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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

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

57 replies

Nbg · 23/10/2007 21:23

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?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

foxystein · 24/10/2007 15:44

Make sure you have a MN mate to text too. I think mine was second on the list of contacts so she could let the ante-natal thread know!

Ceolas · 24/10/2007 15:59

DH had our PC off and covered with a plastic sheet. Not sure what he thought I was going to be doing in the pool

insywinsyspider · 24/10/2007 20:41

Nbg - hello from dec thread! glad you posted this I'm planning a HB too
Chatted to m/w about it at 32 wk app, she said everything that all these guys have suggested plus to get some puupy training pads from pet shop which I think are like the disposable bed wetting pads you can get but much more absorbant... haven't looked yet but will let you know!

she also said pack a hosp bag because the mums that do that and are all set never have to go to hosp so I thought I'd tempt fate, and get a little box/basket and put in babies things ie towel to wrap them in nappy etc just so dh/dp isn't running round house trying to find bits and pieces

jamila169 · 24/10/2007 20:58

I've always put bits and bobs for after in the baby's car seat or carrycot so that if any one asks for anything , i can just point lol! and if by some disaster i ever had to transfer, swwep the whole lot into a carrier bag -after all what would you actually need in the short term that you weren't either wearing or had ready for after the birth anyway?
Re the puppy pads - they are impregnated with a pheromone to entice puppy to pee on them - not sure i'd want my baby to be irresistable to dogs!
Lisa x

Original poster

Nbg · 25/10/2007 09:09

Bucket is a great idea!
Dh suggested last night that I give birth in the spare room as the bed is slightly lower than our new one and theres a bit more space in there to move around for the midwives.
Plus the bathroom is bang opposite that room.
We have an en-suite in our bedroom but like most en-suites its only small and doesnt have a bath in it.

My waters have never broke on their own in either 2 labours.
They've had to be broke right at the end so whether that would be the case again I dont know.
I just remember with ds the doctors and midwives were impressed with how much there was lol.

I'll ask the MW about buying more pads. She never mentioned them last time but I'll see if they bring enough. If not would the pampers changing mat things be any good?

OP posts:

Tangle · 25/10/2007 13:11

Haven't read it all, but Mary Cronk (go to the link at the bottom) has quite a comprehensive list.

Out of curiosity, why did they have to rupture your membranes? I know it's quite rare for babie's to born with them unruptured, but I didn't think it caused any problems - I'd be interested to know

foxystein · 25/10/2007 14:44

my last one was "born in the bag". I'm convinced it made for a more gentle birth for her. she was a lovely calm newborn, still is. and no headache from a squished head.

its also meant to be very lucky.

MW went off to get the crochet hook, but things sped up and off we went, waters and all!

MaeWhooooohest · 25/10/2007 14:53

Had HB last year and my waters didn't break until just before DS popped out. MW was about to break them when whooosh, all over her . Also, I gave birth in the living room and managed to find pretty much the only spot of floor that WASN'T covered by sheeting. The stain came out of the carpet beautifully tho, all the sheets/towels went through the wash fine as well.

Bucket is v useful (although I had a washing-up bowl as I recall) as i felt so sick in late labour.

I can't quite believe it, but I was on my laptop about 90 mins after the birth sending emails! Took me a little longer to get back to MN.

Good luck and look forward to reading the birth announcement

Loopymumsy · 25/10/2007 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

foxystein · 25/10/2007 18:42

What pain relief are you going to use? I think you need to get a prescription for pethedine, if thats your pain relief of choice, beforehand.

Learnt that the hard way! I assumed the MW would have some to hand.

MrsLynetteScavo · 25/10/2007 22:47

My GP wouldn't prescibe pethadine (or meptid, which is suposed to be better)so I knew I could only have gas & air, so it's worth checking it out.

NBheebieGeebies · 27/10/2007 12:28

Thanks for all the advice. It has helped alot.

We've now gone and cleared out the spare bedroom and I have started to strip the wallpaper . A sign??????

I wont be using any pain relief apart from ice cubes and dh's hand. I may have a puff on gas and air but it made me a giggling wreck when I had dd and I thought it tasted vile when I was having ds so there could well be a full tank left of it.
I have my birthing ball too.

