Home Birth...what did you find useful?

[PregnantGrrrl]

I've made a list of things for my planned home birth...can anyone see / think of anything else that might be handy?

Waterproof mattress cover
Large plastic sheet for floor
Bin liner for the debris afterwards
Paracetamol
Candles
Mix CD
Basin
Big towel
Old sheet

A midwife would have been nice

Agree with the hospital bag, just in case. Also have your smellies ready in the bathroom/shower for that blissful post-birth bath.

I found with all mine that using special smellies after gave me something for when I was nostalgic- I could evoke those forst hours on their birthday, baptism etc just by using a certain bubble bath. HOWEVER nothing too over powering, as its supposed to interfere with breastfeeding by masking your smell- I sued the Avent mum to be range.

I'm hoping for a home birth and beginning to wonder if I would be better off with Mum here to care for the kids, rather than dh taking kids there (its a 2 hour trip to go both ways and she doesn't drive), Mum could watch kids if day or help out generally. Hmm- might chat to her

carefull with the food, I was told to stock up on and eat lots of healthy snacky food, which I did, then felt like puking because you don't digest food that well when you're in labour.

I had a cloth with lavender oil on which i sniffed with each contraction - REALLY helped. I found out afterwards that it is supposed to speed up dilation. Couldn't believe that I was 7cm dilated the first time the midwife examined me.

definately drinking straws, it's impossible to drink water without spilling it all down your front when you're on all fours! Also an electric fan, i forgot how hot you can get during labour and mine was packed away somewhere as we'd not long moved house, luckily i had a paper type fan and made dh waft it vigorously, his poor arms were dropping off but if he slowed down at all i growled at him and flapped my hand to make him wave it faster! luckily for us it was a very quick delivery!
just want to say home births are fantastic! first dd born in hospital - i hated the whole experience, 2nd dd born at home this spring - was wonderful, relaxed and such a nice experience would love to do it again (but not planning to have any more kiddies!)
good luck with your home birth!