[*GreenMama*]

Hi mamas! I'm making the list of things to bring with me to aid in a natural non-medicated birth. Here's what I have so far:<br><br>
-Birth Ball + inflater<br>
-tennis ball<br>
-tens unit<br>
-mp3 player with all my fave music<br>
-speakers for mp3 player<br>
-my laptop and some DVDs (probably won't be able to use it, but hey)<br>
-mmm, I plan on opening a bottle of wine or champagne at home for early labor, my MW says having a glass or two is great instead of drugs...<br>
-lotsa pillows... i will be pillow-lady at the hosp.<br>
-some form of warming thing, like a sock with rice in it or a heating blanket or a hot water bottle (does anyone know where i can get one???)<br><br><br>
Anyone have any suggestions?<br>
What are you planning to use to help get you through?

 

[Marylizah]

Hmmm, my list is a lot like yours, minus the music (it would annoy me) and the tens unit, since I don't know what that is, lol!<br><br>
I'll also be bringing apple juice and honey with me to the hospital, per my MW's suggestion, for quick energy during labor. And water. And a spray bottle to cool off if I need it.<br><br>
That's about it for me! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[Peppamint]

I have a birth ball and my birth pool. Since I'm having a homebirth I have various things around the house that can be used if necessary, but for my first two births I really just wanted to be left alone. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[nova22]

The hospital has a birth ball; if I don't go to the hospital, my son has a huge bouncy ball that I might usurp. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"> I also have CDs of relaxing music and a portable CD player, my trusty 32-oz water bottle, and DEFINATELY, the most important thing on my list....<br><br>
HERBAL EYE PACK!!!<br><br>
I got a lavender scented, velvety herb pack at Bath & Body Works before DD was born and I LOVED having it. It can be heated or cooled and it felt soooo good over my eyes when I was laboring intensely. Then after the birth, I was having trouble sleeping so one of the nurses heated it for me and the lavender was soothing and relaxing, and helped me sleep. You can make them yourself even with minimal sewing skills, mine was just lavender and flaxseed in a rectangular velvet pouch, but you could use other scented herbs as well.

 

[guestmama9906]

Nothing.<br><br>
With my second, we had him in a birth center, but the music just irritated me after awhile, and I just wanted to be left alone.<br><br>
This time I'm planning on going about my business until I'm in transition, dishes, watching Spongebob with the kids, homeschooling, whatever, then jumping in the tub to deliver. That way I think I'll feel like the family is involved, and I'll still be walking around, helping labor move.<br><br>
This is all just a nice theory though, remains to be seen if it will work or not <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[guestmama9906]

Come to think of it, there is this one beverage that people keep telling me I should have, but I can't think of it, it's like a sportsdrink, but better. Someone tell me what it is before I go MAD!

 

[luckylady]

hypnobirthing CD's!<br><br>
Wine. possibly - hadn't thought of that one!<br><br>
birth ball<br>
our tub - so glad it's HUGE.<br>
my Doula<br>
light touch massage from DH - this stimulates endorphines which are natures pain meds.<br>
music.<br>
My DD's silly questions which make me laugh and the wonderous expression she will have this beautiful day.<br><br>
For the most part just making sure I practice my relaxation exercises and allow my body to do what it was made to do - tension causes pain.<br><br>
i am so excited to meet this little guy!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[eco_mama]

my MW (and her assistant MW)<br>
my DH<br>
indian music (last time i hardly listened to it but it's there if i want it) and also lots of reggae <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
my huge tub<br>
my shower (running hot water always helps!)<br>
birthing ball<br>
cold washcloths (for my head mainly)<br>
and other things my MW has

 

[Peppamint]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>cicerosum</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Come to think of it, there is this one beverage that people keep telling me I should have, but I can't think of it, it's like a sportsdrink, but better. Someone tell me what it is before I go MAD!</div>
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Recharge?

 

[Tofu the Geek]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>nova22</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">if I don't go to the hospital, my son has a huge bouncy ball that I might usurp. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"></div>
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Make sure whatever ball you use has burst protection. Children's bouncy balls likely do not. Burst protection means that if a ball breaks it will slowly deflate rather than just popping and you slamming onto the floor hurting yourself or your baby!

 

[guestmama9906]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>busybusymomma</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Recharge?</div>
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YES! I keep reading all over the internet that if you hb, you really, really ought to have these drinks. Even my midwife rec's it.

 

[beansavi]

Here's what my midwife did with two of my births and it completely blocked the peak point of pain in a contraction:<br><br>
Mama gets on hands and knees, midwife (or Dad, or whoever you choose) puts their thumbs on your "sit bones" on your butt. Mama leans her weight into the midwives thumbs, and that is basically the <i>Pudendal Block</i> without the drugs. The <i>Pudendal Nerve</i> is right there. Oh my did this completely change the birth! Whew!<br><br><b>Midwives rule...</b><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[Peppamint]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>cicerosum</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">YES! I keep reading all over the internet that if you hb, you really, really ought to have these drinks. Even my midwife rec's it.</div>
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Yup, my midwife has it on her birth kit list and it comes highly recommended on the hb group I'm on. I didn't buy any last time though, I think I will this time but I honestly have never been in labor long enough to need it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="innocent">

 

[nova22]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>TechnoGranola</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Make sure whatever ball you use has burst protection. Children's bouncy balls likely do not. Burst protection means that if a ball breaks it will slowly deflate rather than just popping and you slamming onto the floor hurting yourself or your baby!</div>
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Ack, that sounds unpleasant <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/blush.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="blush"><br>
I'll be careful of that - it's something I didn't really put much thought into. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[newmainer]

I found that early on, i really needed to hold something in my hands- something i could squeeze. Dh had some foam he wrapped in a tube and i held that and squeezed it. Not sure that it helped with the pain, but it helped fill a need that was otherwise distracting me.<br><br>
we froze our recharge into ice cubes and then broke into chips- that was great. Also for energy we had chicken stock, for non-chewable substance <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">