[elly]

You can get 6 counseling sessions on the NHS which imo is not nearly enough for some people. I am lucky enough to be able to pay for long term therapy with the same counselor who I had the free sessions with but not everyone can afford it.
There is a charity in my area which offers reduced rate counseling but it still costs 75% of the average rate for a private counselor and there is a limit to how many sessions you can have there. Even that is out of the price range of some people though.
There is a definite problem with under funding of mental health services.

[elly]

Wow, thank you everyone, alot to look at! I was half looking at the Oban area to stay as that looks handy for some of the day trips to the Islands? Some stunning recommendations on here though so I am utterly spoilt for choice

I definitely take Scotland for granted, I forget just how beautiful the scenery is. No idea how I will make a decision now, however, as a die hard Harry Potter fan I *need* to go on that Steam Train

[elly]

Food banks have a list of staples that they particularly need for those who cannot afford to feed themselves or their families but usually welcome luxury items as well. They will organise distribution of luxuries separately from staples, so that no-one is left trying to make a meal from biscuits and chocolate.

ah okay! maybe i’ll email them, I just assumed as the website is pretty clear with ‘this is what we need!’, the other one local to me said they were not taking any donations at all!

[elly]

TBH having discovered the joys of paying for parking via smartphone machines, tickets and entry/exit barriers seem like a faff 😉

[elly]

We took 3 bags. One for me containing stuff for during labour (nightie, soft bra, book, magazine, face cloths, another containing stuff for afterwards which included night clothes (with buttons for easier BF access), spare dressing gown in case of leakage during labour on the other, toiletries and own fluffy towels (hospital towels are awful!), plus clothes and supplies for baby. Third bag contained a change of clothes for OH and loads of snacks and drinks in case we ended up stuck in hospital for ages. I left my going home clothes in a pile in our bedroom at home and got my OH to bring them in the day I came home, save taking them to hospital with me.

I didn’t bother with throw away pants, I just used old pants that I wouldn’t mind ruining. But tbh I didn’t ruin anything as didn’t actually bleed much for long. I used maternity pads for a couple of days then switched to medium flow sanitary towels and then panty liners by about day 10.

The hospital is the hottest place in the world so you won’t need loads of layers and definitely no fluffy dressing gown needed! Take ear plugs, hospitals are noisy!