UK Home birth

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

Hello.

So we're expecting our second baby girl in February and this time we're going for a home birth.

We went to hospital with DD (now 5) but it was very straight forward, no tearing or intervention and only gas and air, so thought this time it would be easier to stay at home.

What did other people buy to help with it all? I know we need waterproof sheets for the floors and towels but is there anything else we need to be looking into? We also won't be having a birth pool as we don't really have the space.

Any help would be great.

I had a homebirth...with episiotomy and some other complications. Midwife brought all the essentials, really. We didn't have a pool either, but used our regular bath with candles etc. Had my music and hypnobirthing stuff on hand, other than that.........not much else really. Our midwi(ves) had all bases covered as far as "mess" was concerned. Obviously have a snug receiving blanket ready, and depending where you actually birth, a snug nest for afterwards, when the midwife's gone.

Both my DC were born at home. First time I was in the bath for hours (no space for a pool) but second time was much quicker and just padded about the living room and bounced on my birth ball.

We put waterproof sheets down on the floor, covered by old duvet and towels. Midwives cleared everything up afterwards, marvellous! Did hire a TENs machine too.

I gave birth on my bed. I had a big pack of incontinence pads and dh and the midwife arranged them on my bed with some towels on top when i was close to the end. I had quite a lot of towels, both for me and baby. My mattress survived intact! In fact, i think the first thing i said after ds was born was "i know i should care less about this, but is the mattress ok?!" i had been very sick in my first labour so i got the gp to prescribe some anti emetics to take in case i was sick again (i was, and they worked a treat). other than that i really didn't need anything. I didn't move from the bed except to the loo. it was a wonderful experience, good luck!

Highly recommend a ball, didn't need any drugs not even gas&air with it. Otherwise I would check out charity shops for old towels etc, ask what they send these days in the birthing pack

I had a home birth. I had complications after the birth but it was still an amazing birthing experience.

I got a waterproof mattress protector, and i also got plastic backed dust sheets from homebase. These worked a real treat! lots of towels were dotted around. Food and drinks were in the house for the midwives (although they didn't even get offered a drink as the birth was so quick!).

I bought a TENS machine off eBay and then resold it after i had used it. It was great at the beginning but aggravated me when labour ramped up.

I had a birthing ball, and i used it a lot. I ended up giving birth on my lounge floor bent over the sofas. People tend to find their own place to give birth when its a home birth.

The midwives will drop round a pack with the essentials.

I had a tens machine instead of a pool which really helped.

I also bought dark towels and incontinence pads for the bed, and had a waterproof mattress protector. Oh and some biscuits to offer the midwives. 😂 make sure you stock up on maternity pads as well, as you really get through them in the first 24-48 hours. Also make sure you’ve got paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief after.

But I really only needed to buy the maternity pads and the biscuits the midwives had enough of everything else to not need to use mine.

Good luck, I loved my home birth was so relaxing (as these things can be) and was so nice just to get into bed straight after and have my partner there through the first night.

Allthough we had to get rushed to hospital (ambulance was on standby as I was considered high risk ) I loved labour and birthing at home.