What do I need for a home birth?

[justhayley]

Hi I'm 30 weeks and considering a homebirth. MW is coming round at 36 weeks to talk through everything but I'd like a little more time to get prepared.

Are there any home birth must haves?

Thank you

I'd say plastic sheeting (b&q disposable dust sheets or pound shop shower curtains work well) with old sheets on top to contain the mess.
A desk lamp for the mw to check/stitch afterwards.
I hired a tens machine.
Anything else depends on your plans ie pool, birth ball etc and snacks or bubbly for afterwards.
I packed a hospital bag anyway so that a) it was there if I needed it and b) all the stuff I wanted was in one place.

I put a mattress on the floor in the living room, so I could get comfy and kneel on the floor holding onto the sofa. Didn't want to be upstairs and other dc was up there asleep anyway!

Otherwise, plastic sheet/towels etc and a helpful birth partner are about all you need!

I'm 38 weeks and planning a home birth too. I agree that most of the stuff you need is what you would take in your hospital bag anyway, so pack that and keep it handy.

The extra stuff I have is

• plastic decorating sheets, old sheets and towels for the floor
• dark fitted sheet and bed mats for the mattress
• soft dark towels to wrap baby in
• cushions (to kneel on), yoga mat and birthing ball
• candles, soft lighting, relaxing music, lavender oil burner
• tea, coffee and nice biscuits for the midwives

And because I'm planning a water birth

• pool, hose, indoor tap adapter, bath thermometer, electric air pump
• old towels to dry myself
• inflatable neck pillow
• willing DP with a bucket and instructions to maintain pool temperature

You can get old towels and sheets from charity shops for a few pence, as you will probably chuck them out afterwards anyway. Plastic sheets are 3 for £6 at B&Q. I know some people who have used puppy training mats or child bed protection mats instead of maternity bed mats.

Good luck!

I've had a home birth and had a tarpaulin with a soft blanket over it to cover the floor, the midwives brought disposable bed mats with them, I also had a tens machine and a gym ball plus a lot of towels, big ones for me and little ones for the baby. I didn't see the state of the towels after the birth but hubby said they were so bad that he threw them all in the bin instead of washing them so best to get some old/cheap ones.

Are you planning on having a pool?

On towels, we used any old towel we had lying around. They get pretty gunky, but with a cold wash first (a vital stage!) and then a hot wash, we've never thrown any out.

If you are having a pool you might be asked to provide a sieve.

Hospital bag ready packed in case of emergencies/non emergency transfer. I think it's wise to have a box or bag of stuff for the homebirth and another in case of transfer you don't touch. So two sets of things like pads, babygros, etc (you'll use them all in the days/weeks after the birth anyway). The last thing you want in an emergency transfer is to be frantically re-packing things that you've already used into the bag.