Home Water Birth: What do you need? Any advice?

[Haleana]

Hi guys,

I'm 36+1wks and have just been told that homebirth is an option for me (yay)! I've ordered the birth pool but was wondering if anyone's been through this before and has any advice/tips for me? I'm getting the shower curtain and extra towels at the weekend (despite the snow) and the pool comes with an air pump, water pump, heated lid, water thermometer, debris net and another waterproof sheet.

Am I missing anything? This is my first pregnancy so I'm a little nervous about the birth but am pretty sure that having the baby at home has to be a better option than having it in hospital! (Not had very good care from NHS throughout pregnancy).

If anyone has any advice, please let me know!

Thank you!

i packed a bag with everything i'd need straight afterwards for me and baby. so after the bbirth everything i needed was right there (pyjamas, clothes/blanket for baby, nappies etc)
and would have been easy to grab if we'd needed to transfer to hospital

somewhere to put baby when it's born (moses basket or whatever you're using)

a lamp, in case you need stitching

lots of snacks for you and midwives!

How exciting I had a hb 17 weeks ago....had the pool but didn't deliver in it....fab experience!

My list of things would include:

Cheap shower curtains/clear thin tarpaulin for the floor
Many many old towels etc to cover the plastic so no-one slips
Cushions that you can cover up to lean on in case you have to get out mid labour (I had to as the water was slowing my contractions down )
Energy drinks and straws to drink them with (dh/dp can hold the bottle while you drink!)
All your post birth stuff close to hand - maternity pads, dressing gown, camera, slippers etc etc
Favourite music / tv progs all arranged!

I put my dh in charge of the food - mid birth he was in the kitchen making bacon rolls for the mw's as it had been an early start for them! Plus, get plenty of tea - the mw's drink a lot of tea

That was about it - I was surprised at how little you need - good luck

Oh, and don't forget to pack a hospital bag for you and baby just in case you need to be transferred.

A bucket.

Bin bags.

A decent lamp.

Old duvets/towels.

A packed bag, possibly two (one for you and one for the baby) so everything's together for afterwards or in case of transfer. Put your wallet, phone and keys with the bag when labour starts just in case.

Energy tablets and energy drinks.

Can't think of much else to add - except maybe a birthing ball and an old duvet to kneel on if you decide to use it if you have to get out of the pool.

One word of caution - you don't say which type of pool you're getting but if it's an inflatable one then make sure you have someone available to come and empty it for you if you have to transfer to hospital. When I had my HB, my MW told me a tale of one of her patients who had to transfer and when her DH returned to the house later that day he found it flooded as the pool had deflated (as they do over time) and the water was everywhere!

Good luck, HB are fab, hope all goes well and enjoy