List of things I need for a homebirth

[Reallytired]

I am planning a homebirth for my second baby. I am make a list of things I might need. I just wondered what people think.

1. Birth in a box mini pool
2. Hire Tens machine
3. Old towel/ blankets to protect furniture
4. Nappies/ baby clothes
5. Breast pads
6. Maternity sanitary towels
7. Hypnotherpy/ Hypnobirthing CD
8. Pack a hospital bag incase
9. Tea, coffee biscuits for vistors/ midwives
10. Plenty of food in the freezer.

I am thinking of getting some hydrogel pads I had horrendous cracked nipples and they really helped with my son. However they are quite expensive.

Last time I had to express milk for my son and I am wondering which breastpump is best to get. The cost of hiring a hospital grade machine seems pity steep. Especially as there is no real reason to think I will have complications this time round.

Don't piss yourself laughing, but I was planning to borrow a space hopper that belongs to my son instead of getting a birthing ball.

givethedogachristmaspudd, I haven't yet ordered a pool, but I have been looking at this pool.

mini birth pool in a box

The advantage of this company is that you return unused although you would have to pay for delivery and a restocking fee with this company.

The other company that does them is
www.thegoodbirth.co.uk/birth_pool_in_a_box_eco_regular_incl_liner_and_pump

I don't know what the policy is of the good birth company on returns.

I am still doing the maths to work out which is the better value. I live in a tiny terrace house and I am thinking of having the pool in my kitchen so it is near a hot tap.

this link explains more about "Birth in a Box" pool.

www.thegoodbirth.co.uk/birth_pool_in_a_box_design

My mw recommended the first pool in a box firm.

That is true.

Again if you make a fuss about it and give them plenty of notice that you will need someone water birth trained, you are a lot more likely to get what you want.

There is probably less to a water birth than a dry one. There are only two rules:

1. Make sure you don't overheat - use a thermometer to make sure the water is a blood temperature.

1. Make sure you bring the baby straight up out of the water in one action - if the baby's half in air half in water there is a small risk of it inhaling fluid (although a properly functioning umbilical cord acts as a kind of baby SCUBA diving facility normally, which is how the process works).

That is all there is to it. I delivered my kids myself supervised by the mw, who just let nature take its course (although she did bring with her a nifty remote viewing mirror she had made, which allowed her to check presentation and position of umbilical cord as we went along).

BTW despite being very gung ho about birth, I would not do a breech birth in water (I doubt anyone would be allowed to do this anyway). If I was doing this vaginally I would prefer gravity to be involved as much as possible and have the mw use all her old fashioned mw skills for this. Transverse lie or shoulder dystocia I would want full on medical intervention and a cs/forceps most probably.

Sounds like you're in a pretty good position then.

I sort of 'donated' my third birth for water birth teaching purposes, and ended up with three mws: usual one, one who needed to see a water birth in order to be able to do it for other people, and a student. Lots of help clearing up that day!!

I have had two homebirths and you need less than you think. It is not that messy. I brought plactic sheeting, new set of towles £4 from primark so could throw them after if I needed too. A £4 douvet from asda so if i was kneeling on the floor it was comfy, I placed babys clothes on radiator as soon as i went into labour so they would be nice and warm. I never needed a bucket. But would also advise one incase you need a wee or poo and cant get to a toilet, i.e if you was down stairs and cant get upstairs to toilet. I also had the pampers pads to sit on and they aare great for your bed after you have had baby.
All the best it is a fantastic experience.

Boots do some large maternity pad things (not for wearing but to put on chairs or car seats etc if your waters break early) - they are quite cheap and I found them really useful for my home births.

I have been also looking at La Bassine pools which are a bit cheaper. Although once you bought the liner I doult its much cheaper than Birth in a Box.

La Bassine pools

I have also been looking on Ebay and it seems you get quite a reasonable price if you don't use the pool.

I used La Bassine and can really recommend it. It only takes 5 mins to blow up and it 25 minutes to fill.

You don't have to use a liner, see here

A sieve definitely (and not your kitchen one)!

An old dressing gown to put on immediately when you come out of the pool

Biscuits for the midwife