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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

So how messy is a homebirth? I don't want/won't be having a pool.

21 replies

littlecloud · 18/10/2013 17:12

This is DC3 so am aware of the mess of birth to a certain degree but think I was just so out of it with the pain then elation of having a baby I can't really remember how much mess there actually was. Also pretty sure the midwives whip it all away and clean up pretty swiftly so you don't really see any of it in hospital.

I've been given the go ahead for a HB so just need to know what to expect don't have any desire for a pool at all just want to be at home really with my own home comforts post birth.

So what will I need? We have all hard stone floors downstairs & floor boards upstairs so no cream carpets to worry about. I guess I'd deliver on our bed so a protective cover for that? Although it already has one as we had a toddler that would sneak into our bed in the night fall asleep and wet the bed . Thank God we're past that stage!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lljkk · 18/10/2013 17:13

Anywhere between nothing & a blood bath ime. No way to predict.

Have a good mop set up in house. Gives your DH something to do to wind down afterwards.

CluelessNewbie1 · 18/10/2013 17:18

I just got 2/3 waterproof decorators sheets from Wilkinson's, a waterproof sheet for my bed and 6 ish old towels. I ended up in my bathroom so didn't really use any of it. I never saw any mess it must have been cleared away whilst I had a bath.

I imagined i'd use my bed or sofa but ended up finding having one foot up on my loo was the best position. If you have plenty of dust sheets you wont feel limited to one particular area of the house if you see what i mean.

Don't forget to have some ice for eating ready in the freezer - i found it easier than drinking.

Hope that helps.

VeremyJyle · 18/10/2013 17:18

When you're in labour the midwife will make a sort of nest, pick up a shower curtain from the poundshop and keep a load of newspapers, these will form the base with old towels at the top and normally a quilt under the shower curtain for comfort. After the event, the shower curtain can be folded with everything inside and neatly thrown away HTH

Original poster

littlecloud · 18/10/2013 17:54

So a few waterproof sheets on the shopping list in the form of shower curtains or decorators sheeting. We need new towels so this is even more of an excuse to get some more. I can have our current ones ready for post birth.

I think I'll need to go and buy some 20p newspapers as neither of us read the newspaper. But a broadsheet is probably going to be more use than a tabloid....

Don't think DH would cope with mopping anything up! And steam cleaner probably wouldn't cope either. So hopefully it doesn't get to that!

Thanks for all the tips so far.

OP posts:

Branleuse · 18/10/2013 18:02

not particularly messy for me. Midwives cleared everything up

Branleuse · 18/10/2013 18:02

i bought a cheap single duvet to have underneath me to just throw away afterwards to be on the safe side

AmericasTorturedBrow · 18/10/2013 18:06

Had both of mine at home. Lots of Old towels but they also provide you with a ton of inco pads

My midwives cleaned it all up - you'd never have know (we had cream carpets)

I didn't have a pool either

Original poster

littlecloud · 18/10/2013 18:35

thanks ladies feeling very positive about the whole thing DH isn't quite so much... sure he'll come round.

OP posts:

1944girl · 18/10/2013 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ringaringarosy · 18/10/2013 19:21

having a pool doesnt make any extra mess but its just one extra thing to plan for,put up and then empty and put away.

You just need lots to cover the floor and something to cover the bed .LOTS.i did have cream carpets and not enough to cover the floor,i now have wooden floors!I am having another hb though so its not too bad.

You need lots of towels for you and also enough towels/sheets to make some kind of path from your bed to the bathroom for afterwards.

Original poster

littlecloud · 18/10/2013 20:01

1944 that's really interesting about the amount of homebirths then in relation to now and how they were dealt with, we have an open fire and wood burner but would rather the mw's take away any after birth [shocked] head being filled with smell of burning placenta boak!

ringaringarosy our bathrooms downstairs so would probably be better if I delivered downstairs thinking about it. Remember the amount of blood that would end up on towels/floor from just getting out of the bath and dried before I could put a pad on!

OP posts:

Original poster

littlecloud · 18/10/2013 20:02

gah

OP posts:

AmericasTorturedBrow · 18/10/2013 20:44

I wouldn't plan too strictly where you plan to give birth - as you know it happens as it happens! I planned DC1 in the sitting room - ended up in the bedroom (cue frantic gathering up of sheets and plastic coverings by DH)....did vaguely plan DC2 in sitting room where she WAS born but again we didn't really gather it all together under me until it was obvious she was imminent

Both times one midwife helped me clean up and looked after me in the shower afterwards, washed my hair for me, it was so amazing!

One of MW went on to rent my flat a few months later and would apparently take great pleasure in pointing out the exact spot where she helped deliver my baby!

Bloob · 18/10/2013 22:24

Don't know... First time round we were a bit underprepared, and it was a bit of a blood bath. On the walls, carpet EVERYWHERE.

second time I had DS in the pool and it was spic and span (sorry I know you don't want a pool) I put an old duvet on our (white) sofa and a shower curtain on the floor but neither were ruined or even got more than a couple of drops on them.

I had quite a large bleed the first time (500ml) but only lost about 150 mls with ds so I guess that will have some bearing.

Both lovely experiences though :)

MarshaBrady · 18/10/2013 22:28

Very. Get a good tarp on the floor. Midwives were amazing and tidied it all up, not a splash anywhere.

NoComet · 18/10/2013 22:31

The towel they wrapped DD2 in got a bit bloody, that was it.

We had plastic sheeting on the floor and a waterproof sheet on the bed, but the MWs brought so many inco-pads and were so good there really was no mess at all.

Hawkmoth · 18/10/2013 22:47

Yes, just a couple of mucky towels with my first HB. Second time the cover on the cheap Ikea couch had to be taken off while I was in the shower but straight into the wash and came out clean.

You may not end up in or even on the bed. I was standing up for one and kneeling on the couch this last time.

It surprised me how little mess there actually was. It seemed the second midwife must have been lurking with big pads because my waters exploded everywhere and you wouldn't know!

1944girl · 19/10/2013 00:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BlackholesAndRevelations · 19/10/2013 09:40

Oh I really want a hb but can't persuade my dp

TeWiSavesTheDay · 19/10/2013 09:50

I've had 2 homebirths, IKEA shower curtain for the floor.

Only other things that got mucky were the pillows I propped myself up on the sofa with, but they were fine after a wash! Delivered on leather sofa each time, so easy to clean, but the MWs put loads of these sterile sheets they bring with them under baby each time.

I'd get some of the plastic backed disposable mattress protectir sheets too, to protect your soda/bed if your waters go early.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 19/10/2013 10:53

Oh and MWs bagged up all the rubbish and took it with them.

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