shopping list for home birth?

[SalBySea]

I have ordered a tens but that's it
what else do I need?

and what diameter sized pilates ball should I get?

thanks x

Depends on how tall you are! Mine is 55cm, but I'm a shorty. You don't need an expensive one - mine is from Tescos.

yeah I intend to get a cheap pilates ball rather than a "birthing ball" with added baby tax

I'm 5'4"

I had the standard one form Argos I'm the same height as you

Are you having a pool birth, I didn't I have had 2 babies on my bed now?

I had some plastic sheeting kept in place by an Asda basic fitted sheet then the MWs take the whole thing off and bin

• cheap or old towels, loads far more than you think about 8, get MWs/DH to put them on radiators too

• Inco pads, my MWs had some in the homebirth kit but they never have enough, Boots now do maternity pads, good for the first few hours afterwards

• other things jug for first pee and then everything else you would normally pack in a hospital bag, I always had a just in case bag packed with all the usual stuff for me and the baby, then everything is in the one place too

Homebirths rock there is nothing better than having a pee in your own toilet, shower or bath in your own bath then getting into your own bed with your newborn, oh and being waited on my your DH

As it says somewhere in the homebirth site, all you need for a homebirth is a pregnant woman and a home . If you want something a bit more comprehensive, though, have a look at this list by Mary Cronk, or this one.

The size of ball you need will be dependent on the length of your legs - for phsio work, when you sit on it your knees should have a minimum angle of 90 degrees such that your pelvis is level with or higher than your knees (not necessarily the same thing, but they're more comfy slightly under-inflated as well). I'd also make sure you get one that will deflate slowly in case of a puncture (burst resistant?) rather than go pop/splat!