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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Home Birth-what do I need?

16 replies

Lumpity · 18/05/2010 21:05

Am almost 37 weeks with baby 3 and planning a home birth. Have asked MW about what I need to have to make my home birth-friendly and thay say plastic sheets, old towels etc

But I thought I'd ask what others used or would recommed I get in. Planning to give birth in lounge and not planning a water birth.

Read I should have good lighting-is the lounge light going to be ok or should I be dragging the desk angle-lamp out of the attic?

What about music? candles? etc I don't own any whale music-or even any thing remotely relaxing but not sure it's OK to have NOW 74 on???

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thisisyesterday · 18/05/2010 21:15

shower curtains (super cheap from asda)- we had 3 which more than covered the room i was in

towels- again i got a load of cheap ones from asda but the midwives kept saying "oh, no we can;t use these new white towels" and i was muttering "you will use them, i bought them just for this!!!" lol

snacks for you and the midwives

a good lamp is useful if they need to stitch you up afterwards, so the angle-lamp would be perfect!

i made up a "hospital" bag just in case we needed to be transferred, and it was also handy so that everything was right there after the baby was born (clothes, pants sanitary towels for me, clothes, blankets, nappies etc for baby)

table or something for midwives to write notes on and to put scales on while weighing baby

ummmmmmmm.... that's all i can think of

Tangle · 18/05/2010 21:20

This list by Mary Cronk is a good starting point, but the basic answer if very little.

The "good light" is in case you have a tear that the MWs want to stitch. In which case the angle poise might be a better bet! Not that its likely to be the end of the world if you don't have one - they're masters at making do and, if necessary, you can transfer in (which is what I did - still worth it ).

Music and candles are totally up to you. One of the good things about a HB is that you are in your environment so its easier for you to do whatever makes you feel most relaxed. Whale music, heavy metal - whatever is going to work for you.

I had one of these to act as a waterproof sheet - it was nice and big so covered the lounge easily (twice...), plus a big stack of old towels and sheets to make it more comfy. That was about it. Oh - and a TENS machine .

That said, it would have been a good idea to have packed a "just in case" hospital bag, as DH was running around at the last moment and some obvious things got missed (like all my toiletries ).

Hope it goes well

Original poster

Lumpity · 18/05/2010 21:22

Ok thanks will get the lamp down.

Think my towels need updating anyway and am hoping to get my act together this weekend and buy us a new set so old set can become for home birth.

The think I worry about is that the plastic sheeting will be dangerous on our wooden floor.

Also, do I just have everything in a pile in a corner until the actual delivery stage rather than preparing the room early in labour? Will the midwife sort it all out-or DH I guess?

OP posts:

GColdtimer · 18/05/2010 21:29

My midwife and dh sorted it all out as things were nearing delivery. Have nothing else to add apart from we covered the lounge with plastic sheeting with sheets on top but there was no mess at all. My waters had already gone and there was no other mess! Good luck - my homebirth was so lovely. Oh you have to have proper White bread and butter for the stacks of toast your dh will need to make you.

Tangle · 18/05/2010 21:31

I just had a pile in the corner. I'd spent most of the 1st stage draped over DH's knees. Got into the pool (I know now) just as I was coming up to transition. While I was in there, DH and the MW spread everything out. Took them about 5 minutes total, if that.

If you're worried about things being slippy, could you get a roll of that rug-grip stuff (the slightly tacky plastic grid?) to go under it? Otherwise the plastic table cloth stuff is a bit grippier - you can buy it off the roll in fabric shops and, if you're not fussed about the pattern, it should be about

tablefor3 · 19/05/2010 13:18

Although you don;t need to have the lamp on during birth, obviusly. Indeed many women prefer low lighting (but then you know that).

All good sugegstions so far, plus don;t forget plenty of pre-prepared meals in the freezer/fridge for the first few days and that all important tea (or beverage of your choice since you are at home!) and toast for first post-partum meal.

Good luck.

GColdtimer · 20/05/2010 19:20

Two other things I thought of in the shower thisorning. If you have time in early labour, change your bedding. Nothing nicer rhan fresh linen when you climb into bed with your new baby. And make sure you have penty of hot water for baths and showers.

mamasunshine · 20/05/2010 20:27

I had was plastic sheeting to cover floors/furniture. Then I put old duvet and blankets over for comfort. A bowl incase you are sick which is quite common. I bought a wooden massager which was amazing (I had back to back labour). Played relaxing music, essential oils in the bath, used tens machine and birthing ball. Sanndwich stuff, biscuits, cakes tea and coffe etc in to offer midwives (dh's job!) As for a light, midwife said as long as we had a torch (basically needed to do stitches if needed), otherwise you just want it as dim/calm/serene as possible for yourself. Also a space on the floor where they can check baby and set up resucitation kit (just in case).

Good luck - it was the best experience ever!

chesgirlNOTgriffins · 20/05/2010 20:40

Can I make a recommendation re plastic sheets?

I have had two home births (the last one 6 weeks ago). I used waterproofed dust sheets for both and they are great.

They have fabric on one side and plastic on the other so they are not slippy if you have them on the floor or sweaty if you have them on the bed.

They come in different sizes and the biggest would cover most of a fairly large room.

I bought a big one for my last birth and cut it in half. I put half on the bed (under a sheet) a few days before my EDD and gave birth on that. After the birth I took it off and put the other half on.

The large sheet only cost about 12 quid.

Bit of a long post about a dust sheet
but I thought I would share.

Re other stuff: You will need a flat surface near a power point incase they have to resuss the baby.
Second the hospital bag - pack one for you and the baby. If you dont go to hosptial they are still handy because everything you need is within reach and you know where your nappies, cotton wool etc are.

LittleSilver · 20/05/2010 20:45

This isn't very environmentally friendly

But I head Tesco value duvets are GREAT for birthing on. And then you just roll them up and chuck them.

runs away to be flamed

chesgirlNOTgriffins · 20/05/2010 20:48

I actually considered that Little . I just didnt get round to buying one

Danthe4th · 20/05/2010 20:54

I used it as a good excuse to buy a new duvet, didn't use sheets or anything else just covered settee and floor with duvet. Within 10 mins, dh had rolled it all up and put in the bin.

Summerhols · 21/05/2010 09:47

I had thought of that also littleS.

tablefor3 · 21/05/2010 10:55

oohh duvets.... didn;t have that last time. Will put them on list though. Imagine, a proper little nest!

shipsladyg · 21/05/2010 11:15

Our madwife suggested some balloons for your gate so that she/her colleagues (and if necessary an ambulance) could find you easily and quickly when everything has kicked off.

hippopo · 21/05/2010 16:02

I love the idea of ballons on your gate. Well I guess it is a BIRTH-day

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