Being prepared and in control of your birthing experience is one of the best ways of having a relaxed and better birth. One of the key 'to do' things is packing your hospital bag.

Even if you're intending to have a home birth, it is a good idea to pack your hospital bags just in case. You will need to take a number of essential items to help you cope with labour your hospital stay and take care of your new baby. Be prepared and have your hospital bags packed at around the 32-36 week point in case your baby is early.

Wondering what to bring ?

We have put together a checklist (including a downloadable pdf version) that covers all the items you’ll need for labour, mum post birth and for your new baby. You’ll also find handy links to the birthwear products stocked by 'BambooMama'.

You’ve always knew about pregnancy cravings, but really never knew what they were all about until you suddenly woke up at 4 a.m. one morning obsessing over a huge tub of strawberry ice cream when you’ve always been a chocolate kind of girl. And no matter how hard you try to fight the cravings and go back to sleep, a big scoop of strawberry ice cream is all you want.

Pregnancy cravings are probably one of the oddest things about being pregnant. At least you’re craving something totally normal; some women crave the most obscure things possible like ice cream and pickles and other things that just don’t go together. But the thought of these unquenchable cravings for something you don’t even know the taste of is making your mouth water and your mind obsess over having them.

Doctors don’t even though why pregnant women get cravings, although there are numerous theories about how the cravings are some indication that the mum is lacking some type of nutrients in her body. So the craving is her body’s way of telling her she needs to supplement it somehow. So it’s not necessarily that the mother’s body needs that specific type of food she’s craving, but can just need something in that particular food item.

According to many scientific and medical experts, our taste buds actually play a big role in how our mind interprets our body’s needs. So since pregnant women have high hormone levels that actually alter the pregnant mother’s smell and taste, some foods might be desirable while other favorites are now detested. Although pregnancy cravings are odd, don’t get scared that your body is lacking something since they aren’t a huge threat your unborn child or yourself.

Know that if you’re carving ice cream or more chocolate, your body might be telling you that you need more fat or calcium. A craving for a huge hamburger with fries might mean you need more potassium, sodium or protein. If you are dying for some processed cheese, your body could want more sodium.

During pregnancy, the majority of women either crave sweet, salty or sour food items, with surveys suggesting that only about 10% of pregnant women actually crave something that’s really good for them – more veggies! There’s nothing wrong with giving into your pregnancy cravings, doctors say. However, it is important to remember to also eat other healthy foods that will actually provide the nutrients your body and your baby need to stay healthy. It’ll also help you keep a healthy pregnancy weight so that you don’t gain more than what is recommended by your doctor.

So when that 4 a.m. ice cream craving hits, make sure that your freezer is stocked up, but also add in a double dose of veggies later on during the day to give your baby what it needs to grow and be healthy!

Kangaroo care is a method of holding a baby, either premature or full term, that involves skin-to-skin contact immediately after giving birth and beyond, that will soothe and calm your baby and will aid in their development.

Straight after birth the baby is placed directly next to the mothers skin, on their bare chest upright between their breasts with a baby blanket or mother’s clothes covering his or her back.

This snuggling of the infant inside the pouch of the mother’s clothes, experiencing her warmth, smell, and familiar heartbeat will feel like a warm "womb with a view" to the baby much like a kangaroo's pouch, hence the term "kangaroo care."

What are the benefits of kangaroo care / skin-to-skin contact?

Results from studies on mother-Infant skin-to-skin contact suggest that this type of contact has several benefits to both mum and baby.

The benefits of kangaroo care / skin-to-skin contact to your baby include:

• A happier baby

• More successful initiation of breastfeeding

• Better regulation of their body temperature

• Elevation in their blood sugar

• Stabilization of the baby's heart and respiratory rates

• Improved oxygen in their blood

• Spend more time in deep sleep

• More rapid weight gain

• Decreased crying

• Earlier hospital discharge

The benefits of kangaroo care / skin-to-skin contact to the mum include:

• Improved bonding

• Feelings of closeness with their babies

• Increased breast milk supply

• Increased confidence in ability to care for their babies

• Increased confidence that their babies are well cared for

• Increased sense of control

With all this in mind Bamboo Birthing Shirt from The Birthing Shirt Company has been designed with a convenient extended pop down front especially for the purpose of skin-to-skin with your baby post birth.