What to have ready for a home water birth?

[NatalieJane]

I am coming up to 38 weeks pregnant, obviously have the home water birth booked, I am turning our dining room into the room we are going to use and I need to know what I need to put in it to have close at hand, ideas for essentials or just plain extravagances are welcome!

Thanks

Here is Mary Cronks website and what she recommends that parents provide.

Click on Equipment for a Home Birth near the bottom of the page.

Thanks Toady, I will have a look now

OOh I gave birth (planned) in my dining room in a birthing pool

We were told to have plenty of coloured towels, waterproof sheeting (we used builders membrane) to protect the floor, angle poise lamp or similar for when the midwife checks you afterwards and lots of snacks and drinks for everyone. Other items we found useful were a fan (gets hot in the pool!), birthing ball, bean bag and low wattage light bulbs (more relaxing). Also a stool or something for DH to sit on next to the pool.

The midwives bring everything else including incontinence sheet things so they can follow you around!

Hope you have a good experience, I loved my birth and hope I can have another homebirth again

i am getting excited about your birth! there is a question on the childbirth board about having a show and contractions at 34 weeks...think you can answer that one nataliejane??

this thread!

It seems we have it all ready then!

I went into the babies room earlier this morning, to put something in there, had my normal pause to look around and make sure everything was still where I left it, and found myself telling my belly to hurry up and come out, all we are waiting on now is him making a move!! - Pregnancy brain isn't a million miles away from insanity really is it?!

Lulu, I don't know if I should answer that thread, her hearing that I am still here 4 and a half weeks later probably won't make her feel any better!! LOL I might post a bit of a 'I am in the same boat' sort of reply though, don't want her to think she is alone, and besides, I love a good old moan!!!