What are the straws for in my HB kit?

[Leiahs]

Maybe this is a totally random question, but I'm really curious!!

This is my first homebirth, and my HB kit just arrived today. I noticed 2 straws were on the listed items included in the kit, but I didn't think they'd actually be something that looks exactly like drinking straws. What on earth do we need straws for, at a homebirth??? I can't imagine anything rational!

[3xx1xyFamily]

drinking water.

most likely they're bendable straws... this way someone else can hold a cup for you and you can stay in whatever position you're in.

Not a necessity item, but I definitely appreciated them when I was in painful back labor and the thought of even lifting my head was painful. DH was still able to help by holding a cup!

[groovynaturemama]

for drinking water, gatorade, etc. it's hard to put a cup to your mouth in labor, and the straws just make drinking easier. i totally wondered what they were for too

[Romana]

The straws are drinking straws and they're for drinking! Might seem silly, but it's sort of a bonus item frequently packed in there, so it's easy for you to have sips of liquid during labor while a helper holds the glass/cup for you.

[Midwife Kris]

I had someone ask me if I used them to suction the baby's nose in an underwater birth and another asked me if they were for ME to use as a snorkle for catching a water birthed baby : I did a Podcast about birth kits (check my profile for link since I can't link it here) if you're interested in seeing what some of the stuff is

[Leiahs]

Well that *is* silly, since I have a whole boxful of bendable straws I keep on hand for my kids. I'm starting to wonder if I should have just tried to get the parts of the kit I needed, even though that wasn't really listed as an option. One of the bigger items in my kit includes 24 hospital grade maternity pads. I was considering cloth for a while, but decided against it this time, but I have definitely been thinking about trying Depends underwear instead of big long shifty pads, which I *hate*. And then there's also the 2 pairs of mesh briefs (I have several left over from my last hospital birth), and 2 of the thinnest, flimsiest baby hats I've ever seen in my life. And 2 packs of chux bed pads, while a friend gave me an entire unused pack from her birth, so I could have gotten away with buying just one pack.

Oh well, hindsight is 20/20, I guess. But at least now my imagination can rest from the wild ideas I had about use of straws for birth procedures, LOL!

[XanaduMama]

Originally Posted by Leiahs

Well that *is* silly, since I have a whole boxful of bendable straws I keep on hand for my kids. I'm starting to wonder if I should have just tried to get the parts of the kit I needed, even though that wasn't really listed as an option. One of the bigger items in my kit includes 24 hospital grade maternity pads. I was considering cloth for a while, but decided against it this time, but I have definitely been thinking about trying Depends underwear instead of big long shifty pads, which I *hate*. And then there's also the 2 pairs of mesh briefs (I have several left over from my last hospital birth), and 2 of the thinnest, flimsiest baby hats I've ever seen in my life. And 2 packs of chux bed pads, while a friend gave me an entire unused pack from her birth, so I could have gotten away with buying just one pack.

Oh well, hindsight is 20/20, I guess. But at least now my imagination can rest from the wild ideas I had about use of straws for birth procedures, LOL!

Yeah, I agree--too much unnecessary stuff. I did just that: made up a custom order of the things I decided were necessary (and about half as many chux pads!). I was lucky that the apprentice MW mentioned to me how much extra stuff she found in her kit (for her own HB), so I was on the lookout for places to cut!

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by Leiahs

Well that *is* silly, since I have a whole boxful of bendable straws I keep on hand for my kids. I'm starting to wonder if I should have just tried to get the parts of the kit I needed, even though that wasn't really listed as an option. One of the bigger items in my kit includes 24 hospital grade maternity pads. I was considering cloth for a while, but decided against it this time, but I have definitely been thinking about trying Depends underwear instead of big long shifty pads, which I *hate*. And then there's also the 2 pairs of mesh briefs (I have several left over from my last hospital birth), and 2 of the thinnest, flimsiest baby hats I've ever seen in my life. And 2 packs of chux bed pads, while a friend gave me an entire unused pack from her birth, so I could have gotten away with buying just one pack.

Oh well, hindsight is 20/20, I guess. But at least now my imagination can rest from the wild ideas I had about use of straws for birth procedures, LOL!

If you're looking for ideas, I gave away the mesh undies at the office white elephant party. They were quite the hit.

[AdinaL]

I may be one of the only people who used everything in my kit.

Never underestimate the amount of chux pads you can go through! I wish I had had more, many many more.

[123]

They didn't include the straws in my birth kit. After she was born and I was laying on the floor by the bath tub so they could check my bleeding (I always bleed a little more than professionals like), I really needed a drink. They kept looking for the straws until I remembered that the birth kit had been sent with no straws. Until then I wondered what they were for, too. It's very uncomfortable to drink while laying down and trying to keep a newborn latched on.

For my first two (hospital births) I did the Depends instead of the maternity pads. If I were going to use paper pads for another birth, I would absolutely use the Depends. They were far better than the maternity pads. For the homebirth I used hemp prefolds laid on top of a rectangle of fleece for waterproofing and put that in the mesh panties. It worked well for me.

And we didn't use the flimsy baby hats from the kit. I had about five newborn hats of my own that were far cuter and thicker (and of which she only ever wore two).

[Leiahs]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

If you're looking for ideas, I gave away the mesh undies at the office white elephant party. They were quite the hit.

Oh that is HILARIOUS! I will definitely keep hanging onto them if I don't use them!!

Midwife Kris, your podcast did help show how useful the chux pads can be aside from just the actual birth. I guess I'll find a way to use them eventually!