Supplies Suggestions

[BlueIrises]

I am having my 1st homebirth (3rd birth overall). I just ordered the birthing kit suggested by my midwife. I will be having a water birth, so we have a tub, liner, hoses, pump, and sump pump all taken care of. Looking at the suggested items in my midwife's kit, is there anything else you experienced homebirthers have used and would recommend. Is the item a must-have or a luxury item. Thanks for the help!

This is what comes in my kit:
8 23x36 underpads
10 23x24 underpads
2 11" ob pads
10 packages (1per) 4x4 gauze pads + 1 gauze tub
1 cord ring
4 medium sterile single gloves-vinyl
4 sterile gloves, pairs, med-2-vinyl
1 bulb syringe-2 oz
1 hat-cotton-regular 100% cotton
1 deluxe hat 100% cotton
1 peri bottle
1 paper tape measure
2 straws
10 pkts lube jelly-sterile
1 10cc syringe
8 alcohol prep pads
4 peach pads

[mom2threenurslings]

Lots and lots and lots of towels...if you get in and out of the pool, you'll need some on the floor for you to step on as well as to dry yourself off with (and save a couple to use when you shower after giving birth).

A dishpan to use as a "footbath" - put water in it and step in it before entering the pool to get anything off your feet that you don't want in the pool ... have someone change the water every time you get out. This should be used by anyone getting into the birth pool with you.

A thermometer for the pool so you can make sure the water is at a good temp.

A tarp to put under the pool ... and one to use as a cover to keep the heat in when you're not in the pool (we used a comforter for this and it worked great).

A flashlight to shine into the water while you're pushing so the midwife can see better -especially if you like to have the lights low while birthing. If the side of the birth pool is clear/transparent, someone can shine the light through the side of the pool, giving great illumination to the birth.

Postpartum herbs ... some of which should be brewed ahead of time and put into postpartum sanitary napkins and put in the freezer to be used to sooth yourself after birth. The warm postpartum brew is great in a peribottle the first few times you use the bathroom after giving birth and in a post-birth bath.

Electrolyte drink to keep you hydrated during labor and rehydrate you after birth. Also, protein-rich snacks to munch on during labor.

A post-birth meal that can go from freezer to oven right after you give birth ... lasagna or something similar.

Lots of receiving blankets.

[homemademom]

Before labor, I made sure that my bed was made with a nice set of clean sheets, followed by a plastic shower curtain, followed by some cruddy sheets that I didn't mind getting messy with amniotic fluid or blood. After the birth, you can strip off the top sheets and have your nice clean ones to sleep in.

Keep several clean washcloths and a bucket of ice water to dunk them in so you have a cold cloth for your face (forehead, neck, etc.) during labor.

Tank top or swimsuit top if you're not planning to go totally naked (though you might decide that anyway).

A package of Depends to wear for the first few days of postpartum bleeding.

[HeatherB]

Soft ice packs. I ordered mine from inhishands.com. To make my own "peri-ice packs" I wrapped one of those in a newborn sized prefold. Tuck in those "mesh undies" they sell, too, and you're golden! Worked so nicely for me!

[HeatherB]

Oh, and having one peri bottle per bathroom is REALLY helpful!

[homemademom]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

Oh, and having one peri bottle per bathroom is REALLY helpful!

Oooooh, you're so right. I LOVED my peri bottle.

[dannic]

I have listed everything you listed, OP. I'd say they were needed. I'd add hydrogen peroxide for cleaning anything bloody. I didn't have to tossa single thing--they all came out of the wash just great with the HP!

[motherhendoula]

I didnt know that about Hydrogen Peroxide! Thanks for the tip - I would like to add shower curtain liners are always a good idea - they are cheap and cover a large area. And rather than Depends - using a disposable baby diaper worked well for me.

[vanislandmama]

Arnica tabs to help with the bruising. An herb bath mixture for the bath after babe comes with herbs to help heal you is highly recommended.
Let me know if you would like a recipe for this.

[FillingMyQuiver]

I needed more than 1 baby hat. I actually think we went through 3 immediately following the birth.

I second the arnica tabs, my MW tosses a few in my mouth shortly after birth.

My MW and asst like to keep the blankets and hats warm for the baby by laying them in a towel w/ a heating pad.

Flannel backed tablecloths (we found ours at the Dollar Store). We put them on the floor upside down around the pool. Nice for protecting the floor but not being slippery.

