First Homebirth

[suzanne0706]

I am wanting to put together a list of things that I should be doing to get ready for my homebirth...I am having my 5th child but my first homebirth...all my other births have been hospital births and I realize it will be different...so is there anything I should consider/do before my LO arrives? I am only 23 weeks so I have plenty of time, but this time of the year is busy for me with the holidays and then all 4 of my children have birthdays between November and the first of January.

I already have all of the baby stuff I need (bassinett, swing, baby blankets, etc.)
I have gender neutral baby clothes and I am already stocking up on diapers/wipes for the newborn.
My midwife loans out the water birth tub with the liner (included in the price)
I have my own birth ball

I plan on:

making and freezing a few meals (so I don't have to worry about cooking...I cook most of the time and I don't want that burden right after the delivery).
Making a special blanket for the new baby
buying some cheap or used sheets for our bed and a waterproof mattress cover (not planning on delivering there, but you never know)

Anything else I need to buy/consider/add to my to do list for my first homebirth? I know I am missing lots! Thanks so much for your help.

[crystal_buffaloe]

Here is the home birth list that the midwives here recommend:

Originally Posted by www.newvillagemidwives.com

By your 36th week of pregnancy, gather the following:
__two dozen disposable absorbent UNDERPADS (not menstrual pads) ie. Chux brand
__absorbent underwear (ie. Depends) and/or menstrual pads. Make a cold pack for
your perineum by putting water on them and freezing
__baby items: disposable diapers for the first week, hat, gown, socks, light receiving
blankets and warm outer blankets
__a large plastic squirt (not spray) bottle for washing your perineum after birth
__at least 3 large bottles of electrolyte balanced fluid (Recharge, 3rd Wind, Gatorade)
__hydrogen peroxide to dilute 50/50 with water for umbilical stump care
__a new, long handled fish net (from a pet store) to catch debris in birth tub
__plastic to protect your floor, your bed, etc., flannel backed
__an inflatable birth tub or a clean stock tank, and appropriate liners,
tub thermometer: www.yourwaterbirth.com
__bendy straws
__a dozen bath towels: find some you won’t mind if they get trashed, wash cloths
__strong flashlight with fresh batteries
__camera, batteries, film, charger, etc.
__post emergency numbers on the fridge: your hospital of choice, etc.
__a bowl for the placenta (stainless steel is good but anything works)
__lots of pillows
__a lap tray or TV tray for bedside dining

They also suggest:

Foods for labor: We suggest wet, easily digested things like applesauce, yogurt, broth or light soups, herbal teas with honey or royal jelly, frozen fruit bars, bananas, frozen grapes, crackers, power bars and fruit juices. Many women are ravenous after the birth, so have on hand prepared meals to heat up.
Your home should be as clean as it gets. Wash two sets of sheets to set aside. Arrange for pets to be elsewhere. Arrange a place for your midwives to rest. Have someone disinfect your tub and toilet in early labor.

[mattemma04]

I had herbs for bleeding. I think I birth both squatting next to the bed so I would recommend a shower curtain and a resale shop blanket over it to catch fluids-then toss it all.Some power bars for nutrition.Variety of drinks on hand. I liked pineapple juice for some reason.Lol, I sent dh out for a burger and fries afterwardtoo.Labor pains AFTER birth are the worst so have some meds on hand for that.Lol,well you know that one!Something to keep the other kids busy/happy during your labor. I had dh with my dd,but she was in/out of the room during ds's birth.

[peainthepod]

Definitely get a peri bottle for afterwards! I wouldn't have traded my cheap plastic peri bottle for a bar of gold when I was still in that first post-partum week. Spray yourself with warm water while you go to the bathroom and it makes things much less scary and uncomfortable.

This time my midwife is recommending we make ice cubes from honeyed chamomile tea, for a burst of calming energy during labor that's easy to eat and doesn't require a straw. I've made two trays.

You should probably also have some healthy snacks on hand for your birth attendants and anyone else who will be there. A tray of cut veggies and a container of hummus, healthy crackers and bread and good cheese, etc. Nothing crazy but something to keep them going if your labor ends up being longer than a few hours.

Plan to have someone cover or turn off your clocks when things get serious! Having all the clocks in the house covered up or turned around REALLY helped me during my homebirth. I never felt like I was on a deadline and I never had to stare at the moving numbers and wonder how I could possibly survive several more hours (days?) of this--especially during transition.

The clock person should also turn off the ringers on your phone, the volume on your answering machine, and either disable the doorbell or tape a (polite) Do Not Disturb sign over it so it can't be rung.

You've done this several times before so I'm sure you know better what to expect than I do after only one birth! I think you'll find it's a really pleasant, fantastic, empowering experience to have a baby in the comfort of your own home. You're in charge, you decide who can be there, what to eat and drink and when, what to wear, whether to walk around or sit in a tub or rock back and forth against a wall, when to bathe, when to cut the cord, what to do with your placenta, etc. etc.

And that first post-partum snack or meal is awesomely delicious, so have one of your favorite high calorie foods ready to go for after the baby is born.

You might also check out this thread for more tips: What do you wish you would have known beforehand?