A few homebirth kit questions.... - Page 2

[weliveintheforest]

Originally Posted by kawa kamuri 

This is what my DP did - his siphoned. This is how it'll be done again in my home. I've never asked him the specifics but I don't believe he ever felt in danger of inhaling the birth gore.  

We siphoned before too, you just have to get the water going, not suck it all the way through.  As long as the end of the hose is low it will keep going.  We did it out a window.  I'm pretty sure we'll be siphoning it this time if we can't find a pump to borrow.

It might be worth it to buy or borrow a sump pump.  They make it go much quicker and easier.  I've been at a few births where we used a sump pump and put it all down the toilet, and it worked very nicely.

[sharita]

Thanks for the tips.  Yeah my DH is so easily weirded out he was grossed out just by doing it bucket by bucket last time, lol.  My mom would probably step up thouh if DH started being weird, she isn't freaked out by stuff like that.

[flavorgirl]

Originally Posted by edamama 

Re: plastic covering for the bed. My midwife suggested getting picnic tablecloths, the kind that is plastic on one side and flannel-ish on the other. She said it isn't as loud as a shower curtain and they come in big enough sizes that if you overlap 2, it should cover any size bed (we have a cal king family bed). 

that's exactly what i got. i found a big vinyl one at the thrift store. it seems really sturdy and not crinkly. i have a queen bed and it fits pretty well. i guess if there were huge puddles of fluid it could leak over the sides, but i was thinking there's gonna be chux etc in use too, so it's it shouldn't be a problem. i'm not too worried because i'm planning to birth in the pool, so the main gushes will be over by the time i get to bed. i hadn't thought about my water breaking in bed... that could be messy, but i'm not willing to sleep on vinyl every night.

[amaayeh]

My midwife came by this morning with the birthing pool and our first home visit.  In all of her literature it said that she rented the pool for $300 (aquadoula), but she has never once mentioned this and just brought the pool.  So, I'm assuming it was included in the price.  The kids, of course, want to set it up RIGHT NOW.  :)

She was pretty happy so far with where we are at on supplies and such and is fairly laid back about where I have stuff.  Once I get the birth kit in the mail, I'll just need to put all that in one place so it can be accessed easily. 

Now I don't know if I'm ready or not!!  She was surprised at how big I am, but then when she palpated my belly she said baby feels around 6ish lbs and skinny.  That would be about right if the baby weighs the same as my girls (at 40 weeks almost 8 lbs - I'm 37 tomorrow).  I need to get over this illness, though, before baby comes.  I can't imagine the cough and sore throat with a newborn! 

[kawa kamuri]

Originally Posted by amaayeh 

The kids, of course, want to set it up RIGHT NOW.  :)

Pool party in the house! What could be more awesome to kids? 

[prettyred]

This is the list my MW gave me. Last time I was in a hospital so it's new to me. She also suggested this set up for the bed: one set of sheets on bottom, layer shower curtain on top, then layer another set of sheets on top. Then, after the birth, you take off the sheets and voila! You have a nice made bed. With DS I had a quick, intense birth and despite my plans to the contrary, I was most comfortable in the regular old reclined position on the bed. I could not bear any other position. The MW says if I am fast again the most comfy way for me to give birth will probably be sitting on the edge of the bed. 

 

• 6 bath size towels (Washed and set aside in a bag so they stay clean. You

should either have the capability of throwing these in the wash immediately or

consider this a good excuse to get rid of some old towels and buy new ones!)

 

 

•6 washcloths (As above)

 

•Extra set of sheets (As above)

 

•2 plastic/vinyl shower curtain liners (One can go under your birth tub if you are

using one, the second can be used to protect your bed)

 

•2 gallon sized ziplock bags

 

•25 or so wee-wee pads (Yes, get them at the pet store!)

