What's needed for a UC?

[hdeering]

I'm pregnant after trying for years... I've read about UC for most of that time (5 years). It's always been my goal, but DH is uncertain.

I'm wondering what all I would need for a UC. I've seen this list: http://www.christianuc.com/uc/supplies.php

Also, what should I be researching in order to be prepared? I've read tons of birth stories, but not done too much research on specific things like hemorrhage and newborn CPR.

I'm only 4 weeks, so I've got a while to think on it and convince DH.

[ann_of_loxley]

I think the answer to this is going to be very different for every person!
A lot of it is just being able to listen to your gut and go with it.

For me, I have done research as on the things that are likely to go 'tits up' lol and what to do about it. There is a lot you can do if things go a little off the smooth course. Such as what to do if you encounter shoulder dystocia or a breech baby, etc.

The only things I have got for this birth (besides the basics like a birthing pool hehe) are a homeopathic labour/childbirth kit and three herbal tinctures (Motherwort, Angelica & Shephards Purse).

I am seeing a MW for the pregnancy (its free here) - but if it came down to needing 'intervention' or my gut telling me something is up - chances are, its not a MW I would be calling but the emergency services. So anything more, I don't feel I need on hand.

[ann_of_loxley]

Hmm...a lot of that list is actually for after the birth! lol
A lot of the for birth stuff is stuff anyone would have around - espeically if planning a homebirth in general.

For after the birth I have bought hypericum & calendula tincture to put into the bath to soak my fanny in. Its great for any grazes/tears.

My friend also made me cord ties. I don't really fancy the plastic ones. The cord ties I have are simply embroydery floss and are very pretty!

We have a big tupperware bowl for the placenta.

[PreggieUBA2C]

Yup, I agree with Ann.

If you've been reading for five years, you've probably not missed anything that you need to know; if you did, you'd likely know that too!

As for supplies for the birth, with my first freebirth, I had drop-cloths, a bowl for the placenta, usual baby things like receiving blankets, diapers, and clothing, an embroidery floss cord tie that I made while in four weeks of prodromal labour, and that's it, I think.

For freebirth #2, I had nothing. Oh, actually, we had an extra drop cloth in the hall closet that we were planning to return to our friends because we didn't need it for the painting job we'd done a while before. When my water broke and splashed all over the floor, dp ran to the closet and grabbed it for the bedroom floor. I ended up just using a salad bowl to collect the placenta later on because my labour was 3 minutes and I didn't 'set-up' at all, obviously.

Once ds4 was born, I just asked for things from wherever they were in our home. I just remember dp giving me a big wool cushion to lean on and then sitting down on the cotton drop sheet with ds4 on my belly (his cord was very short so I couldn't even bring him up to my chest and face until it stopped pulsing so we could cut it). I used some embroidery floss to tie off; dp retreived that from the studio for me. Then dp brought some towels and the receiving blankets happened to already be folded neatly in our bedroom, so we used those to wipe off some of the gooey stuff and to wrap around ds4's bottom. That was it. I drank some water.

With my first freebirth, I had made a long list of things I wanted for the birth, and as the birth drew nearer, and I was in that last month and exhausted, the true necessities ended up being very few.

I wanted a La Bassine both times, but never ended up ordering one. I doubt I will this time either, but I am still interested. It's just that knowing I can have a 3 minute labour has removed much of what I consider necessary or that I would want to spend money on.

I'm considering having this one in the woods.

[ann_of_loxley]

With my first freebirth, I had made a long list of things I wanted for the birth, and as the birth drew nearer, and I was in that last month and exhausted, the true necessities ended up being very few.

This is what I am finding as well. My list was much bigger but now that my time is so near, I really don't have much.

And the only reason I have a La Bassine is because a friend bought one and she is letting me borrow it! lol

[zoebird]

i didn't have anything special for the birth.

we used a bathmat that we already owned to protect our mattress/floor/whatever, kitchen scissors (that we cleaned before using of course), a mixing bowl for the placenta, and towels (which we used after the birth--hot from the drier to provide extra heat for DS and I).

that was it. nothing special.

[onyxravnos]

i had eveything i used little of it but here is what i would want to have on hand even if i didn't use it.

mats - i had those disposable hospital ones and the reusable ones i liked the reusable ones better - i used 4 reusables 6 disposables and 3 towels.
metal scissors and cord clamps - used to cut cord just boiled the scissors prior
baby blankets/diaper/hat (obviously)
plastic picnic table cloth to put on bed after birth
puke bucket i actually ended up using this to catch the placenta instead.
bendy straws
Herbs i had several tinctures in case of loss of blood, a few for pain, and one for in case the placenta didn't come out. I also had some loose ones on hand for tea and to use in case i tore. (also had seaweed strips on hand for if i tore) used none of it but felt better that i had it
first aid kit including stethoscope used none of it

[PreggieUBA2C]

Oh yeah- scissors. We used our kitchen meat scissors. Washed in hot soapy water.

For the two first days following birth, I use receiving blankets for my own bleeding. I find that I am not moving around all that much anyway. They are soft and I can move around without being concerned about them not covering because they are essentially like big cloth diapers that fit into my pregnancy big girl undies.

I haven't bled much after any births though, so this may be inadequate for mums who do.

