The Muslim Woman's Hospital Bag

I remember researching for hospital bag lists and watching countless YouTube videos to make sure I was all ready and prepared - making myself (and my mother, my husband, my grandmother, my village clan...) feel better.
But I also remember, very clearly, not ever coming across any list that would cater for the Muslim woman who covers herself from head-to-toe and what extra things she would need.
So I've decided to list the things I took with me.

The usuals that I took with me:

• Notes!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
• 2 toothbrushes & toothpaste (I took toothpaste with me, I remember packing it and when I'm looking for it completely disappeared!?!! I put an extra toothbrush for hubs!)
• Deodorant, soap, moisturiser, Tresseme shampoo & conditioner, hairbrush, lip balm, (nothing beats the shower in your own home though!)
• A gown & towel - for after the shower. 
• Backless, comfortable slippers - these were sooo comfortable and I went home in these too.
• Hair scrunchies
• Socks, underwear & nursing bra
• Nursing pads, Maternity pads & Nipple cream (I've also heard coconut oil works well as nipple cream and to moisturise baby's dry skin)
• Phone, phone charger & headphones
• Long, loose top (with buttons!) & pyjamas/leggings to give birth in & another pair, at least, for after birth.
• Cardigan - in case you get cold, of course
• Plastic bag for dirty clothes
• Little jug/water bottle - for bathroom purposes

Baby things:

•  Carseat & carseat newborn insert
• (16 for a 2 day stay) Nappies, nappy bags, 1 bag of cotton wool, little pot for water, vaseline/nappy rash cream
• 6 bodysuits & 6 babygros/sleepsuits
• 2 cellular blankets
• Baby jacket for home
• Baby socks - (these work as good mittens too)
• Bibs
• Going home outfit - I didn't put this on, because of the weather even though they were warm clothes.

The extras you want to think about:

• Long black pashmina (your scarf) - this can also serve as a breastfeeding cover & also if you just feel to cover in front of any visits you get in the hospital/whoevers barging into the room.
• Open-front (either with buttons or velcro) abayah (a full-sleeved floor length dress) - I used mine as a hospital gown and as an extra layer it kept me warm - especially with the thin blankets at the hospital!
• Overhead Hijaab (dress that is worn from head to toe) - wear this and a pashmina to go to and come back from the hospital!
• Niqaab (veil)  - this is if you wear it regularly and want to wear it to/from the hospital.
• Ka'bah compass - to find the direction so any one who visits can pray & if you are able to duringlabour/induction
• Mushaf - if you have the time during labour/induction/want to recite it to your newborn
• Zamzam water
• Dates - these are soooo good for you, your digestive system & also to practice the sunnah of tahneek

Things I didn't take that you may want to:

• Birthing ball
• Extra pillows
• Breastfeeding pillow
• V-shaped pillow
• Flip flops for shower
• Lip balm
• Hair dryer
• Money/coins
• Lotion
• Glasses
• TENS machine
• Big bag to put gifts in
• Gum
• Vests
• Make up
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet roll
• Paracetomol/Ibuprofen
• Notebook & pen
• Facial wipes
• Tennis ball in a sock 
• Breast pump

Sunnah of things to do with labour/ a newborn:

• The Manners of Welcoming the Newborn Child in Islam
• Ruling on Aqeeqah (sacrifice) 
• Praying with labour signs 
• Natural Blood of Women Shaykh Uthaymeen Dr Saleh-as-saleh 
• Breastfeeding ones child
• Menses and Dhikr of Allaah & Recitation of the Quran 

eBay Eyeliners: Yay or Nay?

I recently purchased some eyeliners from eBay. I was just having a look at their selection/price range and because I'm on a tight budget (cheap cheap), but needed black eyeliner I decided to get 3. I tend to use pencil as this feels best on my skin. I need something that's going to come off pretty easily when I need it to, but doesn't smudge and make me look crazy when I need it to last!

1. KRAZY GIRL perfect eyeliner pencil in sparkly black

I must admit this is a really cute idea for eyeliner pencil - I definitely liked the idea of the sparkliness and the sharpener in the pencil lid. It's quite a tall pencil, so room for lots of use and when sharpened gave a nice line. The description says 'waterproof & longlasting'.

Unfortunately this wasn't as longlasting as it did smudge after about 4/5 hours but did stay on for about 6/7 hours. It's not waterproof as water did smudge it off once I had washed my face and makeup wipes had gotten rid of the rest. The sparkliness also couldn't be seen on the eyelid and was only visible on the actual pencil and as a swatch on my hand.