 

•3 large (contractor size) black garbage bags

 

•Maxi pads for postpartum use (you’ll get a pack in your birth kit, but you’ll need

more)

 

•2 bottles of Witch Hazel

 

•Adapter and hose for filling/draining birth tub as desired

[BathrobeGoddess]

You want a lot of towels because you don't know how many times you might get in and out of the tub, you know? And then towels to cover the babe once born, in the tub if you're in there or in bed if you're there. I have three water labor but only one water birth. The other two just were not doing it for me in the tub

[TenzinsMama]

We bought a $3 vinyl shower curtain liner from Walmart, and it worked great.  I labored in so many different places in my home, as I did a lot of squatting, walking, kneeling over sofa chairs, etc, and then went into the inflatable kiddie pool for awhile... this is where I was when I was reaching transition.  I had the option of staying in the pool, or moving onto our bed... and I chose the bed.  It just felt right at the time.  We had a bunch of layers on the bed: (from top to bottom) we had old sheets, plastic shower curtain, good sheets, and then our regular waterproof mattress cover.  This worked great, because all my husband and midwives had to do was peel off the soiled sheets and shower curtain and toss in laundry/garbage, and we had nice clean sheets.  We didn't have to worry about making the bed up all over again, and we could spent time with our son cuddling and going to sleep soon after.  Especially nice when you are exhausted and it's in the wee hours of the morning!  Anyway, we didn't notice any crinkling or plastic-y sounds at all.  And I certainly didn't feel like I was laying on plastic or anything.  It worked great.

For emptying the kiddy pool, our midwives had brought a pump.  BTW, one thing that we had done in regards to making the pool more comfy was that we had placed a couple of exercise mats side-by-side underneath it.  It was heavenly!  We had the exercise mats already, and as for the pool?  $20 on sale at Canadian Tire. 

[citymagnolia]

I think these have chemicals on them that you might not want to lay on or deliver the baby onto. I know they are scented to encourage the puppies to use them and I'm not sure what else might be on/in them. I got a bag of 20 chux pads at Target for like $9, which is also probably cheaper than the puppy pads! There is another thread around here where someone researched them. I think she ultimately decided not to use them. It's probably worth looking into! :)

Originally Posted by prettyred 

 

•25 or so wee-wee pads (Yes, get them at the pet store!)

[kawa kamuri]

Interesting about the chemicals. I agree that to pick them up at the drugstore is not at all pricey. I also have a mental aversion to possibly birthing on a pad meant for dog waste. I'm not really a person bothered by the gross stuff in life AT ALL but there's something about the birth of my child that makes me want to avoid puppy pee pads regardless of the chemical issue. I did pick up a digital aquarium thermometer at the pet store! 

This afternoon my SO and I tested the La Bassine. After so much back and forth on my part with the fishy pool vs La Bassine I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to upgrade. It's more much more sturdy, prettier and not at all goofy. Def worth the $100 more. I bought a liner thinking I'd use it that way and re-sell but didn't like the feel or smell of the plastic. Grabbing the handles would have been awkward with the liner as well. My SO says this is YOUR birth, let whoever buys the pool from us use the liner and you birth the way that is most comfortable. I've always wondered about pool liners. My verdict is not so great. Anyway, Our 19mo daughter joined me and had the most surprisingly relaxing time floating on her back. It was glorious to hold her little, resting body in the water. She was a water birth baby! Her papa joined us and there we were - the four of us - in the cocoon our newest family member will be born into. So lovely. My 4 and 7yo's were super excited and my 12yo helped to empty. We also discovered that the hot water heater is more than sufficient and that the max fill line is bogus. So far as logistics go I moved my after-I-exit-the-pool robe onto a temporary hook on my dresser rather than where I had envisioned it working.   

[Paigekitten]

For my home birth I just picked up a couple extra towels from the thrift store and made a birth blanket.  I sandwiched a shower curtain between a flat sheet and blanket from the thrift store, then just tied it together as a quilt.  It works really well anywhere, on the couch, on the floor or bed.  I birthed in the tub, but it was nice to toss it and a chux pad anywhere I wanted to be.  I wasn't nearly as prepared as you all seem to be!  My towels were all in the bathroom, and the birth tub and everything else were in a couple boxes behind the couch until we needed something during labor and pulled them out.

[jshannyn519]

I don't have a birth tub, so if I end up at home it will probably be a land birth. Unless I feel like squeezing myself into our little bath tub and I don't see that happening. So I have less towels than others because I'm not planning on being in and out of water much. I have a big plastic tote/bin thingy that all of my supplies are in. It's in my closet, which is about 5 feet from the side of my bed, in case I need it. Chances are if I do need it, I'll be alone with no help so I need to have easy access to the bin and all the stuff in it, which I do. I also have a box of old sheets and towels next to the plastic bin so I can reach those easily as well.