[zoebird]

my dad--he's so sweet--when they came on the first day brought me depends.

i did actually use them, but my preference was to use my mamacloth. i was just changing it frequently. i used the depends whenever we would go out (not much at first) because i didn't know if i would make it to the bathroom OR bleed through while moving. i had a lot of lochia--that lasted for days and days and days. interesting, that.

so, yeah. i did use depends. LOL

[basje]

my 2 cents

I made a big ol list too but when the birth grew closer I didn't end up getting or needing much. Here's what I would use if I did it again.

Sharp scissors to boil to cut the cord and some dental floss or embroidery thread. I waited until the cord had drained it's blood and turned white (about an hour) before cutting so I didn't really need the floss but it was an easy thing to do.

Towels. That you can bleed on, or wrap the baby in, or clean up the floor with. Birth is messy, thankfully washing machines are effective.

Herbs of choice to stop bleeding, get placenta out, rescue remedy for baby in case of respiratory failure, and prune juice (to encourage those first postpartum poops and blends up well with placenta if you're consuming it). I'd have the herbs already dosed, labeled and ready to go.

Emergency bag next to the door. In this bag I had my hospital gear if I need to be taken which I ended up using after my delivery. Insurance cards, copies of power of atterny, copies of my medical records for the pregnancy (including what I charted myself during the two trimesters I Up'd) name and numbers of people to notify for my doula, change of clothes for myself and baby, comfortable nursing bra and a depends. The depends really came in handy because I had a retained placenta so I was able to just stick the cord in the panties and not bleed all over everything until I got to the hospital. When I got to the hospital I didn't have to move around a lot to rip them off and it was easy to keep track of the bleeding.

That's really all I needed or would use again. Oh I did have some reference texts I'd already read on hand, although I didn't touch them during labor. Both emergency childbirth, and where there is no doctor.

[jessica_anne010]

Originally Posted by PreggieUBA2C

Oh yeah- scissors. We used our kitchen meat scissors. Washed in hot soapy water.

For the two first days following birth, I use receiving blankets for my own bleeding. I find that I am not moving around all that much anyway. They are soft and I can move around without being concerned about them not covering because they are essentially like big cloth diapers that fit into my pregnancy big girl undies.

I haven't bled much after any births though, so this may be inadequate for mums who do.

When I had my miscarriage last year and bled like I'd just had a full term birth, I used the inserts for my Bum Genius cloth diapers to catch any over flow from the pads. That worked well and somehow managed to keep them in place between my undies and pants. Going to do that again (at least at night/first few days) after this birth as I do tend to bleed more heavily.

Great idea on the meat scissors, I was wondering what I was going to use for that. :-)

[ann_of_loxley]

I am planning on using our hair cutting scissors - because they are the sharpest scissors in our house. Ill (well you know - dh actually lmao) just bung them in a pan of boiling water with our cord ties for a few minutes.

[jessica_anne010]

Originally Posted by ann_of_loxley

I am planning on using our hair cutting scissors - because they are the sharpest scissors in our house. Ill (well you know - dh actually lmao) just bung them in a pan of boiling water with our cord ties for a few minutes.

Yeah, mine probably are the sharpest too, I have a sharpener but our meat scissors won't fit. I'll probably have both ready just in case to see which works better. :-)

[PreggieUBA2C]

I just love the nonchalance of this discussion.

I actually preferred the meat scissors because even though our haircutting scissors are sharp, the cord kept slipping out a bit and was taking too long, but the grippy steel undulations along the blade of the meat scissors kept it tight while cutting.

We also waited until there was no blood in the cord, but (for both freebirths) it was still very round, squishy but rubbery, and held its form really well. I've seen cords that flatten out quite a bit; I think hair cutters would work very well for those, but I have no experience with that. The meaters have both situations covered- round and tough, or flat and lax.

Scissors reviews, anyone?

[ann_of_loxley]

In all honesty, I might just actually have some medical scissors. Whilst I am planning to UBAC, I have seen a MW throughout this pregnancy and because I am planning a 'homebirth' - they give you a box containing a lot of stuff they really hope not to use but some stuff can come in handy like an enema, 'piddle pads' (lol), scissors for cutting the cord I imagine. And because we live out in the middle of nowhere - I also have a resus kit for baby and me! Oxygen bar anyone? lmao... Basically, I have a whole load of stuff 'they' would plan to use, need to use, hope not to use. I am sure scissors are in there somewhere! May just save my hair cutting scissors and use those lol

[zoebird]

as i have (notoriously said before) worst case scenario, you can use your teeth.

i didn't, but when people would ask me "how are you going to cut the cord?" i would answer "with my teeth, of course." LOL

we waited 9 hrs after the birth to do it, and it was so limp and flat and no blood, i think one good chomp and a slight pull would have done it no problems. LOL

[ann_of_loxley]

I have actually thought of doing that ...its what other mammals do! lol

But I usually gross people out enough when I tell them I plan to eat my placenta! lmao

[shishkeberry]

Originally Posted by ann_of_loxley

But I usually gross people out enough when I tell them I plan to eat my placenta! lmao

Yeah, my DP thinks I'm crazy when I tell him I want to do this. I've read about the benefits of doing it, but to be honest, my real reason is because it might be the closest I'll ever get to tasting human flesh. I know, I know, that sounds crazy, but I've always wondered what cannibalism was like.