home birth - what do I need?

[cazzybabs]

Please give me a list of things you found helpful...have looked on the website about homebirths but what did you have and use? What do I need to buy? Have 4 weeks left (hopefully 6 weeks - am keeping legs closed) and feel I should be getting prepared.

I had a wonderful homebirth in january, the TENS machin was all the pain relief I used althought the midwife had gas and air in the car she didn't have time to get it out!
The birthpool was worth its weight in gold, can't recommend it strongly enough.
A friend who was planning a homebirth got a prescription for pethidine to keep in her fridge about a fortnight before she was due. I would recommend lots of towels, especially if you want a water birth, and darker colours make a lot of sense.
The midwives will bring large absorbent pads for you to sit on, as well as all their gloves and kit.
You need lots of teabags and munchies for you and midwives!
Hope this helps - I'll be back when I remember what I've forgotten!

I'd definitely recommend tens machine... i didn't have one but would get one next time. By the time the mws got to my house i was in agony and desperate for pain relief. tens might have helped at the point when there was nothing else - gas and air and pethidine were all in house but all needed the mws to administer.

Old sheet and waterproof sheet on mattress even if you don't plan to give birth on it. I hadn't planned to but when the time came i couldn't find a comfy position and just wanted to lie down.

Nice food for yourself for after. My comical moment was mid contraction trying to get the croissants out of the freezer to have defrosted in time for post-birth brekkie!

A couple of old towels - but not masses.

Midwives brought everything else.

It was fab. Good luck!

That is brilliant - I have hired a pool/tens machine..

wondered about bood and gore etc...

Buy an inflatable birth pool, its cheaper than hiring, or if you're in the North you can borrow mine.
Very little blood during the actual birth, classic quote from DH "couldn't believe how little you pooed!" However being in the pool for delivery of afterbirth made it look like hannibal lecter had been one of the midwives!
If you have a gym ball it can be good to try different positions.
At least at home you don't have to remember to take things with you (although you should have a bag packed in case, or better - one for you and one of baby stuff)
I remember worrying about CDs, would I want relaxing or energising music? Never listened to anything!
Good luck and enjoy it

A packet of plastic dustsheets from your local DIY store - huge, cover everything. I put fresh bedlinen on my bed, cover it all up, but towels and old sheets on top. Give birth, wrap up all the grim stuff and let the MW take it away whilst you shower. Then slip into lovely clean comfy bed.

A bucket to be sick in.

I found the NCT Preparation for Homebirth Hypnotherapy CD surprisingly useful and would recommend it.