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[forestmushroom]

While we are planning a hospital birth (unless I get my UC ;) ), I am hiring a postpartum doula to come and stay with the kids while I am in labor and delivering baby and until DH can come home to be with the kids.... I am also looking forward to the help for a few days here and there after baby is born.  This is expensive, but less then a homebirth.  Although I am so sad to think of not having baby at home.... I love this thread and am following along because I secretly want  to just have baby at home.... I do like my care team, but don't like the anxiety of having to go to the hospital and all that.  I don't like to be away from my other children!

Originally Posted by lindsayjean 

Anyone thought about hiring a doula for kid care?

[MeredithA]

If you are comfortable with the idea of UC, perhaps you could just "accidentally" wait too long to make the trip to the hospital 

Originally Posted by forestmushroom 

While we are planning a hospital birth (unless I get my UC ;) ), I am hiring a postpartum doula to come and stay with the kids while I am in labor and delivering baby and until DH can come home to be with the kids.... I am also looking forward to the help for a few days here and there after baby is born.  This is expensive, but less then a homebirth.  Although I am so sad to think of not having baby at home.... I love this thread and am following along because I secretly want  to just have baby at home.... I do like my care team, but don't like the anxiety of having to go to the hospital and all that.  I don't like to be away from my other children!

[PuppyLove22]

Originally Posted by lindsayjean 

Puppylove- that's awesome!!!  Who is your instructor (I'm a Hypnobabies instructor)?  I did Hypnobabies for my 2nd birth (1st home birth) and it was FREAKING AMAZING.  That's why I teach Hypnobabies now.  I haven't decided when I'm going to start the program myself, I have a new series starting next Tuesday, so I may start then, or I may start with my end of Feb class (though I'd like to start a bit earlier than that).  I'm excited to use the program again!!!

Her name is Lorraine Shorman out of orange county. We should start a hypnobabies thread as we start our classes =) I am SOOO excited! Glad to hear it went so well with you!

[lindsayjean]

We totally need to start a Hypnobabies thread!!!  

[sosurreal09]

Pretty sure there is a hypnobabies thread :)

[forestmushroom]

Originally Posted by MeredithA 

If you are comfortable with the idea of UC, perhaps you could just "accidentally" wait too long to make the trip to the hospital 

this is my secrete fantasy!  I've had labors where I would be totally comfortable with a UC and others that were a little freaky and it was nice to have a birth attendant.  I love reading UC stories, and will probably get a small kit together of supplies, just in case. 

The hospital is only like 5 minutes from our house, so it is super close!  But still.... I could just not make it.

[JynxGirl]

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but all of a sudden, the only way I can get onto this forum is if I click on a thread link through an email...

Does anyone know why May 2012 group suddenly has "no posts" or why I can't see them??

[julieandemmett]

JynxGirl, I don't think it is just our DDC. I saw somewhere else someone said the same thing about their group's discussions...weird. But it says the same thing for me.

[lovingthis]

This is my 4th baby, and it will be my second homebirth. My first was a typical hospital birth, my second a birth center overseas, and finally, my long-dreamed of homebirth. This time, I feel so much less frantic about making plans for the actual birth; what lovely peace to have :)

H

[Ruby2]

Originally Posted by lovingthis 

This is my 4th baby, and it will be my second homebirth. My first was a typical hospital birth, my second a birth center overseas, and finally, my long-dreamed of homebirth. This time, I feel so much less frantic about making plans for the actual birth; what lovely peace to have :)

H

How beautifully put! :-)

[Ruby2]

I just have to rant about insurance for a moment...the insurance company has had my midwife's initial claim for exactly TWO MONTHS now and it's still "In Progress"!!! AUGH, it's so exasperating! The billing company tells me there's a good chance that the birth will be covered, even though it's specifically not covered in the guidelines, and it's just frustrating not to know if we will have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket or not. I would really just like to know already!

[cristeen]

I'm planning to hire a pp doula, but I'm also planning on hitting up the family to hire me a housecleaner for a few months pp. 

But I have no idea what I'm going to do with my toddler during labor.  My labor with him was 5 days long - I can't ask someone to just take him away during that amount of time, and I can't afford someone to come watch him that amount of time.  I'm hoping that his therapy helps him to chill out some in the next few months so that he can go do some things with a friend if need be, or be home with us if need be.  I will have a labour doula, so that if DH needs to deal with him, I'll still have someone with me. 

[Kamiro]

Ordered my hypnobabies home study course the other day.

Putting together a birth and postpartum kit:

Thermometer (for water temp)

3 bath sheet size towels

4 towels

1 bottle of hydrogyn peroxide

box of 8 chux pads

peri bottle

small bottle of olive oil for meconium

Mama and Baby outfit for after

Mp3/CD player for hypnobabies tracts

birth ball filled

Sports bras x2

tube style skirt for bottom

comfy socks

bath robe/outside robe for if I want to take a walk during labor (doubtful but good to have)

Body pillow and clean pillowcases on pillows (smells bother me during labor usually)

receiving blankets x 3

washcloth x 3

bowl for throwing up

bowl for placenta

bed made with plastic liner on top and then a set of labor sheets on top

drinking straws

recharge drinks

postpartum pads

How does this look?

[Just1More]

I'd plan on more receiving blankets.  Mine always poo all over them right afterwards....

And, diapers? wipes? hats? nursing pads?  I make a pile of stuff that prevents me from having to go farther than the bed to the bathroom for a while.  So, more than one change of clothes for me and baby, lots of diapers, lansinoh, snacks, water bottles, something besides baby to keep me occupied, etc.

