What do you need for a homebirth?
Well, other than determination and clean towels... not a lot!
In my opinion, you don't need to go on a mad shopping spree. Leave that for the baby room!
Your midwife will bring your 'birth boxes' roughly two weeks before your due date. In there will be all the medical items she might need during and after your labour. She might also give you a list of items to get. But normally not.
Should you want to have an idea of things you might need, here is a list.
'Dry land birth'
- Lots and lots of clean soft towels. To wrap the baby in, to dry you after your endless baths and showers, to sit on after birth etc.
- plastic sheeting (gardencentre) or waterproof mattress protector
- clean sheets for the bed
- mirror to watch baby being born
- disposable bed mats for bed-wetting children (from supermarket)
- Birth pool (obviously)
- birth pool kit (hose, pump, zif, thermometer etc) You can normally buy this where you rent or buy the pool.
- big plastic groundsheet for under the birthpool.
- lots of clean soft towels.
- mirror for the midwife (and you) to see the baby being born
- disposable bed mats for bed-wetting children, to sit on after birth (from supermarket)
'For you'
- sanitary (maternity) pads
- Old knickers you don't mind getting stained
- clean nighties
- large t-shirt for labour
- hair ties
- warm socks (not needed for waterbirth)
- clean flannels
- water spray
- food and goodies (as well as for you as for your birth partners and the midwives)
'For labour'
- birth ball
- pillows and cushions
- your favorite music (or just relaxing background music)
- your hypnobirthing cd?
- light reading for distraction
- candles
- lights with dimmer for atmosphere
- TENS Machine
- clock
- kitchen paper
- plasticine or bluetac to plug the bath overflow to make it deeper and therefore more relaxing
- notebook and pen (very handy to keep note of your contractions - what time, how long and how strong. This will give a good indication for the midwife when you call her)
'For the midwife'
- a torch or lamp to check you for tears afterwards.
- your birthplan
- clean towels and soap
- a table where she can lay out her equipment
- bin liners
- a bucket (you might feel sick)
- lots of tea and biscuits!
'For baby'
besides the long list you have probably have already....
- first clothes -vest, babygro, hat, cardigan and mittens (maybe you can warm them on the radiator)
- nappies
- made-up crib
- clean towels (again!)
- pleated cotton wool
- plain soap
- a name (or two)
Well besides all the above (of which most of them you will need regardless of home or hospital birth) it is always a good idea to pack your hospital bag in case of transfer. You don't want the stress of last minute packing. You probably don't need it, but just in case.
What I did was pack my hospital bag and used the items out of there for during and after labour (like first clothes, extra nighty, sanitary pads and clean knickers)