[Mom of 2 boys]

Originally Posted by kawa kamuri 

II bought a liner thinking I'd use it that way and re-sell but didn't like the feel or smell of the plastic. Grabbing the handles would have been awkward with the liner as well. My SO says this is YOUR birth, let whoever buys the pool from us use the liner and you birth the way that is most comfortable. I've always wondered about pool liners. My verdict is not so great. Anyway, Our 19mo daughter joined me and had the most surprisingly relaxing time floating on her back. It was glorious to hold her little, resting body in the water. She was a water birth baby! Her papa joined us and there we were - the four of us - in the cocoon our newest family member will be born into. So lovely. My 4 and 7yo's were super excited and my 12yo helped to empty. We also discovered that the hot water heater is more than sufficient and that the max fill line is bogus. So far as logistics go I moved my after-I-exit-the-pool robe onto a temporary hook on my dresser rather than where I had envisioned it working.   

As far as not using the liner, I would recommend using it for better clean-up.  My partner said there was a lot of "solids" at the bottom of the tub and he just gathered the plastic at the bottom to get them out.  We used a birth tub someone else had used and she used a liner before us.  They had done it both ways - with & without a liner - and said it was a horrible clean-up without. And they never felt it was "cleaned out" and had bought another one consequently.

Didn't have time to read all the other posts, but I didn't see HYDROGEN PEROXIDE in the list of birth kits.  It is the BEST for cleaning up blood on material - towels, sheets, blankets.  It is cheap & easy to get at the local drugstore.  Only stains from my home birth were from after the birth and when I ran out of it.

Also, as far as all the logistics, things change during the birth.  I couldn't stand having clothing on and just ran around my house naked until the baby was born.  I had planned on having my 2.5 yr old DS there but needed him gone to focus.  You gotta do what you feel comfortable with during your birth and just roll with it. 
 

[kawa kamuri]

Originally Posted by Mom of 2 boys 

As far as not using the liner, I would recommend using it for better clean-up.  My partner said there was a lot of "solids" at the bottom of the tub and he just gathered the plastic at the bottom to get them out.  We used a birth tub someone else had used and she used a liner before us.  They had done it both ways - with & without a liner - and said it was a horrible clean-up without. And they never felt it was "cleaned out" and had bought another one consequently.

Thanks for the tips! My partner also cleaned out our last pool and since it was the cheapo fishy version that we were given by my OB, we lived in an apartment with no storage AND we weren't planning on having another baby he ended up throwing it away rather than putting effort into cleaning well. I didn't ask him specifics but can say foregoing the liner this time on the La Bassine was 100% his idea. He wants me to have the birth I desire, knows I don't want to throw the pool away so I trust he's up for the cleaning. With that said - if the task ends up being too big and the pool feels like trash afterwards then so be it - I got the pool I wanted, laboured with and birthed my son into it all without the annoyance of the crinkly, stinky liner. 

[painefaria]

We used a tarp with an old blanket on top to "catch" any overflow and a plastic tablecloth on the bed. we got the rectangle tablecloth 60in X104in (I think the 60 is right, I know the 104in is) We bought it at Walmart for $4.88. I put the Flannel side up and then covered it with an old mattress pad. Our midwife sugessted making the bed with the sheets that you want on the bottom, then the tablecloth and the old sheets. That way you just have to strip the "dirty sheets" and plastic off and you have CLEAN BED!!
Hope that helps.

[mamaprovides]

Okay...well, I have had two homebirths with two completely different midwives. The first was very grounded, very solid, very stress absorbing. The second was, well, a little ADD, and 7 months pregnant when I gave birth. Their lists were different and similar in many ways.

When it comes to the birth, you want to give yourself as many options as possible. You may have had a water birth last time, be planning for a water birth this time, and it may just not happen for one reason or another.

So...I suggest, having the tub stuff ready, tarps for underneath, towels for you, and whatever. Also plan on having some towels for the birth.

A couple of towels and a chucks pad will catch a baby just fine if say, you are in the bathroom.

