Right - homebirth imminent, getting my crap together, but a bit vague on what I "need"

[Piffle]

37 wks today which here means anytime I go into labout from now I can have my homebirth!
No hb packs given out here.
m/w just said oh some extra sheets, dark towels, bit of decorators plastic to protect wherever you give birth and the the floor,
mattress protector etc

I have an adult spacehopper doubling as a birth ball.

What else should I plan for?

I was told i had to have a lamp. One of those you can change the angle of(angle poise lamp??).iykwim.

well, congratulations, that's good.
um, desk lamp? (for examinations)
old cushions, snacks, drinks, usual hospital bag stuff, Bin bags for rubbish.

hi

i had my son at home and really the MW brought everything

the only stuff i had to supply were lots of old towels, some sheets, babies stuff obviously and hot cups of tea

good luck, is it your first HB?

they are really wonderful - makes me all gooey inside!

a best friend with a bottle of champagne

ditto,KL, if it works out, it is the best by such a longway.I still don't get whymost people choose to be in hospital.At home,you'llfeel secure, safe,have everything on hand (and a mw who can't run out on you!)

enid forgot to mention the champers has been in the fridge for ages
I do have priorities

ok would a dent torch do instead of a lamp?
WE've only got halogens and they emit fatal heat, don't fancy that being anywhere near my nethers which will be buring enough anyways.
Yes first hb, 3rd child
Two prev very quick and "easy" labours

Hot water bottle. Seriously, it got me through DD2's birth, wedged into the small of my back.

a pool!

I bought one as a last minute thing and it was absoultely brililant

I got one from La Bassine - 55 squid and worth every penny

you can have it if you like (ew?)

also have demanded bacon sarnies made by DH upon popping out our son and heir after my bath.

a 'la bassine' birthpool??

they're not that expensive and wonderful painrelief

heat sounds good, not sure I'd have time to fill a pool Enid
used very hot shower on me with ds worked nicely, with dd nothing.
Okies will put hwb in the box.

one like this.

oh yes, champagne and pooltoo! The best pain relief (water I mean!)
Think they're rather particular about it beingan anglepoise lamp.

thts what I thought piffle

(dd2 was 1.5 hours frmo bang to flash)

in the end dd3 was a very manageable 6 hrs - not the shortest but the easiest

ds was out 2hr 20 mins from getting first painful contraction
dd was 55 minutes

hence not wanting to make a 45 min car journey to deliver this time!

I've been told using the bath is fine even if I want to deliver in to apparently!
Midwives around here are so blase, they do a lot of hb's

Straws so you can be helped to gulp down water in between contrractions. It's like marathon runners need easily accessible fluids. I found straws absolutely vital.

Have a good one piff'.

My midwife has just give me a list of requirements for a hb. It's at home but I'll try and remember...

Old towels and linen
Waterproof sheet/shower curtain/dust sheets
Cardboard box lined with newspaper (for the placenta?)
Bin bags
Refreshments for midwife
Angle poise lamp or torch (actually says on it, 'anything other than a candle'!)
Energy drinks eg lucozade

Think that's it!

Can't believe how quickly it has come round...

well you wont need anything

a supportive dh and old sheets on the bed

Food and drink!
Lots of nice things in cupboard in case you fancy something - I didn't but it was lovely to scoff the lot post-birth!!
Little boxes of fruit juice with straws were invaluable
Tea/Coffee and goodies for midwives - mine was all a bit quick so I got to scoff midwives biccies post-birth too

oh anyone had their other kids around btw?

DD is 4.5 and has insisted she would like to be there when the baby is born
Am happy about this inasmuch as her granny can look after her and take her in and out if she can't cope.

My experience of labouring is pretty good, nothing too much to scare her, esp if she is on oppsosite side of the room

Ie: I don't want her on the action side, but would be lovely if she was there after he was born, she is really excited
if she is asleep when it happens however - she stays asleep!

Piff mine were mooching around during birth number 3 watching a Toy Story video downstairs. At birth 4 they were all asleep. I loved having them around. I think it's great for them to see and expenience if all goes well.

we redid our bedroom after xmas - sorry DP redid the bedroom - the lighting is space age, we have every effect known to mankind, infact probably some not known to mankind knowing him

ok yes something for the m/w's good thinking.

Piffle - it's getting closer - so glad you got past 37 weeks so you can have your homebirth.

I am planning another homebirth and hope to have my DS1, aged 10, around the house when I go into labour. My mum is going to look after DS2 , age 2.6 ... purely because he's not at the age where he can entertain himself yet and I need to be focussed on getting DS3 out !

Will your (very helpful) DS1 be around to look after DD if needed ? Are you having another adult around apart from DH ?

I didn't worry about getting hold of plastic sheeting etc... I suppose it depends how much you usually bleed and if your waters break before/during labour. My midwifes had inco pads that they canged regularly underneath me and put any soiled bedding in the wash straight away afterwards....not a stain in sight !

The midwives (2 qualified and 1 trainee) ate loads when I gave birth last time !! No complaints though .... they did a fab job and deserved every biscuit/sandwich/slice of cake !!