--uncomplicated 14 hour progression, lightening quick baby falling out, and cervadil-only induction, but only the induction really allowed for time to watch TV, and I was **so mad** at myself that I didn't have anything great downloaded and was stuck watching dumb old stuff I'd downloaded for a flight months before.