Also get the bed ready. A full set of sheets, a shower curtain (dollar store is perfectly fine, just make sure you air it out several days before you need it to off gas it), then another set of sheets. The idea being: give birth, remove sheets while you are going to the bathroom and then you have a place to come to right away.

Also consider a flannel tablecloth in case you birth on the edge of the bed or something.

Keep everything together and ready but packed in sections so you can access it easily. Pack all your medical supplies in plastic bags. Pack the stuff for the midwives in one basket. The stuff you will need right away. And the stuff you will need the following days (including at least one change of clothes for everyone in the family)

I'm not sure what your plan is for your other child(ren) but if they are young, and you want there, teach them something to do. I taught my then 2 yr old son to sit on my tailbone (very nice), roll a rolling pin on my back, and hold a glass of water and put the straw in my mouth. So if you are doing that, you will need those things as well.

Oh yea and get a ton of hydrogen peroxide for the laundry afterwards.Kawa Kamuri has a comprehensive list and I'm trying to think of what else might be useful. I think stuff like tennis balls, rolling pins, folding chair to help with labour pain might be nice.

I also would consider putting like three meals in the freezer. But most people have friends and family for the birth and after (I had neither). I would also consider a gas lamp and matches (this made all the difference for me), some music (I had a gieco commerical stuck in my head for 27 hours for my first birth "take a train to happy town, whoo whoo" and I had a song from my son's tv show the second "I have a friend...a super swell friend" for about 8 hours) Some aromatherapy (incense can backfire very quickly) and a protein shake or some electrolyte drink ready to go as well as this is hard work and you may need to refuel quickly.

I wouldn't buy more towels unless you have few towels in your house.

Being prepared and organized beforehand will allow you to be calm and relaxed and focused on that which is truly important. If you have trouble just make a list and cross something off each day.

[Natalie L]

OK, I haven't read through everything (I have a toddler and a newborn and they're both sleeping so forgive me for trying to save time...) but in addition to all the practical stuff, which I'm sure you already got loads of great advice on, think of things that will make your experience go more smoothly. I labeled my kitchen cupboards (just used low-tack painting tape & a sharpie) so people could find things and wouldn't be asking us where the glasses are. I left copies of my birth support wishes & plans laying around the house. I set aside my labour food in one area of the freezer/counter and labeled them too. Being organized makes things go really smoothly and our midwives and doula all appreciated it. (Even if they do think I'm a geek now.)

Also, don't stress too much about the mess. Add Borax with your laundry, right in the machine, and hydrogen peroxide in the bleach receptacle, use cold water and regular detergent, and everything will come clean, almost guaranteed. Waterbirth is actually less messy - baby gets rinsed on the way out and by the time you leave the pool a lot of your blood will be washed away, too, especially if you deliver your placenta in the water.

Homebirth websites sell special sheets for the bed that are cheap (~$4 to cover a queen) and not plasticky. I kept mine on the bed the first couple of days post partum and it didn't bother us. Look up Mama Goddess Birth Shop - they have both a Canadian & US site so be sure you're on the right one. If you order their sheets: you need 2 for a queen and you just tape them together with clear packing tape.

[yaboobarb]

You can use a "dollar store" table cloth or shower curtain to put on the bed. I would put this on the bed and put your sheets over it. It is good to protect the bed against postpartum bleeding/ leaking even if you don't intend to birth on it.

[mkat83]

Originally Posted by JosieAK 

I also bought a tub pillow and a thing to keep our over sized bathtub fuller .  

Oh. My. Gosh.  I have always wanted something like that to make my tub fuller!  I am not planning to have a birth pool but just use our tub if I want to be in water, and this little contraption is genius! I am buying one right now!!

[lydialark]

In regards to the birth bed question, I did not give birth on the bed, but did deliver the placenta there, and we just used Chux pads. It was totally fine, and I have white bedding, no stains! Maybe I'm just not a worrier, but it seems like having the fabric-type shower curtain for things that happen fast and unexpected + Chux pads for laboring and birth would probably be fine. It's not like you are going to want your sheets (regardless of how old) to take the brunt of the fluids anyway. You can't really guess at what will happen, but Chux cover a multitude of stains!