My mum works at a hospital and I asked her if she could get me some inco pads but apparently they dont use them anymore (private mental hospital). So I might just get a pack of the pampers things.

So on my list so far is tesco value shower curtains, towels galore, pampers change mats and a bucket!

foxystein · 27/10/2007 14:36

I used a Hypnobirthing CD - for a homebirth. Sceptical as I was, I found listening to it everynight at bedtime really relaxing, and I was surprised that I did use it and it worked during labour. I remember my worst contraction and there I was in the bath concentrating really hard on visualising a beach somewhere else! I'd definately recommend giving it a try, because I think it really helped me manage the pain.

NBheebieGeebies · 27/10/2007 16:12

Which one was it foxy?

Midwife came earlier this afternoon and we discussed it all.
Shes coming in one and a half weeks to bring the gas canisters and the little case of stuff.
She says all we need is 3 or 4 towels, some soap as we have a sink in the bedroom I'm delivering in and that if needs be, some bins liners on the bed under the sheets would be fine lol.
I've told her my shower curtain plan though

foxystein · 27/10/2007 17:59

I used a plastic dust sheet - you can buy a pack of 3 from Homebase or somewhere - huge and covers absolutely everything. I put towels on top.

this NCT one it really worked.

NBheebieGeebies · 27/10/2007 18:23

Just looking at them on ebay

foxystein · 27/10/2007 19:03

You can have mine, but it is a (ahem) back up version. I think after 4 I shouldn't be holding on to it with a view to using it again!

NBheebieGeebies · 27/10/2007 20:47

Ooooh really!
That would be good.

Did you just listen to it as and when?

foxystein · 27/10/2007 21:18

I played it every night (usually fell asleep half way through the first part). Its in two parts, the first for relaxation, the second preparing for birth. DP thought I was mad, especially when he walked in on me "breathing in, 2,3 and out 2, 3". But I had to slow down the labour and it really helped me concentrate.

Email me [email protected] and I'll bung it in the post. Might chuck in the unused bed mats too!

NBheebieGeebies · 28/10/2007 08:25

Oh thats great. Thank you so much!

Do you want anything for it?
Will email you.

Easywriter · 28/10/2007 14:02

Glad you recommend it Foxy, it's the one I'm using too!

When-ish are you due Nbg?

NBheebieGeebies · 29/10/2007 09:25

I'm due 28th November so just over 4 weeks left now.
DD and DS were late though so I'm not getting my hopes up for this one to be on time.
When are you due EW?

Georgeous · 29/10/2007 09:43

Good luck with the home birth! My dd was born at home a year ago, but we had a birth pool, so there were lots of towels and sheets necessary to catch splashes of water!

Don't think you need anything else, sounds like you have it covered.

I had some glucose tablets to keep my energy levels up. And I bought loads of biscuits for the midwives, it was my dp's job to make them teas and coffees!

I also used plastic dustheets from Homebase or B&Q, they were great. And I had a little oil burner with lavender oil in it, don't know if it did anything but it's meant to calm and relax you. Birth went off without a hitch so maybe it did help

Georgeous · 29/10/2007 09:50

Oh yeah, I forgot about the homoeopathic remedies! I took caullophylum (I think that's how it's spelt) for a week or so before the birth as it's meant to make things easier. And you can start taking Arnica whilst you are in labour. I think you can get a pregnancy/labour kit from Ainsworths or Neals Yard or one of the other homoeopathic pharmacies.

There's a cream/lotion called Hypercal which you can get from any health food shop and this is really good for your nether regions if you have any kind of tear. I had a small tear after dd, it didn't require stitching but it did sting when I went for a wee, so the cream was great.

Home births are wonderful, I wouldn't change mine for the world, but pack a hospital bag just in case

Easywriter · 29/10/2007 15:47

Hi I'm due on Nov 11th but like you think I'll be late DT's were 3 days overdue and I was 7 days overdue for my mum.

I'm so not ready as we're having work done on our house but have really appreciated the content and timing of this thread as I feel able to just go out and buy what I need. (My MW who is fantastic is supplying the pool).

I've just realised that I have some recommendations of my own (following on from Gorgeous). I bought the following on recommendation from my active birth teacher.
Arnica 30c for pain
Aconite 30c for fear
Rescue Remedy
Kali phos or Carbo veg for nervous exhaustion

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