Homebirthers

[mraven721]

Have you ordered your birth kit yet? I am such an early bird and I'm trying not to think about it, but I really want the darn thing already! But we are waiting till after Christmas :(

How about you all?

[katiemfree]

I orderd mine and my little pool- it is about the only thing I have done to prepare, so it feels nice to at least have it here! It is exciting to see it in my closet- makes things seem more real. I am considering filling up the tub just for practice, plus I think my 4 year old would really dig it! Haven't put together all the other things on the midwife's list yet, though- need to get working on that

[My Three Boys]

Nope, not yet! I figure if I go into labor anytime in the next couple weeks, I won't be delivering at home anyway. We're waiting until after Christmas too. I'm also one who likes to be prepared WAY ahead of time, so waiting is hard for me!! But, there's so much other stuff to do - Christmas shopping and decorating, homeschooling, etc - that I think I'll be okay waiting.

[alllyssa]

Hi there,

I won't be 36 weeks until the beginning of Jan., so I'm waiting on putting together my birth kit until after Christmas and New Year's. Not that I'm up for doing much on New Year's this year, but my 15 year old percussionist son will be marching in the Rose Parade with his high school marching band (it's on Jan. 2nd because they don't ever have the parade on Sunday) and so we'll be busy with that :thumb

[Honeybee'smama]

Haven't even really thought about it, and given there is so much other stuff this month, it will definatly be waiting until after the holidays. I had not even thought about the -if I was this early I wouldn't be at home line of thought, that makes sense though. My focus has all been on school, then after Thurs. (my last day of class) the holidays, then getting ready for baby. But I am not due till the 19th, so it might be different if I was real early in the month.

[Sleepymama]

I just got the order form yesterday. I was feeling really depressed last week and worried about having another traumatic birth, and so I ordered my pool to make it feel more "real." I think I will order the kit soon too--the company says to order 6 weeks before your due date and I'm 30 weeks now...close enough.

[~lioneyes~]

I hear ya about school, Honeybee. I just finished my last three finals this AM!! Yippie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now I can finally focus on having this baby. At my next mw appt. on the 27th, I will get info. about my birth kit. I probably will order it in Jan. Like someone else said, if I delivered now, I wouldn't be al home any way. I did find the birth pool that I want, and I'll probably order it sometime soon.

[EllasMama]

I was just thinking about this over the weekend! But it's a bit soon yet so I think I'll wait till late December.

Carol

[Pariah]

I think we're waiting until after Christmas, as well...like others posted, we're so caught up with holiday stuff, unpacking from our move, etc.

[charmedgirlies]

we are waiting too! Well ok I am waiting hubby is still out to sea and wants to check over my list one last time before we order lol! but he is supposed to be home next week so who knows we could order it then or wait til after the 1st beats me lol! heck it just dawned on me last night how close to the end we are!

[Jlcampbellkidz]

I got my birth pool already, it's a fishy pool recamended by several other experienced home birthing mamas. The cheapest place was running out so I went ahead and ordered it a few weeks ago. I am not planning on buying an actual put together kit. So many of them have several items not needed or used. My midwife did give me a list and we will start puting the supplies together after the 1st of the year.

I still can't believe it's December. Where did all the time go?

[aguacates]

I am not planning on buying an actual put together kit. So many of them have several items not needed or used. My midwife did give me a list and we will start puting the supplies together after the 1st of the year.

I still can't believe it's December. Where did all the time go?

I feel the same about this. I have a bunch of random things left over from dd's birth kit that we never used, so this time I'll just fill in the blanks so to speak. With all wood floors and a waterbirth planned, cleanup is so easy. I think I only used chux to sit on postpartum. I did however order some 5w(my aunt who is a cnm has me convinced) already, and I also want to get some Afterease. My afterbirth pains were worse than my labor w/dd. :down

[alicia9178]

I am waiting until after the holidays....though maybe it would help my mood to order it sooner. I have been depressed because baby is transverse:( I know it is early, but I am stressing it like crazy. I am debating still about what kind of pool I want to get...saw a cool one on yourwaterbirth.com that I am now considering. Guess I should hurry up and make my mind up though just in case places are running low.
Alicia

[mraven721]

I talked to my MW yesterday and she'd like me to have it by now. I am due early in the month. Still we are waiting till after Christmas to order, things are just too tight right now!! Although I feel like the price of my birth kit isn't bad, less than $40 and she has 3 Aqua Doulas available to her clients so I don't have to buy or rent a pool.

[ChiaraRose]

My MW wants me to oder it now, it also says on the order form to order 6 weeks before your due date...
It is a birthkit especially for my midwife, she has her own order number, so I assume she needs that stuff. All the things on her other list we will get in January, like drop cloths, masking tape, etc.
By the way i still haven't ordered it even though I was supposed to do it last week. So I am slooow.
I am so excited, though.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Nope! I don't feel like I'm in that much of a hurry right now ;) If I was to go into labour anytime soon I sure would hightail it to the hospital, so I'll probably order after Christmas.

