Thanks for all the tips got my shopping list prepared!

I was amazed how little mess there was.

My mum was definitely the most useful "item"!!

I laboured on the upstiars landing then in the bath then gave birth in our living room (upstairs) leaning on the sofa.

Good luck!

yes, I packed a hospital bag full of essentials, which was really handy as everything was in one place and dh didn't have to run around trying to get pads, baby clothes, nappies etc

Don't forget to pack a hospital bag. I say that to ALL my homebirth clients. I'm sure you won't need it though.

Hope it all goes well.

I had both dd's at home in bed. Bought cheap dust sheets from B&Q but there was little mess really and the mw bought inco pads to go on the bed after too. Yes, snacks are fab and LOTS of good pads - you don't want to leak onto your bed afterwards iyswim. Both times, we had a pizza delivery number to hand too, so that afterwards we got pizza delivered and sat in bed eating whilst cooing over our gorgeous baby. We also had a selection of DVD's to watch and an excersize ball to lean on when it got a bit tough. All in all, though, both births were fine and I was so relieved to be at home afterwards

Large tarpaulin to omit any lingering worries about the carpets. Lots of cheap shower curtains, plenty of food supplies for yourself, your birth partners and midwives. Clean towels for the baby. Birth pool & wheat bag were also essential for me.

My top tip is to have fresh bedlinen on your bed then shower curtain/dust sheets (I use the plastic dustsheets from Homebase, pack of 3, cheap as chips) then old sheets/towels over the top. If you are planning to give birth in your bedroom, you just whip the top layer off and snuggle down all lovely and clean in after your shower into fresh bed linen. ooooooohhhhh, lovely

Don't get loads of delicious biscuits in for the MWs, go two weeks over and scoff the lot in a fit of depression

Make sure your PC is up and running so you can do a birthing thread and let us know how its going (VERY important)

I was labouring in our bedroom 9big dust sheet on the floor) and landing (nothing on the floor but was ok).I gave birth in our bath (upstairs)

Things I recommend are a TENS machine with extra clear pads (I was going in and out of bath so you will have to use new pads), enough maternity pads plus disposable knickers,lavender oil for bath afterwards plus arnica 40 and of course nappies, baby grows and bed for little one (with extra clean sheets just in case)

Plus stuff to eat for MW's (we also had gifts for them which they really seemed to like)

Is fab to hear such positive stories - most people treat me like I am some kinda of tree hugging nutter!

we didn't have buckets for placenta or anything. midwives must have brought something with them

also re dark coloured towels. despite mine being a bit reluctant to use the white ones (el cheapo from asda) I was actually recommended them by an IM who said that they are best because if your waters go and you're using a towel to mop it up with, or sit on then they can see what colour it is