Where do you get birthing supplies

[abemom2]

I don't plan on UC or a homebirth either. I would like to try homebirth at some point, but my DH does not want it, and the birthing center was a big compromise for him! However, my labors aren't the longest, and with my second having under 3 hours from labor to birth, I'd like to have some basics at home prepared in case it goes really quick.

I guess clamps, something to suction the nose/mouth. What else is needed for the birth and after on hand? (Not looking into birthing tubs.)

Thanks, Ana

[paxye]

I have had a UC and am planning another and don't have those kinds of supplies... you can wait a while for the cord to stop pulsating, no need to clamp. You can use string if you really need it...

I also wouldn't use something to suction. It can actually push stuff back down and make things worse, you can use your mouth to suck somethings out if the baby needs it.

Besides that, clean towels are good to have on hand, but you most likely have those already also...

[Happiestever]

If you want to order your own supplies I have seen them at several websites

www.inhishands.com
www.preciousarrows.com
www.yourwaterbirth.com - has supplies as well as tubs
www.1cascade.com - I think this is the correct link.

HTH

[abemom2]

By waiting for the pulsating to stop, no blood passes at all through the placenta? I didn't know that. You just cut the placenta and leave it? Also do you need very strong scissors?

Also, my 3rd child born in the birthing center (the first 2 were in hospitals) needed good suctioning as he was full of mucous both in his mouth and nose, and with an apgar of 9 right away, he actually stopped breathing as my placenta was delivered and the MW Had to resuscitate him with Oxygen and mouth to mouth, so I would like to be prepared. (If I was at the hospital they would have probably kept him under observation for a loooooooong time. I was so glad that I wasn't there.)

Thanks again.

[paxye]

Originally Posted by abemom2

By waiting for the pulsating to stop, no blood passes at all through the placenta? I didn't know that. You just cut the placenta and leave it? Also do you need very strong scissors? .

When the baby takes the birth breath the vessel that goes from baby to the placenta is closed automatically, the baby's blood that is remaining in the placenta (which you can see pulsating in the cord to the baby) goes back into baby where it belongs... this also gives oxygen to the baby if they are not breathing well, and again, you can use your mouth to suction if there is too much mucous, flip baby over in their tummy on your arm and gently tap their back etc... . After the cord stops pulsating and is cold and limp then you don't need to clamp, no.

As for scissors, I used kitchen scissors that I had bought at Ikea a while before...

[KristaDJ]

Originally Posted by abemom2

By waiting for the pulsating to stop, no blood passes at all through the placenta? I didn't know that. You just cut the placenta and leave it? Also do you need very strong scissors?

Also, my 3rd child born in the birthing center (the first 2 were in hospitals) needed good suctioning as he was full of mucous both in his mouth and nose, and with an apgar of 9 right away, he actually stopped breathing as my placenta was delivered and the MW Had to resuscitate him with Oxygen and mouth to mouth, so I would like to be prepared. (If I was at the hospital they would have probably kept him under observation for a loooooooong time. I was so glad that I wasn't there.)

Thanks again.

In a totally undisturbed birth you're not likely to face something like that and if your baby does have mucous you can easily suck it out gently with your own mouth. Women usually deliver upright when given the choice and that allows gravity to assist in clearing the lungs of fluid. It's easy to damage babies vocal cords and tiny throats with suctioning. It's much better to get babe face down and tilted forward to let it drain out.

I like to have cord lamps and blunt nosed scissors just in case the cord is wrapped too tight for the baby to deliver. It's not by any means something that is likely to happen but it's really not hard to have the tools to deal with it.

[abemom2]

Thanks everyone.

Ana

[ecstaticmama24]

Seeing as you're in Canada I would highly recommend Midwifery Supplies Canada.. Jill is awesome and is great to deal with! Plus, she has so much available, I love it!

[ecstaticmama24]

Originally Posted by paxye

I have had a UC and am planning another and don't have those kinds of supplies... you can wait a while for the cord to stop pulsating, no need to clamp. You can use string if you really need it...

I also wouldn't use something to suction. It can actually push stuff back down and make things worse, you can use your mouth to suck somethings out if the baby needs it.

Besides that, clean towels are good to have on hand, but you most likely have those already also...

Good point... It's sometimes hard to determine what is necessary and what is not.

[FreeRangeMama]

I have had 3 UCs and the only birth supplies I have bought were a pair of dollar store scissors and some embroidery thread to make a nice cord tie. That wasn't necessary as we waited 2-4 hours to cut the cord, but it looked pretty There really isn't anything else that is necessary. I had one who needed mucous to be cleared as she was a slow starter. I just used my mouth to do it (not the most pleasant experience, but it did the job ). Just rubbing her all over helped to pink her up as well. Everything else we needed were things we had on hand anyways, towels, receiving blankets, a bowl for the placenta.

[mamaSun loveMore]

cord clamps?

hmmm...

I like the idea of not needing them (cord clamps) at all. For my last UC dd's cord was so short we wanted to cut it (after it had stopped pulsing) so she could nurse. I'm thinking we'll want to be prepared again, though maybe we won't use them...
Any suggestions on where to buy cord clamps? Last time my dad (a doc) swiped some from the hospital for us. He seems reluctant to do so this time, and I'm leaning away from shoestrings because of the extra length.
For those of you who used thread- did it get goopy with fluids?

[mamaSun loveMore]

random aside

um- can i just say: I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

my next UC is a few weeks away and for some reason I've been feeling unsetled. probably bugging DP. certainly feeling irritable and a little pitiful at times. but this thread restored my faith. we've done this before. it really was NBD in a hugely momentous kind of way. and now i remember that it's all good. so i'm inviting my ruffled feathers to smooth themselves and chill...
thanks mamas, for the support!

[Hesperia]

Originally Posted by ecstaticmama24

Seeing as you're in Canada I would highly recommend Midwifery Supplies Canada.. Jill is awesome and is great to deal with! Plus, she has so much available, I love it!

I just met her, and she is very knowledgeable so if you have any questions, do ask away, that girl knows her stuff