Hi Everyone,

This is my 2nd pregnancy and i am hoping to have a homebirth as i HATED being in hopsital the 1st time, was just wondering what sort of things were needed in regards to the water, blood and mess etc, i have cream carpets and i really dont want anything ruined!!

Do the midwives bring plastic sheets or do i need to get these myself? I will keep an eye out for any cheap sheets that i can buy but am just not sure exactly what sort of things to look for. Can anyone recommend anything that u found really useful?

Thanks

Holly
21+4
xxxx

I had a home birth 1st time round (hoping for another one in Nov!) and We bought some cheap Asda shower curtains to keep the carpets clean.The midwives bought loads of plastic sheets too and after it was all over they cleaned everything up too. I think the more plastic you have, the better!!! But our carpets didn't get any mess on them at all.
Hope this helps, good luck xx

I used the ASDA smart price shower curtains too they are about 88p each they were recomended as they are non-slip. Also recomended old or dark towels.
xx

I bought from ebay the mini birth in box and it came with a step, shower curtain, thermometer mirror, purple non slip sheet to put under the pool and a bump which inflates in about 10 mins. I used the pool for 7 hours but did not get to have my little man in it, had to have a c-section. I am thinking of selling it all for £100, pickup in Essex or extra for postage. Total kit new would cost nearly £200. If you are interested email me. You would need to buy a sterile liner, get them on ebay, or birthinbox website.

Rebecca

Ooh, mite have to take a trip to asda then! I have a while left so i dont have to get anything just yet.

Thanks Rebecca but im not planning on having a waterbirth just a homebirth...just hope it all goes to plan lol!

xxx

Hi, for my first home birth a bought plastic and a cheap double duvet for comfort on the floor but never used any of it!!! lol
My 2nd home birth i didn't buy anything but my midwives didin't have any sort of plastic either just the little square pads they use and i gave birth on my bed with just towels and a couple of the pads!
My last home birth again i didn't buy anything but ending up accidentilly giving birth in the bath!! lol
I'm not going to be buying anything again for my next one, you watch though i bet i'll need it this time!!ha ha xxxxx

You can go to B&Q or a hardware store and pick up some plastic to line your carpet with...similar to what some people do for house parties ! Hubby bought a thicker role of plastic liner that we are using to put on our floor under our birth pool but you could use something similar even if not planning a water birth.
My mw mentioned last week that there never seem to be enough towels (more for a water birth) but I would buy loads of cheap ones that you can throw away, or buy dark ones that will wash and not stain (we picked up a load of cheap black ones from the pound shop).
Also, you may want to buy some cheap pillows that you can just throw away. Good to kneel on if you are leaning up against your bed or a chair or birth ball. Also good to have under you if you are on all fours when delivering your baby.
Lastly, dark sheets are good to have (during your birth or afterwards to put on your sofa or bed), either cheapies you can throw away or ones you can wash that won't stain. Again, the pound shops are great to pick these up really cheaply.

xx

Ha! Found what I was looking for - baby brain! x x x

[Modified by: EmilyB on October 15, 2009 10:49 AM]

We just used a plastic dust sheet (99p B&Q bargain bin) that covered our king size bed and the cream carpets either side then OH put some old black fitted sheets over it 2 i think then the MW put those bed pads under me. Not a bit of mess anywhere, i hate the sight of blood and the dark sheets meant i didnt see any too!!!

Towels are def needed we used our old beach towels as they are softer, just washed them through in non bio for wrapping baby in after she was on my tummy.

Lots of nice foods too especially those you have missed in pregnancy and your fave shampoos and pamper bits. Loved being in my own bath afterwards with my goodies!!!

Good luck hope you get your birth you want!
xxxxxxx