[winnie]

I will be having a hospital birth, but this thread has me really curious...what all is included in the birth kit? Is it all the supplies the midwife will be needing? I had sort of assumed they would already have the supplies, and that would be part of the cost of having a midwife.

Also, you are all talking about ordering a birthing pool...isn't there anywhere you can rent them from?

Just curious. :p Thanks,
winn

[EllasMama]

Some stuff the midwife brings, some you supply. I am sure it varies by midwife as well. The midwives bring a lot of equipment with them so having some stuff on hand cuts down on their need to organize a ton of little odds and ends before they come and also cuts down on how much they have to transport. I haven't gotten this list from my mw yet so I'm not sure what I'll have to provide. Here's what one online birth kit you can order includes:

10 – Deluxe Underpads 23" X 24"
5 – Deluxe Underpads 23" X 36"
2 – Plastic Backed Sheets
12 – Gauze Sponge, 4" X 4", 12-ply, sterile
15 – Alcohol Prep Pads
1 – OB Adhesive Pads (dozen)
1 – Peri Bottle
1 – Scrub Brush, Hibiclens, sterile
1 – Povidone, 4 oz.
1 – Bulb Syringe, 2 oz, sterile
2 – Cord Clamps, plastic, sterile
6 – Lubrication Jelly, 3 gram pkgs.
1 – Thermometer, rectal, w/case
2 – Straws, flexible
1 – Stretch Briefs
1 – Infant Tape Measure
6 – Glove, sterile, single (S, M, L)
3 – Gloves, sterile, pair (S, M, L)
1 – Infant hat, 100% cotton

[EllasMama]

Oh, and you can definitely rent tubs; the big ones are too expensive to purchase. One great resource is Waterbirth International, run by Barbara Harper, http://waterbirth.org/

Carol

[bred]

I got the order form at our last appointment, and have been wondering how long I should make myself wait to get it. I really want it now...but I feel like I might "jynx" myself if I get it too early. Waiting til after Christmas is a good compromise. :thumb
We are wanting to use our soft tub for the birth, and our MW said it would work great...but I'm wondering about technical details. Like, it takes a really long time to heat...so I'm wondering when we should fill it and how long it can sit without chemicals? And, if we can use sea salt in the water without ruining the motor (seems like it would corrode it or something)? I'm going to look on Barbara Harper's website, and maybe just send her a personal email or something (ha ha) asking her advice. Anyone have any knowledge on this subject??

[winnie]

Thanks, ellasmama. I guess the kit is mostly stuff that will end up being thrown out after use, so that makes sense. Who knows, I may consider a homebirth next time (provided there is a next time), and will need to know these things!

winn

[My Three Boys]

Winn- The stuff Carol listed is also in my birth kit. We are also given another list of things to provide - More chucks pads, digital thermometer, unsweetened juices, 2 fitted bed sheets, 1 flat bed sheet, 8 receiving blankets, 2 towels, 2 washcloths, 1 bottle of olive oil, 3 garbage bags. We were also asked to have some food on hand to share in case they're here for a while. I plan to buy some crackers and cheese and freeze some chili for a quick meal.

HTH! Oh - my midwife includes the birth tub in her fee. She owns a couple of them and lends them out at the 37 week appointment.

[Sleepymama]

That is cool that your MW lends them out! They are so expensive to rent! I also got one of the inflatable fishy pools--the big hexagonal one. There are several threads about pools on the homebirth forum. I think they can sit a long while without chemicals, I mean unless your labor lasts 4 days and you get a lot of body fluids in the water...anyway, I read that the inflatable ones stay heated a while though it does take time to fill them. If you put a down blanket and tarp on top when it's not in use you can keep it hot for a while. That's the plan anyway! I'm putting another tarp under it but honestly am not all that worried because we're planning to replace the carpet anyway.

This is where my MW has us get our birth kit (same stuff as has been listed already), and they have some other really nice post-partum supplies like an herbal sitz bath, herbal cord care, footprinting kit and birth certificate, etc.
http://www.1cascade.com/natural_products/

The funny thing my MW told me is that if I ask her to take the placenta she will have to charge me a "medical waste disposal fee" but I am allowed to keep it for "cultural reasons" and do whatever I want with it! These regulations are so bizarre.

[bred]

My MW said she has found the best luck with rubbermaid troughs...like, from feed supply (FARM) stores!! :lol So, she owns a couple and comes and sets them up at your 36 week home visit, I guess.
I looked for pictures, and this was the best I could find:
http://buffy6900.tripod.com/id1.html (http://buffy6900.tripod.com/id1.html)
The shape is different...the one she showed me was more of an hourglass shape. But, the troughs are deep and sturdy and very waterproof.