Not the best buy to be very honest - 5/10


2. KG Contour Ultra Black

A smaller pencil than the before described as khol eyeliner pencil. It claims it has 'intense colour in just 1 stroke and up to 16h wear'. A tall order for any eyeliner! It's a lovely pigmented black colour and is very smooth on the eye. This does smudge quite easily, however, but did last for 6 hours I wore it. It is not waterproof and does come off easier than the Krazy Girl eyeliner, but the pigment stayed for longer. Better than the previous eyeliner, but did not reach for my expectations of smudging so easily.

6/10


3. Avon always on point eyeliner.  

Avon's eyeliner that I accidentally got in the colour Emerald! I didn't realise when I bought it and got very confused when I saw it. This is a reflective eyeliner, made in Germany and has a sharpener in the lid so every time you use it has that cute little point as pictured above. It has the texture of a crayon matching Avon's Glimmersticks.

This is by far my most favourite out of 3 and has bumped into one of my favourite eyeliners. The application is smooth, and it is so much easier to get the 'perfect winged eyeliner' out of this than most other pencil eyeliners (and sometimes liquid!). This lasted for a total of 8/9 hours without smudging. It was the most 'waterproof' of all the eyeliners and can be removed easily with makeup wipes/oil, etc. I will say, however, that with certain eyeshadows the smudging then begins, but nowhere near as much as the other 2.

9/10


Overall, I would say these were as good as their price - which was cheap. I didn't set out to buy these thinking they would be very good - the best eyeliners you could ever find!!!!!! - I bought them because I'm cheap and I don't want to spend money.
I wasn't looking for especially longlasting - I was looking for part of the day/evening. For my wants and needs they're okay - in the case of the avon brand, very good.

I'm so basic when it comes to these things and I don't want to delve into the world of makeup (I'll never get back out of the hole otherwise). I'm good with the makeup I have and I look good in it. :)


What's your favourite makeup brands? Have you ever bought something for cheap and had been delightfully surprised by the results? What's the worst makeup you've bought?

To Mum

I often think about death and about you

I think how much you'll meet too soon

I don't want to think about it because you are too dear to me

I want you to stay with me forever please

You have done everything for me and I want you to know

That I will be forever grateful even if it doesn't show

I want to hug you tight and never let go

But you would get claustrophobic and shake me so

I hope like everyone says that time will fly

Because im getting upset without your goodnights

I miss you too much and hope you come back soon

I hope you're having a good time - don't forget to look for the moon!

I love you too much you are my best friend

But all of this is driving me right round the bend

This is getting off hand I should probably stop

But not before explaining that my heart is in a knot

There are too many mixed feelings when you left me today

I was too happy for you but I wanted you to stay

I hope you come back with Nür in your face

A happiness within you that other people would have to chase

I want you to have everything your heart desires

So I pray for you always that Jannah is where you retire

I will always ask that when you meet death soon

Allaah will only take you when He's most happiest with you

I hope you can understand that when you ask things twice

Its only because I think your voice is so nice!

I want only the best for you and sometimes that doesn't include me

But I hope one day you will be set free

I want you to know you are my very best friend

I love you so much I won't pretend

I'm really going now - and this is my final goodbye

I love you so much and that's never a lie.

Munchkin Hot Safety Duck Bath

This is the most silliest looking gimmick-y product I have come across. I'm shocked to say that it actually works and was 10 quid very well spent!

It is an inflatable duck that you can blow up with a balloon pump, or spend about 10-15mins sucking up all the oxygen you've ever had inside of you to blow it up. I did the second option. My balloon pump is nowhere to be found.

It didn't take as long as I thought it would and actually was quite surprised at how firm it seemed when I had blown it up. I was looking forward to putting it to the test.

The baby bath days were long gone as it was far too shallow, Baby splashed too much, and my knees and back were shot to pieces. I was welcoming anything but that Mothercare blue baby's first bath.

pictures courtesy of the husband

• The inside is spacious enough for my small Jumping Bean and can gladly stretch out to their highness' pleasure. 
• It has a plughole at the bottom to release the water once you're done (or when too full). 
• It has a circle disk at the bottom to tell you when the water may be too hot (blue/white). 
• The bottom is padded soft enough so Baby's small sensitive butt will be comfortable for the duration of the bath.
• It also has a textured surface so it easy for Baby to have a grip when she's sitting upright.
• The tail acts as a headrest so if Baby is tired Baby can lean back at ease
• Husband loves it so much he wants one for himself.

Baby loves bath time in here more than they ever did before and I can that growing hair much more easily - especially when they use the headrest as Baby hates water on their face. 

I can, alternatively, just push baby to the side of the tail and wash shampoo out this way and get all the excess water into the tub rather than in the Duck Bath which is useful!

And because Baby is so comfortable in their Duck Bath I barely have to bend over the bath, which makes bath time oh-so relaxing and kind to my aching back!


What bath do you use for your little one? Did you opt to get a bath seat? What made you choose?

Munchking Hot Safety Duck Bath now at ASDA for discounted price!