[EMAID]

Besides the kit I ordered, which was similar to yours, my midwife had a pretty extensive supply list, so here ya go:

a few yard sized trash bags
2 large containers, such as a laundry basket or large trash can for laundry and trash
flashlight with new batteries
hand mirror (optional)
6-8 clean washcloths
few clean towels (especially for waterbirth)
electric heating pad
2 light weight 3 quart bowls (like larger mixing bowls)
ice and/or bag of frozen peas
small fish net (if planning waterbirth)
raw honey (small unopened jar, optional)
juices, sports drinks, or tea with honey
nutritious snacks and food for a meal for laboring mom and for the family and birth team
4-6 receiving blankets (not your best)
warm clothes for baby, including hat
disposable diapers
car seat (ready and loaded in car)

It also says:
Two weeks before your due date (though my midwife said it can wait until I'm in early labor if I want), make the bed as follows:
make bed with clean sheets for after the birth
place a plastic cover over sheets
put old, fitted sheet on top of plastic (one you don't mind potentially disposing of)

*In talking with my midwife we decided to do the bed a little differently though, because I was very concerned about my mattress, and couldn't find a king size fully vinyl cover that would fit right. So here's what I'm doing to make the bed:
waterproof fitted mattress cover (the cotton kind), directly on top of the mattress
nice sheet set for after the birth (since sheets are cheaper to replace than a whole mattress)
vinyl shower curtain liner, pinned down with large safety pins on top of nice sheet set
fitted sheet I don't mind trashing

Hope that helps!

[BlueIrises]

Thanks for the suggestions. My midwife had also said to get felt-back table cloths from the Christmas Tree store but said to use them on my bed felt-side up as it is a much better way to protect your bed/clean up since the felt absorbs some of the mess. Peroxide is something every girl should be told about when they are teenagers...best advice my mother ever gave me

So this the suggested list I should get in addition to the kit that was in my mw's handbook...completely overlooked it until today...

Birth Supplies Please have ready by 36 Weeks
• Purchase a Birth Kit
• 1 Small Bottle of Olive Oil, Weleda Perineal Massage Oil
or Arnica Massage Oil (I carry)
• Large Bottle Of Witch Hazel (to make Postpartum Pads)
• Large Bottle of Peroxide (for laundry blood stains)
• Roll of Paper Towel
• 2 Plastic Felt-backed Large Picnic Table Cloth to Protect
your bed (3 if you planning a water birth)
• 2 Outdoor Black Garbage Bags
• Med. Size Garbage Receptacle
• Med. Size Zip Lock Bag for the Placenta
• 4 Clean Bath Towels and a Few Wash Cloths
• 1 Bottom Bed Sheet (one that you don’t really care for)
• Some Washed Baby Blankets
Washed Baby Clothes and Diapers
• Cord Care Powder (I carry)
• Arnica 30c
Prepare Frozen Witch Hazel Pad for Postpartum (See last
Page)

Nice to Have on Hand:
• Crock Pot or large pot for warm compresses
• Camera
• Candles
• Selection of Relaxing Music
• Many Pillows
• Birth Ball
• List of Phone Numbers for Calls after Birth
• Set bedside clock to the accurate time

Food and Drink Suggestions:
- Ingredient for smoothes:
milk or soy/rice milk, protein powder, ice cream, yogurt
etc. plus a variety of favorite fruits especially bananas
- Miso Soup, is a nice salty change that has protein
- Red Raspberry Leaf and Nettles Infusions
- Other Fruit Juices
- Any other light foods/comfort foods that you may like to eat in
labor
- Easily prepared food on hand, for everybody ie; peanut butter
& jelly, fruits, munching veggies etc.
- Coffee and Tea
- A few Bottles of Spring Water - 24 oz size OK
- A MUST: Energy drinks such 'laborade' (recipe provided.)
Coconut water or Recharger - at least 4 -6 bottles A variety
helps to avoid bordem!

[FillingMyQuiver]

I never used the witch hazel post partum pads, it just never appealed to me.

I would also have a post partum herbal sitz bath. I bought one from In His Hands for 1 of my births and had some leftover for for another birth. For my 3rd HB, my MW provided the sitz bath. We used the crockpot to prepare it. Filled the crock full of water, put in the herbs, set it to low, and let it do its thing til I was ready for the bath.

I didn't see it on your list, but my MW had me have a bowl large enough for catching the placenta.

[mbhf]

Originally Posted by EMAID

*In talking with my midwife we decided to do the bed a little differently though, because I was very concerned about my mattress, and couldn't find a king size fully vinyl cover that would fit right. So here's what I'm doing to make the bed:
waterproof fitted mattress cover (the cotton kind), directly on top of the mattress
nice sheet set for after the birth (since sheets are cheaper to replace than a whole mattress)
vinyl shower curtain liner, pinned down with large safety pins on top of nice sheet set
fitted sheet I don't mind trashing

Hope that helps!

I know it can be hard to find a waterproof cover for a king size mattress, but I have this and it is AWESOME. I've had a differnt kind of mattress cover for each birth and this is the best. It's much more comfortable than the vinyl kind, I use it day to day. Great price too!

[Phoenix~Mama]

subbing

[laurabfig]

I think everyone on this thread would LOVE this thread too:

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=602248

It is VERY long, but has really great tips for supplies for hb. I took an hour or so one night to peruse through the whole thing and took notes!