[mraven721]

The funny thing my MW told me is that if I ask her to take the placenta she will have to charge me a "medical waste disposal fee" but I am allowed to keep it for "cultural reasons" and do whatever I want with it! These regulations are so bizarre.

That is funny! So I assume you'll keep it? I can't tell you know many of my friend have placentas in their freezers, hoping one day to do something with it. Maybe one day I'll have a placenta burial party in the woods somewhere!!

[Pariah]

Maybe one day I'll have a placenta burial party in the woods somewhere!!

That sounds so cool! I would participate. :)

[EllasMama]

A friend of mine had the placenta from her second birth in the freezer for months and months...finally she decided to get it out for the baby's first birthday and use it to plant a special tree in the baby's honor. They had a little family blessing/ceremony to celebrate the birthday around the tree. Sweet!

[aguacates]

I can't tell you know many of my friend have placentas in their freezers, hoping one day to do something with it. Maybe one day I'll have a placenta burial party in the woods somewhere!!


Dd's placenta is still in our freezer. Dd was two in August. :lol Dh and I can't agree on what kind of tree we want to plant with it. :lol

[AndiG]

Winn,
um, are you in Ontario? (I know you're Canadian, I just don't know where?) If you're in Ontario you won't have to get one these kits. The midwives supply virtually everything (covered by Ohip). You have to supply a few things : plastic matress cover and sheets, clothes for you and baby, but all the rest of the 'medical' stuff, they bring with them.

Just something to know, for next time, like you said.

[MAMom]

I've rented my birth tub (can't believe it will be arriving in a few weeks!!!) and most of my "birth kit" supplies. My "safe date" for HB is January 10 (though I really hope the baby decides not to come that early!)

I was actually able to get almost everything on my midwife's list from drugstore.com (including chux pads & a heating pad). Still have a couple of small things to order -- thanks for the reminder!

[mimismith]

My birth kit arrived this week. My favorite thing was the little hat! THAT makes it seem much more real. :)
Still haven't decided whether we are having a pool-but I have another week to let my midwives know, and they will plan and bring all of that.
I still have to find a waterproof mattress pad-any suggestions on where to order one at a reasonable price?
Thanks!

[musemor]

I still have to find a waterproof mattress pad-any suggestions on where to order one at a reasonable price?

I haven't been able to find an inexpensive one either. My mw suggested a painter's drop cloth/plastic sheet instead of a mattress pad.


We ended up having a lot of the supplies on my mw's list here at home already. The stuff that we didn't have I ordered through drugstore.com (and a couple of things to pick up at the grocery store/drug store). My online order hasn't arrived yet but hopefully everything will be together by Jan 19, when I'll be cleared for the homebirth. It's really fun getting the supplies together...it makes it feel more real.

[EllasMama]

A painter's plastic drop cloth is exactly what we're planning to use. I got the idea b/c DH painted our bedroom recently and I was noticing how big they are. I think they're like $2 - a great deal!

[danav]

I might end up with a home birth...our primary plan is to go to our birth center, but being that it's 1 1/2 hrs away and I have fast labors we might end up staying home (my sister who is a midwife is coming into town when I'm about 38 - 38 1/2 weeks and I've also hired a monitrice so she could serve as my sister's assistant midwife).

I didn't order a birth kit, but what I have gotten together (at my sister's suggestion) in a big laundry basket is:
old towels
chux pads
heavy black trash bags
alcohol
hydrogen peroxide
roll of paper towels

The birth center gave me two cord clamps and a new bulb aspirator in case the baby is born in the car on the way.

My sister will be bringing everything else we'd need (including baby hats, keepsake home birth certificate, etc). She just had me gather what I did in case we have a sudden UC before she gets here. And the heavy black trash bags are to dispose of things like the placenta and bloody clean-up paper towels, etc without alarming the garbage men or neighbors and making them think we've murdered someone in the house! :lol

[EllasMama]

I'm so glad you mentioned that, Dana, b/c I saw "large trash bags" on my homebirth supply list and just figured we'd use the white kitchen bags we have. Now I think getting some black ones would be a better idea!

Carol

[danav]

Yeah, I hadn't thought of it either until my sister mentioned it...I knew trash bags would come in handy but was planning to use the white kitchen bags I always have on hand, too!

[be11ydancer]

My birth kit arrived this week. My favorite thing was the little hat! THAT makes it seem much more real. :)
Still haven't decided whether we are having a pool-but I have another week to let my midwives know, and they will plan and bring all of that.
I still have to find a waterproof mattress pad-any suggestions on where to order one at a reasonable price?
Thanks!

We've found waterproof mattress pads at WalMart and Target for under $10. Now if you want a nice padded thing, that costs more. They aren't hard to find though. The one for my DD's twin bed was $4 I think.

My midwives told us not to use a painters drop cloth because they're too darn slippery to set up.

ETA - Midwives also told us to get a small sieve for in case I poop in the water, lol. Makes sense. Who wants to fish it out with their hands?????