Trash bags

Extra towels for showering afterwards (i always do that so soon.  My last 2 have been born with me upright, in the bathroom.  Right after the placenta i'm all, "here...take the baby, let me get cleaned up", and then I dive into bed...the midwives are always shaking their heads in wonder at me, lol.)

A heating pad is nice for those first blankets, hats, clothes for the baby.  You just pack them in a pillowcase all together and they are nicely warmed.

laundry basket (for the immediate stuff), and another for the stuff that you use in those first few days.

phone, phone numbers, camera (hate to be running around looking for that stuff)

baby carrier?  belly band?  granted, it may be 24-48 hours (or more) before you want either of those, but, again, i hate trying to find things, or worse, trying to tell someone else where it is.

mirror?

yeah, and chux pads...love 'em, hate 'em.  I'd consider a few more of those, too.  Maybe you'll need them, maybe you won't, but there are some things I'd just rather throw away.

plastic coverings for the floor?  again, i don't birth in bed, so we need something to protect carpet!  even with, and being careful, dh had to clean up some blood drops after our last.

[forestmushroom]

I like to have those pads that are smaller then depends underwear, but like bigger then a maxipad for post birth bleeding...

I like to use those for a few days before using my mama cloth....

Edit to add: I remember, poise pads..

[Kamiro]

You just brought back a memory. I remember after having my first I handed DH the baby and I went and shaved my legs. The assistant midwife was all "You ok in there?" and I was like "Yeah, just shaving my legs!"

LOL
I have waterbirths, but for some reason I like to get clean after wards also?

Good ideas! In our bedroom we are going to have the bed leaned up against the wall to make room for the birth ball and birth tub. I like to be secluded during birth as much as possible.

For first baby poo I should probably not break out my finest cloth...Do you wrap baby naked in the receiving blanket sans dipe or do you diaper them?

I don't remember mine having lots of meconium...Its all a blur.

Originally Posted by Just1More 

I'd plan on more receiving blankets.  Mine always poo all over them right afterwards....

And, diapers? wipes? hats? nursing pads?  I make a pile of stuff that prevents me from having to go farther than the bed to the bathroom for a while.  So, more than one change of clothes for me and baby, lots of diapers, lansinoh, snacks, water bottles, something besides baby to keep me occupied, etc.

Trash bags

Extra towels for showering afterwards (i always do that so soon.  My last 2 have been born with me upright, in the bathroom.  Right after the placenta i'm all, "here...take the baby, let me get cleaned up", and then I dive into bed...the midwives are always shaking their heads in wonder at me, lol.)

A heating pad is nice for those first blankets, hats, clothes for the baby.  You just pack them in a pillowcase all together and they are nicely warmed.

laundry basket (for the immediate stuff), and another for the stuff that you use in those first few days.

phone, phone numbers, camera (hate to be running around looking for that stuff)

baby carrier?  belly band?  granted, it may be 24-48 hours (or more) before you want either of those, but, again, i hate trying to find things, or worse, trying to tell someone else where it is.

mirror?

yeah, and chux pads...love 'em, hate 'em.  I'd consider a few more of those, too.  Maybe you'll need them, maybe you won't, but there are some things I'd just rather throw away.

plastic coverings for the floor?  again, i don't birth in bed, so we need something to protect carpet!  even with, and being careful, dh had to clean up some blood drops after our last.

[Kamiro]

Good idea Forest,  I will admit to buying Depends only cause I didn't have control of my bladder for about two days after birth with my first. I mean, I did but if I squatted down or anything - I couldn't feel myself peeing. Ok, maybe TMI. Poise would be a nice compromise.

Originally Posted by forestmushroom 

I like to have those pads that are smaller then depends underwear, but like bigger then a maxipad for post birth bleeding...

I like to use those for a few days before using my mama cloth....

Edit to add: I remember, poise pads..

[Astraia]

Wow, you're on top of things! For about 10 minutes yesterday I thought, "hmm, I should find that list the midwife gave me and see if i actually own anything on it still." And that was it.

I also cannot figure out where I want to have the baby. I'm leaning towards the living room because the idea of the bed makes me annoyed, even just thinking about it, and if we do set up the birth pool it needs to go in the kitchen, the upstairs floors aren't strong enough for it. Except then... where do the kids go? Just send them upstairs with the portable DVD player and most of the toys...? I'm okay with them being in the same room, but not OK if they're noisy and running around. If I'm on the main floor, then it doesn't matter about things like straws and a puke bowl because they're all easily accessible.

I like what was suggested for a floor cloth of some variety, even an old quilt layered with towels or something like that. Also agree on more receiving blankets. Forest has great suggestions, and I think between the two you'll definitely have everything you need! I'll need to refer back to this soon, when i get around to prepping

[cristeen]

I haven't even LOOKED at the list my MW gave me.

I will say though that with DS I went through an entire (20 ct) pkg of Chux, and then the MW went out to the car for another pkg. 

What about herbs and homeopathy?  I know I had 2 or 3 homeopathics on hand with DS, and a tincture for after pains. 

[lindsayjean]

I need to find something good for afterpains for this one.  I remember the arnica not even touching it during my 2nd birth.... and they say it gets worse with each one.  I'll definitely be trying to use my hypnosis, it was hard to remember to do that after the baby was born last time.  I've heard there are some good herbal remedies for this... anyone know?

My midwife doesn't give the list for a while, but I MAY still have stuff left over from last time somewhere since my birth was so quick and not a ton of bleeding, so definitely some chux somewhere and probably some depends as well.