Due in 5 weeks and having home birth. Is there anything I need to prepare?

[Nbg]

MW said I needed plastic sheets for the floor but I cant remember her mentioning anything else.

I guess I should do a hospital bag just in case but is that it?

[claraenglish]

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[FlossALump]

hot water bottle to warm babies clothes. A torch so they can check for any damage down below after delivery!!

[FlossALump]

Hopsital bag is a good idea as even if at home everything would be in the right place for delivery.

[jamila169]

a decent lamp and something waterproof for your nest - though you'll probably end up somewhere totally different in which case M/W will chuck incopads down, bin bags for tidying up, old sheet/towel/duvet for comfort on top of the waterproof stuff can be binned afterwards . Jaffa cakes/choccy digestives/cake for midwives tea, coffee,juice and extra milk(ditto) OH/birth partner who can knock you up a sandwich.
Lisa X

[feetheart]

Old sheets/duvet covers to cover the plastic sheeting

Clean bedding for your bed - I gave birth in the living room but it was wonderful to get into a clean bed (did change it myself whilst in labour though to try and get things moving )

Boxes of drink with straws for that final bit

FOOD - for midwives, you and anyone else who is around. MWs only turned up 15 mins before DS so didn't have to feed them but DH made the best omelette ever after it had all calmed down. Had it with hot chocolate whilst bf-ing tiny baby newborn DS - BLISS
Also had lots of goodies stashed away 'just in case' - nice biscuits, ice-cream, chocolate, etc. I just remembered how hungry I was after having DD and all I could get was Ribena and Twixes

Champagne in the fridge - put ours in as soon as waters broke but only wanted hot chocolate so it sat there for a week or so

Good luck - homebirths rock

[foxystein]

Nothing more to add (don't do what I did and eat all the yummy things meant for the MWs as DD was 13 days late!). I posted on your thread at the beginning of your PG, and wanted to say good luck. I had a very special HB 15 weeks ago. I really hope yours is lovely too.

[Nbg]

Awww thanks foxy
Congratulations to you!

Right so towels, towels more towels, sheets more sheets a bag.
I was thinking about food for MW's too.
I'll get lots of coffee, tea and biscuits in and stuff for sarnies

[Lulumama]

MWs love choccy biscuits !

tescos value shower curtains to cover bed or floor.. old towles and sheets you dn;t mind ruining

pack a hospital bag, just in case

bendy straws

print or make a sign for your front door to say

'mother in labour , do not disturb' so that when you are in the throes of it, you won;t be disturbed by anyone like a catalogue delivery or milkman wanting paying... handy tip from another doula!

clean sheets to make bed with after, even if you don;t deliver on the bed, it is lovely to get into clean sheets when you are exhausted

tea tree oil and arnica in case of a tear and bruising

[pixiella]

hey - good luck with your homebirth!
im not even sure if i'm pregnant yet (2ww!) but i think i might be cos im reading all these stories about home births and bursting into tears (in a happy way!) ,,,lol!
also i had a VERY vivid dream that i was giving birth last night, contractions and everything - felt SO real...! weeeird.

also what's a doula ?
xxxxx

[Nbg]

Lol LuluM at the sign

Not sure if I should make the neighbours aware too in case they hear funny noises lol.

Pixiella, a doula is someone who can help you either through the birth (birth doula) or a post natal doula who helps after the birth of your baby.

[zubb]

towels, plastic sheets, good lamp (torch) and food.
Also, have things at hand for the baby, and have a hospital bag packed in case it's needed.

[lennygirl]

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[Nbg]

Preciouslennygirl

I dont bother with water sprays, I just go for full on bottle of water poured over me and ice cubes to much on.

I have arnica at the ready.
Tis wonderful stuff!

[Ceolas]

I did pack a hospital bag but thankfully it wasn't required. It was good to have on hand though cos people wanted to get me things afterwards (sanitary towels, slippers, etc) and I could just say "in that bag..."

We used loads of towels and put cheap shower curtains on the floor.

Labour was quite quick so I didn't use anything in particular for that.

MWs were away an hour after giving birth so nothing more than a pack of choc biscuits required!

Good luck, mine was great and it was bliss to get into my own bed afterwards

[lennygirl]

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[spookykitty]

Agree with the others LOADS of old towels and the Tesco value shower curtains are fab, I put htem on the bed then used a Tesco value fitted sheet to make them stay put, afterwards everything can be lifted and binned.

Would try and buy some more inco pads MWs don't have nearly enough.

I packed a suitcase like a hospital bag and left it open in the room so if we have to go into hospital it was there or everything was within easy reach.

DP got a sleepsuit and vest out for DD2 and a nightie for me and put them over radiator for afterwards although we had the window open it was so hot (January in the wee small hours)

I agree homebirths rock

[Nbg]

Tesco value sounds great.

The mw has just called and she will be coming to see me at the weekend to discuss everything and what I'll need.
I told her to ask around the office on what everyones favourite biscuits are

[Nbg]

No we dont really know anyone but I do like the idea
Might do it anyway lol.

I'm off to go and pack hospital bag now I think.

What do you do about all the waters and stuff?
I remember when I had ds it just gushed everywhere and tipped all over the bed, on to the floor and everything!

[MrsLynetteScavo]

Did anyone mention a bucket incase your sick?

I gave birth on a duvet on the floor. It was soft, but also caught waters breaking and blood.

[laundrylover]

A bucket yes. I peed and puked in a bucket next to my birth pool as didn't want to drip my way upstairs inbetween contractions. You just don't care when you're in labour do you??

[Ceolas]

Waters conveniently broke on laminate flooring in hall and not on living room carpet. Easily cleaned up (more towels!)

[foxystein]

Most importantly - make sure your pc is up and running, fully charged etc etc so you can post while you birth. You know how we love a birth on 'ere!

[Twitsthatgobumpinthenight]

make a group of people to text on your mobile phone, saves alot of time. I must confess my pc was on throughout my home birth