How many towels

[sunnymw]

did you actually use during your homebirth?

Just curious, since I own 11 towels total, and need to know how often I should wash just to make sure I have enough clean when the time comes (b/c I am notorious for letting all 11 get dirty before washing

Also, did you have a land or water birth?

[aprilsfools]

Originally Posted by sunnymw

did you actually use during your homebirth?

Just curious, since I own 11 towels total, and need to know how often I should wash just to make sure I have enough clean when the time comes (b/c I am notorious for letting all 11 get dirty before washing

Also, did you have a land or water birth?

The list from my MW says 6 towels and I am doing a water birth. I have 6 set aside and a bath sheet (towels don't fit around my belly anymore) for when I go back and forth from the water to the bathroom.

[library lady]

I seem to recall my midwife giving me a list of supplies that I needed and I think it was 5 or so towels. What I did was went out and bought some extra towels and set them aside to have available at all times. Laundry is my husbands job and he sometimes gets pretty behind.

[janasmama]

with my first waterbirth I only used two. With my second, we used like 6 because I had a toddler who was getting in and out of the birthing tub and we put them down around the floor.

[Ligeia]

My midwife asked me to have five or six handy but I don't think I used more than a couple to dry off as I was getting in and out of the water. I spent most of my labor in the shower/tub and actually gave birth on my bed.

[Rockies5]

we used all of them. Not sure of actual #'s. But I was in and out of the bath alot, and cjose to use towels in lieu of recieving blankets.

[eli's mama]

It seems like a while ago now, but with my first I used 3, I sat on one for a while before getting in the tub, I used one to stand on when exiting the birth tub, one to dry off with. I also used my bathrobe.
My second I think I only used 2, same idea.

[blessedmom68358]

Hi, Sunny! I have been wondering the same thing. I come here, and lo and behold, the question's been asked! We have quite a few here, but with a husband and four kids, it's hard to have 5-6+ extra set aside at all times just for me. Guess I'm no help, but thanks for asking this! Besides, it's my turn to stalk you (nightowlmama/Melissa on SK)...hehe.

[lc81002]

I think we used 3 or 4. I had a water birth.

[MommyMidwife]

It depends on how much you are getting in and out of the tub.
If you are having a land birth and never getting in the tub then you just need one of the baby for after the birth and one for when you take a shower after you deliver.
If you are using the tub then you probably need 6 or 7 because you are in and out and so on...
Midwives know how to do laundry though if they are all dirty - just let your MW know when she gets there that she needs to get hte laundry started.
jeni

[pazerific]

just something else to think about--depending on what color your towels are, you might want to invest in some dark colored ones, just so your regular towels don't get stained up. i have 3 dark towels, and i'm thinking about checking out tj maxx for a couple more dark ones to have "just in case."

[1babysmom]

I bought 5 cheap $1.50 WM towels (in white so we'd be able to notice any concerning fluid colors), but then we also ended up using 2 of our BIG beach towels too. They were light blue and light orange and got all bloody...but didn't stain.

ETA- I did NOT have a waterbirth.

[SalmonBayDoula]

A tip I always tell my homebirth clients

Go to goodwill, garage sales, etc and pick up a bunch of both towels and washcloths. It sure is nice to have a ton around.

just be sure to wash them well before you use them. I have had several clients who have given me towels to pass on to another client.

happy birthing!
Sharon

[Belle]

I think we used five or six. It was a water birth. Our towels are a dark red anyway so I wasn't worried about stains.

[VaMountainMomma]

My homebirth supply list says 4-6 towels.

IIRC, we didn't use any towels last time (land birth). I took a shower when I first realized it was labor and of course dried off with a towel, no different than any other shower. And we just used other stuff during the actual birth.

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by MommyMidwife

It depends on how much you are getting in and out of the tub.
If you are having a land birth and never getting in the tub then you just need one of the baby for after the birth and one for when you take a shower after you deliver.
If you are using the tub then you probably need 6 or 7 because you are in and out and so on...
Midwives know how to do laundry though if they are all dirty - just let your MW know when she gets there that she needs to get hte laundry started.
jeni

Hi there, done lots of laundry lately? Good to see you!

[wbg]

I had a water birth and used maybe 2 towels for me and two baby towels for bub. But I had a relatively quick labor and did not get in and out the tub. I would recommend extra towels though. I picked up some cheap towels on sale at target. Did not have any real need during the birth, but in the first few weeks postpartum I used them heaps as I had a yeast infection and needed to get fresh air on both my breasts and vag! So at night I would sleep on the towels so I did not need to sleep with underwear. It was great to have those towels that I just washed each day without needing to use the family towels which we do not have many of. All the best for your birth.

[CanidFL]

I bought 10 really cheap towels for like $15. I only used maybe 1 or 2 but I didn't have a water birth. I hate having wet towels to dry off with so I bought extra in case I was in and out of the water a lot.

[seaheroine]

I bought extra towels, too, and used at least ten. I took two baths, was in and out of the birthtub and had them on the bed when I gave birth...then another two to wash off afterwards. Lots of towels!