![\"preparing](\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/preparing-for-a-homebirth.png\")
<\/p>\nThere are about a\u00a0thousand\u00a0“what to pack in your hospital bag” lists out in the world and much like baby registry lists, they include things from the obvious necessities (car seat, clothes for the baby, camera, etc.) to\u00a0some pretty silly ones (blow dryer? laptop?)<\/p>\n
But for those of us who plan to deliver at home, those lists aren’t very useful! \u00a0So here’s my advice for preparing for a homebirth:<\/p>\n
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The\u00a0birth kit, which includes all the necessities for a homebirth like cord clamps, bulb syringe, waterproof pads, latex gloves, etc., might be provided by your midwife or you may need to order it ahead of time. \u00a0Talk to your midwife well ahead of your due date about what you need to provide and start gathering your supplies early.<\/p>\n
You’ll hear a lot about how messy birth is<\/a> whether you’re at the hospital or at home so I suggest gathering the following items:<\/p>\n Then make your bed!\u00a0Actually put the sheets you want to labor\/birth on ahead of going in to labor including the waterproof liner (the last thing you’ll want to think about as you’re having regular contractions is making the bed!) You can just layer the waterproof cover and old\/cheap sheets over your good ones so after the birth, all you have to do is strip the bed and it’s ready for resting post-baby!<\/p>\n NOTE: none of my linens were ruined or even stained after my delivery with Doodle, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be taking any chances this time!<\/p>\n This includes all the things that baby will need in those first few hours that are usually provided by the hospital including:<\/p>\n And for a bit later:<\/p>\n After you give birth and have a few hours to recover and bond with baby, you’ll probably want to hop into the shower and rinse off then settle into more bonding and resting time. \u00a0Have the following ready to go for after birth:<\/p>\n Pick where you\u00a0think<\/em> you’ll be laboring and birthing (this of course may change in the moment!) \u00a0Put all the necessities you’ll want\/need during labor, delivery and recovery in the “zone” including:<\/p>\n Put all of the supplies you’re providing in a big box where they will be easily accessible and easy to find by your midwife\/doula\/partner in the moment when you’re out of it and explaining where to find things will just be agitating. \u00a0This should include any of the birth kit items you’ve bought, your extra\u00a0linens gathered for the birth and immediate baby needs.<\/p>\n Gather together anything you might want during labor to help you relax including an exercise ball and\/pr short stool (I spent a good portion of Doodle’s labor sitting on an air mattress in basically a squatting position); candles or air fresheners you really like (my personal fav is lilac so I keep around some spray, oils and candles); something to play music on if you intend to have a “birth playlist” (I had one for Sugarplum but never used it); anything else you think might help you relax.<\/p>\n A homebirth gives you a lot more freedom than a hospital birth and most midwives will allow you to eat and drink as necessary where as the hospital may have a “nothing by mouth” rule (during Sugarplum’s birth I was allowed to drink Gatorade, water and certain juices but I had to sneak snacks when the nurse was out of the room!). \u00a0I’m not a big eater while I’m in labor but I do like to have snacks available and, of course, drinks to replenish my energy, electrolytes and fluids lost during the hard work of labor. \u00a0Talk to your midwife about what she recommends you eat\/drink during labor and have it handy (a cooler of ice might be a good idea as well if your birth zone is far from the fridge as it is in our new house!)<\/p>\n Those first few moments and hours are magical and it’s important to be in the moment but some nice pictures to remember those first overwhelming moments are nice, too! \u00a0Make sure your camera(s) are easy to find and have fully charged batteries and plenty of memory storage. \u00a0Plus have your phones handy to make announcement phone calls and any papers\/books you want to have hand or footprints made on.<\/p>\n If you plan to have your other kids at your birth<\/a> (which is one of the main reasons I choose homebirth), be sure to do a little prep work with them. \u00a0Start early and talk often. \u00a0Read books, watch videos and talk A LOT about what they can expect to happen (more tips on how we prepare our kids here<\/a>).<\/p>\n We also do sibling gifts. \u00a0Each of the kids buys a gift for the baby and the baby buys a gift for each of his\/her siblings. We have big brother\/sister open both his\/her gift FROM the baby and his\/her gift TO the baby, obviously this is more of a treat for the big siblings than the baby but it helps to make everyone feel special on the day and I think helps promote sibling bonding and family togetherness.<\/p>\n\n
Collect baby’s first minutes must haves<\/h4>\n
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![\"SONY](\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/baby-needs.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHave your after birth necessities handy<\/h4>\n
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![\"SONY](\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/mommy-after-birth-clothes.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSet up a “Birth Zone”<\/h4>\n
A birth box<\/h6>\n
![\"SONY](\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/homebirth-box.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nComfort items<\/h6>\n
Drinks and snacks<\/h6>\n
Prepare memory makers<\/h4>\n
Getting siblings ready<\/h4>\n
![\"SONY](\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/sibling-presents.jpg\")
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