How many chux/big pads/drop cloths, etc. (m)

[kris1225]

My midwife gave me a list of stuff I need to get for my homebirth, but I am a nerd and need specifics...How many of these do I need?

large chux
drop cloths
big 'ol pads

And do I need those mesh pants? She didn't say so, but I am wonderin'.

And where did you get your birth supplies? I have been looking online, but are there alternatives? Like does Wal Mart have any of this stuff -

Thanks in advance!!

[katja]

I think the supplies that you need might depend on the midwife.

All we bought were the chux pads. However, my DH and I thought the midwives said Tucks pads and when I showed them the little jar and asked what they were for, they really thought it was something! We had a pack of maybe 20 or so (chux) that we got at Target. I'm sure wal-mart would have them too. We definitely didn't use 'em all, but we have a lot of old towels, so we weren't worried.

Pads, definitely get enough to last a couple of weeks. I kept running out & it was a pain.

I don't know what mesh pants are for, but I'd love to find out. Maybe they could put some of that spark back into my marriage!

[laurata]

I like the mesh panties

They are super stretchy, very comfy in the immediate postpartum, and you can just throw them away when you are done with them. Stick a compress or a pad inside, and don't worry about ruining your own undies.

I didn't have any chux pad, just a flannel backed tablecloth. (It didn't get used.) I labored in the bathroom though, and my dh threw our rug out rather than wash it. So maybe it would have been a good thing to have.

[2+twins]

Birth Kits

My midwifes had me order a birth kit from these people:

http://www.1cascade.com/birth_kits?focus=#

I don't remember which kit I got, but you can see if one of them fits your needs. They included everything I'd need and some stuff I didn't (I didn't like their sanitary pads). Lots of chux though, clamps, mesh panties, etc. If you call them you may be able to create a custom kit as well.

Oh - I also found this link to their homebirth supplies in general. Lots of good stuff there...

http://www.1cascade.com/homebirth_supplies

[stafl]

I got two big packs of underpads (chux) - they came in very handy - in the car, etc. I got them at the drug store - look where they sell incontinence supplies (I don't do walmart, but I'm sure they have everything you need)
I sat on one instead of wearing a pad and panties the first day or two after birth to let everything air out and heal faster, as per my midwife's suggestion.
We never used the drop cloth, but used those underpads everywhere instead.
We never even used the plastic/vinyl mattress cover.
I had two dozen premie cloth prefolds for both me and baby to use (we do laundry every day).
With DD1, seems I went through at least two packages of those big hospital pads before I even went home, so make sure you have plenty!

[mattjule]

We didn't use a whole lot of the chux pads. I had a pretty fast labor and the birth wasn't very messy. We bought a pkg containing 20, I think, this time around and I think that we'll have lots left over. Definitely make the bed with the drop cloth just in case, my water broke while I was lying in bed and it was really nice to just strip off the first layer and have a new set of dry sheets waiting for me after the birth. That is the only thing we used the drop cloths for BTW. No time to spread them around and no one thought of it. As far as the mesh panties go, it depends on your size. I weighed in at 206 lbs (5'5") right before I gave birth (I think I wore a size 14-16 when I bought clothing postpartum) and they didn't fit over my thighs so were a complete waste. My current mw wants me to buy depends for right after or she'll put one of ds's sposies on me (she said). Dh has strict instructions to not let her do that to me. I am sorry, but I'd rather bleed everywhere than suffer the indignity of a diaper of any kind! Plus, I didn't need something like that last time and I don't see why I would this time, either. I bought 2 pkgs of the large overnight pads. I figure I can always send dh out for more if I need them, but I definitely won't use them after this birth and I hate pads anyway, the smaller the better, so I don't want leftovers if I can avoid it. I bought everything at Target in their pharmacy section. Honestly, we were there for something else and I thought I'd check for the birth stuff and they had it, it saved me a trip elsewhere. But any pharmacy will have what you need.

[anothermama]

My midwives said about 10-20 chux, two bags of HEAVY pads and 1 bag of medium flow pads. I think if you have old "beater" panties you can use those......I have a few old ratty pairs that get used during AF time, and I plan on just using those.

Also, someone here actually recomended this site:

http://www.birthsupplies.com/

and I ordered all my stuff through them. It was cheaper and easier than running all over town and it also came super fast and when I called, they were really helpful in helping me sort numbers out.

[rubelin]

My MWs recommend 35 of the huge chux (26 x 36 I think), but they also ask that you go commando for the first few days to air out, and my GF who used these MWs last year said she ended up not having enough. If you can get them in smaller packages (like 5 to a pack, and get extra packs, you might be able to return the unopened packages (like if you get them at Target)

[rad]

I think I had 2 drop cloths. Only one got used and that was just to protect my mattress. I bought several large Chux pads. We had tons left over but they're nice to use for changing diapers especially during that explosive BF poop stage. We didn't have that many for the first birth and got along just fine. But I made sure to buy more for the 2nd birth to use as changing pads. As for pads, I just bought 3-4 packs of them for each birth. I figure it doesn't hurt to have them around.

The first birth I got a kit. The second time I just bought the stuff I knew I'd use. I bought most everything from www.midwifesupplies.com