This is where I laugh at myself :)

[JPOUC]

Soooo.... I ordered my birth kit.  Including new instruments (hemostats and cord scissors), a baby scale, and three different kinds of cord clamps.  We're going to be so tricked out for this birth that I could probably set up a birth center in my bedroom ;).  I love the ritual of preparing for a homebirth and for me, that has always been purchasing the birth kit and gathering supplies.  Even though I know I don't really NEED any of this stuff, it was somehow disappointing to find myself without a shopping list.  I felt all crestfallen: "you mean... I don't get to order a birth kit this time?" 

Heh heh... so I did.  All the bells and whistles.  I might be the only woman on earth who LOVES those mesh panties.  Of course it's entirely possible that the baby will get here before the kit arrives.  I told my husband if that happened I'd just chew through the cord and lick her clean ;). 

[tracymom1]

Okay, I will admit it too. I LOVE the mesh panties! I had my doctor SIL sneak me a big pile of them for my last homebirth. I really, really love them. But this time around I am going to try something different - I am going to make my own padded underwear (kind of like mama cloth diapers) and see how that goes.

The only things I ordered are pretty basic - cord tape, some sterile gloves, and a scale - although I did get some neonatal emergency supplies as well.

Shopping is fun, no matter how crunch you are!

[JPOUC]

Your padded panties idea sounds really neat!!  I can't sew but I was thinking about buying some depends.  I had them with my last birth and it was great!

I just realized that the only thing I forgot to order was u/s gel for my doppler.  Ooops... I've been out of it for months and just using lotion- that works ok but I had planned to buy more gel.  Rats.

[tracymom1]

Maybe check Walgreens for the gel - I know ours carries it

[VeganEmma]

Here is my birth supplies thus far

I just ordered 10 pairs of mesh panties 

and underpads

sitz bath

after bath 

Birth certificate and inkless foot blotter

peri bottle

stomach binder for PP (never tried one with my last- heard it helps shrink your stomach faster and it was only $19 so why not )

some gender neutral baby clothes/socks/hat

a fish scale with a scarf for a baby weight

a stethoscope (bought it to hear the babies HB, but did not really have much luck with that)

some floss to cut the cord

just regular house scissors

ice cube trays to freeze my placenta PP for smoothies 

the homemade panties sound neat! I am really going to try reusable cloth when my PP period returns this time around. We already cut out papertowels, napkins. 

[JPOUC]

Emma (is that your name?),

Your list sounds well thought out and reasonable :).  Mine is about 47 times that long LOL!! 

[VeganEmma]

Emily, but you can call me Emma (: 

I get overwhelmed when there is too much to think about, I want all my stuff to fit in one box ha ha 

[JPOUC]

I like accessories LOL!!  Plus I'm sure part of it is having spent more time on the other side of the belly and I'm used to having instruments and supplies around.  That is comfortable and familiar for me ya know?  I've never used floss for a cord but I've used plent of hemostats and cord rings or clamps. 

[VeganEmma]

nothing wrong with that :)

Originally Posted by JPOUC 

I like accessories LOL!!  Plus I'm sure part of it is having spent more time on the other side of the belly and I'm used to having instruments and supplies around.  That is comfortable and familiar for me ya know?  I've never used floss for a cord but I've used plent of hemostats and cord rings or clamps. 

[happynaturalmama]

I'm excited about buying things for the baby and the birth!  I think I'll try to keep it simple, though.  I loved the mesh panties from the hospital, but the ones that came in my HB kit last time I wasn't a fan of. 

Sounds like you'll be very well prepared!

[VeganEmma]

where are you guys shopping for your supplies? I think I ordered mine from... in his hands?

[happynaturalmama]

That's where we got ours last time :)  Probably this time as well, if they have something I want/need and can't get locally. 

[annaconda]

love this thread... love seeing and reading happy fun threads on this UC board :)  

That's how I feel about it too!

I am going to order my kit from In His Hands right at the beginning of April (Due second week of May.)

FISH SCALE!!!  Of course!

Anything that says baby is marked up like 100% at least... fish scale for only ten bucks!  Love it.

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by annaconda 

love this thread... love seeing and reading happy fun threads on this UC board :)  

That's how I feel about it too!

I am going to order my kit from In His Hands right at the beginning of April (Due second week of May.)

FISH SCALE!!!  Of course!

Anything that says baby is marked up like 100% at least... fish scale for only ten bucks!  Love it.

Yep - I ordered my "fish scale" from amazon for about $15! It was $65 on the midwifery website I was looking at. I would think there is probably some type of quality difference, but for something we are going to use just a couple of times I think it will be just fine!

[JPOUC]

I ordered from birth with love and in his hands :) 

Are threads here not usually fun and happy??  We're having babies!  That's super wonderful!  Yay us!  :)

[LadyJennifer]

I have ordered from In his hands so far. I'm going to order the rest from the Cascade midwifery place (besides the fish scale), because they have the charts (prenatal and labor) that I want.

I'm excited about shopping for the birth!:)

[ElizabethE]

I don't know how you all feel about this, but I've been reading a little bit about the scales and apparently the fish scales where you use the slings and whatnot are inaccurate up to as much as a pound? It supposedly can actually add to the baby's weight. I was going to get this at first, but after reading up on it a little I decided to just go ahead and get a digital pounds and ounce baby scale. It wasn't that expensive... in the $30s I think. It would have cost me as much to get a sling and fish scale, since I'm not sewing a sling myself.

[LadyJennifer]

My mw uses a digital fish scale. I wondered about the accuracy because many of them don't state accuracy (that I was looking at). Where did you get a baby scale for $30?! I've been looking with no success.

[TrishWSU]

You can always test the accuracy of the scale by testing it with something you know has an accurate weight (like a dumbell.)

VeganEmma~the belly binder is wonderful, at least it has been for me. I didn't use one after #1 and I remember my back hurt really bad from the sudden weight shift and feeling unbalanced. Somehow the belly binder helped pull everything in and made me feel more "centered" with the next two. I don't know how much it helped with the belly shrinking part cause I got way huge with #2 & #3, but it kept everything pulled in.

I love buying birth supplies! It's so fun and happy 'cause expecting a new baby is a fun and happy time! I'm not even pregnant and I still look at stuff I want to buy for "next time."

I never used the mesh panties...why does everyone love them?

[Mamatoabunch]

I had a lot of issues w/ the digital fish scale I used w/ my 5th, inaccurate, two different weights at the same time. I went w/ a baby scale accurate to the 1/2 ounce. You can get them o ebay very cheaply. I have never used the mesh panties, but I love depends type pants for after birth for 12-24 hours. I have nothing to order for this baby!