HOME
BIRTHS
The following are suggestions for things which are useful to have ready
for your baby’s birth at home:
For the Room:
- Box, basket
or drawer to keep everything in
- Large soft
plastic sheet for the floor – shower curtain
- Clean old
sheets, curtain or blanket to cover the plastic
- Small bin and
plastic bags for rubbish and laundry
- Kitchen roll
or box of tissues
- Lots of
pillows and/or a beanbag
- Camera, CD
player etc
- Candles, oil
burner etc if you want
- Music
- Heater to
warm the room for the baby’s arrival, even in summer, nights can be cold!
For the Mother:
- Easily
digested food, eg biscuits, toast, pasta, yoghurt, bananas, honey, glucose
tablets, sweets
- Vegetable or
fruit juice – at least 2 cartons; grape is excellent – high in sugar and
low in acidity, spring water
- Ice
chips/cubes
- 2 Face
flannels which can be used on the perineum
- Several large
towels for after bathing
- Several old
or disposable knickers – large ones!
- T-shirt to
wear after giving birth
- 2 small bags
of frozen peas (for sore perineum and breasts) or ice packs
- Calendula
tincture and homeopathic remedies if wanted
- Food/drink to
celebrate afterwards!
- Please
provide yourself with a bottle of Arnica 30 for post natal use (from
Boots).
For the Baby:
- Several old
soft towels to dry your baby
- Bath towel x 1
- Full set of
baby clothes, including a hat
- Nappies of
choice (at least one week’s worth)
- Cotton wool
and small plastic bowl(s) for water to wash and cleanse baby
- Baby blankets
and bed linen. Natural fibres like
cotton are best
- Hot water
bottle to warm crib – if easily available
- Basic plant
oil such as olive for massage or for dry skin
For the Midwives:
- A good torch
if you have one
- A good direct
light source such as an anglepoise lamp – only if easy to arrange
- Chocolate
biscuits
For Water Birth:
- Plastic
sheeting to cover most of the floor in room where pool will be
- Several large
towels and a towelling robe
- Pillow which
can get wet or a neck rest
- Floats etc if
desired
- Waterproof mirror
- A thermometer
should come with your pool
- Sieve
If you like your own things when away from home – pack an overnight bag
in case of hospital admission.