so for a homebirth what is th hot water for??

[mad4mybaby]

I had a quick labour with ds1 and MW rekon this will be even quicker and i should prepare for home birth (have to wait for someone to be with 2 yr old) just in case i dont make it to birth center. So at 37 weeks just thinking about what i need just in case. they say 'hot water and towels' is this an old wifes tale? What do you need hot water for? Im not a cow!

Surely making sure i have towels will do?? Its not THAT likely to happen but still... oh and a plastic sheet? That it really?

[Ohforfoxsake]

Isn't there something called a birthing stool they use in some hospitals? Bit like a loo seat? Wonder if you could borrow one.

[TheEnormousTurnip]

gosh i didn;t have anything
the only thing we gave any thought to was protecting the floor
i did use a birth ball too
the midwives provided everything else needed - even a little hat for the baby to pop on!

[ermintrude13]

I ended up kneeling at the side of the bed, leaning on it. Didn't want to go on the bed at all, not sure why. I was upright through almost all the contractions, had a little spell supporting myself in a squat with back to DH ie. my arms resting on his legs, but turned back round for my 2 minute second state (ouch! tiny tear in the same place I'd got one with DC1 but no stitches).
My sister gave birth recently sitting on the edge of a beanbag with DP supporting her and a midwife at each leg!
Just don't let anyone make you lie on your back - agony!

[needmorecoffee]

tea? I had a homebirth and hot water never figured at all. Much to my disappointment.

[mad4mybaby]

because ds1 was so quick i was 8-9cm when i got to hosp and i got stuck on the bed im convinced its why pushing took so long and why he kept sliding back up. apparantly they did ask me ifi wanted to change positions but if i dont remember that then i wasnt in much state to comply!

I am signed in for birth center and theyve already said they dont actively encourage using the bed so that must be good thing! These preparations are if its just too quick to get anywhere which is possibility. The only thing that put me off having homebirth was if it went through the night i know id wake ds1 up as such a light sleeper and house not very sound proof, if it goes on in the day and enough time to get ds1 sorted and away happily then may well reconsider esp as DH prob wont be here

[PeachyFizzesLikeADampSquibb]

I laboured and delivered downstairs- bed didn't even occue to me tbh (plus I have a downstairs bathroom / loo anyhow. So easier).

Deliverered baby on the living room rug and it was fine, in a bloody strange position though, that hurt lots afterwards!

dh says mw used the water to wash her hands, I had more important things on my mind

[PeachyFizzesLikeADampSquibb]

'The only thing that put me off having homebirth was if it went through the night i know id wake ds1 up as such a light sleeper and house not very sound proof' my house niether- in fact the night I delieverd was the rirst night I remember them all settling! I think nature has little t5icks LOL

[Tinkerisdead]

star1 i have an independant midwife who comes with her own pool

[ermintrude13]

Actually, the point about noise is a good one. I did make a lot of noise both times. The first time, at the birth centre, DH said it sounded like I was singing an aria in an unearthly high soprano. Or being murdered quite slowly. And the second time, at home, despite the fact they'd arried 10 secs before I dropped, the first thing the midwife did was close the windows, because the air outside was turning blue and it was a nice quiet residential street!

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

So your DH can make the m/ws cups of tea.

[Thomcat]

The only thing I 'got in' for my home births were old towels and sheets etc and I bought those plastic sheets from Sainsburys homebase used for decorating. I also had an old shower curtain off my dad. Put that down first, then towels and sheets and gave birth.

DD3 was born in pool so didn't need any of that.

Am selling my pool in a box if you live in the Pinner/Harrow area