Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

Original poster

home birth items you used? / found helpful

22 replies

princesscupcakemummyb · 26/09/2013 22:20

hi everyone for ladies who have had a home birth i was wondering did you buy anything that was useful or you found that helped you i know the obv things like sheets etc im nearly 35 weeks and need to get pre pared ive thought about it and prob wont get a pool just use the bath in the earlier stages any info is helpful thanks all :)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PurplePoppySeed · 27/09/2013 06:45

We used lots more towels than expected (which had to be binned - i'd bought a couple of primark ones but not enough. Cold flannel for my head (didn't think about it in advance). 'Inco pads' provided by my independent MW - they are like giant square pads that can hold a litre of liquid - put down under me wherever I sat until waters went. Then mostly stuff I would have packed in a hospital bag, energy drinks, food, bendy straws etc.

notundermyfoof · 27/09/2013 08:45

A really bright torch or lamp for the mw to check you afterwards. Posh biscuits for the mws

Original poster

princesscupcakemummyb · 27/09/2013 10:37

great thank you purplepoppy il have to get some more towels i think my midwife dont bring those pads well she didnt mention it so i might get some maternity bed mats see if their any use to us :)

notunder thank you i did wonder to provide food wise as it says please provide snacks for the midwives and drinks guess biscuits would be good easily accessible for the midwives ive been told to pack a bag aswell just incase of transfer so i best do that aswell :)

OP posts:

celestialsquirrels · 27/09/2013 10:43

birthing pool and towels for you afterwards

thats all you need!

(snacks for partner and midwives, bendy straws and inco pads also useful I admit )

bunchoffives · 27/09/2013 12:02

Something you really enjoy to watch on DVD for the early stages of labour to take your mind off it a bit if you want?

A little heater is nice if you up in the early hours and you can warm lo's first set of clothes on it.

Teapot for mws.

Original poster

princesscupcakemummyb · 27/09/2013 19:39

thanks bunchoffives good idea about the dvd like that one i was wondering if i should get some of my fav music together i find it carms me :)

OP posts:

Tiredtrout · 27/09/2013 19:52

Cheapy shower curtain, my midwives loved peach upside down cake, definitely more towels than you think

spinaltap · 27/09/2013 20:04

You can't have too many towels! You might like a dressing gown to wear afterwards too which might get a bit messy.

Being at home with all your own stuff is lovely, you don't need to buy much in. Make sure your fridge is well stocked :)

SwallowsInSpring · 28/09/2013 11:08

I didn't use any towels! Except to dry myself in the shower afterwards, and that one did get a bit mucky still actually.
We used cheap shower curtains over the carpet, tucked right underneath the edge of the sofa etc, then old curtains (prev used as floor coverings when painting!) over those. Once I'd had her, I moved to sitting on the sofa, and moved one of the shower curtains and one old curtain up onto the sofa to protect it. I was in a dressing gown by then.
Def second the bright lamp idea! V useful for midwife and ultimately for you-no wonky stitching :)
I used a beanbag on top of the sofa to lean on to make it the right height for me, also a pillow under my knees as I'd started to get chafed knees from kneeling for so long! (the pillow was a bit wrecked btw, despite the inco pads).
Have fun!

Sparkleandshine · 28/09/2013 11:15

sheets www.trade1st.co.uk/shield-large-laminated-dust-sheet - coverd sofa and floor in one go! really useful
towels (fine if washed at 90 afterwards)
birthing pool - inflatable one
bedmats (or inco mats)

The midwives asked for
anglepoise lamp (for stitching)
hand mirror (for looking underwater in the birthing pool at the head crowning)

snacks and drinks for the midwives!

Sparkleandshine · 28/09/2013 11:17

decorating sheets

NoComet · 28/09/2013 11:24

Bright light, portable heater (new babies like the room warmer than you), old towels and something plastic to cover the floor.

One of the great things about a HB is being able to give birth crouching grabbing someone or something.

In my case by the bed with poor DH sitting on the bed supporting me at a very, for him, uncomfortable angle.

So something to chuck over the carpet is great. I happened to have a big piece of heavy black PVC, scrap from DDads business, but as long as it's clean.

TeaAndCakeOrDeath · 28/09/2013 11:48

Not sure if anyone has said straws? need to drink in labour and having a quick sip through a straw in between contractions is much easier than trying to pick up a full glass yourself, especially since you might be comfy st a 'funny' angle, eg bent over... Also echo everyone else, lots of cheap or old towels, some plastic sheeting, snacks for you and the midwifes (easy to hold high energy things like squares of flapjack or cereal bars are good, high juice as a drink too, lots of sugar bug not fizzy) hat for baby and something for you to throw on if you start getting a bit chilly afterwards, dressing's or y
gown or big t-shit etc plus clean comfy pj or yoga pants plus big knickers and maternity towels to hand for when h
you've been to clean up

TeaAndCakeOrDeath · 28/09/2013 11:52

Sorry just remembered to, i found the hot water bottle invaluable in the early stages of mine too...

MakeTeaNotWar · 28/09/2013 11:55

I didn't use towels either but did cover the sofas in a shower curtain from primark then old sheets on top.

Bought a birthing pool £40 from eBay. Bright lamp in case sutures are required. A mirror. A flat surface / coffee table for the midwives to lay out their kit.

Birthing ball, tens machine.

PurplePoppySeed · 28/09/2013 12:08

Sorry - yep towels were because I had a birthing pool!
Also - if using a birthing pool, put the hot water on constant as soon as contractions become regular or the water might run out!
One pair of full on granny incontinence pants to put on for the journey to your bed if you're doing that before being checked/stitched.

Original poster

princesscupcakemummyb · 30/09/2013 15:42

thanks for your replies everyone :)

OP posts:

Geneticsbunny · 02/10/2013 19:21

No one has mentioned a sieve You need one if you have a birthing pool. And a thermometer to check the pool temp.

Needle · 02/10/2013 21:44

I had my two at home and found my birthing ball really useful. I used a cheap shower curtain on the floor with a cheap fleecy blanket over the top and that was about it, although the bed pads are a lifesaver for afterwards.

PickleSarnie · 03/10/2013 19:34

I got cheap plastic dust sheets from wilkos. Pound each.

Definitely biscuits and tea. Midwives appear to be powered by biscuits.

Champagne in the fridge. Very important.

PickleSarnie · 03/10/2013 19:35

Oh and I definitely agree with heaters. And a hot water bottle to heat blankets for baby. We had two heaters on even in August.

HorryIsUpduffed · 19/10/2013 22:56

Can I bump and ask how many towels people used?

I've been getting my HB stuff together in one place (38w tomorrow) and have shoved three bath sheet sized towels in, plus another one reserved for postbirth clean up. Planning a water birth.

And is it worth having an old duvet on the sofa underneath me for the postbirth checks, or will the inco sheet things be sufficient?

Flip