Home birth

You are in the middle of planning your home birth and wondering what you need?

Here as in all other situations in our lives, we are different - we need different things both materially but also emotionally. Some want to plan their home birth themselves and do it unassisted (without a midwife so-called free birth), others want a home midwife, some want the whole family with them, some with all their previous children and others not at all.

The most important thing on your journey is to find out what your needs and desires are.

Team

Have you thought about who will be your birth team?

  • Partner, friend, family/relative or other acquaintance?
  • Birth professionals: Midwife and/or doula?
  • Children and/or possibly a babysitter?
  • Pets?

Think about the different emotional and physical needs the birthing person may have, but also what needs are in place during and after the birth:

  • Emotional and physical support, do you have a partner or do you want doula support? If you have a home midwife, ask her how she can support you.
  • Do you want the support of several other women?
  • Cooking during and after birth? Task for partner, doula, friend?
  • Should you have a birthing pool? Who will set this up and take it down?
  • Do you want older siblings with you? Who will look after them during the birth?
  • Do you want pets at home, who will be responsible for them?
  • Cleaning the birthing area afterwards, who takes care of it?

Birth box

Create a birth box by purchasing a large, clear plastic box. Mark the contents of the box on a piece of paper and tape it to the lid of the box. In this way, it is easy for your birth team to find the box and see what it contains without having to disturb you during labor. Here you can also write down the telephone numbers of various people who may need to be contacted, e.g. midwife, doula, hospital, babysitter, encapsulation specialist, etc.

Choose a place for your birth box and other things (befor labor) so its easier for everyone when it starts.

Tips of good things to have at a home birth:

  • Plastic cup with straw
  • Pads
  • Net roses
  • Hair clips (several)
  • Towels large + small
  • Massage oil
  • Essential oils
  • Wheat pillow
  • Tennis balls/massage tools
  • Cheers for the placenta
  • Plastic bag for used towels
  • Incontinence protection
  • Shower curtain/waterproof sheets for bed/mattress
  • Preferably old, large sheets
  • Flashlight
  • Hand mirror to be able to watch yourself during the birth
  • Vomit bags/bucket to vomit into
  • Bucket for garbage + garbage bags
  • Zip bags (for those who have booked encapsulation)
  • All-purpose cleaning spray alt. cleaning kit
  • Hand sanitizer
  • toilet paper (soft)
  • Thermometer (measuring the temperature of the mother/baby)
  • Led light, string lights, salt stone lamp, star lamp
  • Aroma lamp
  • Floor fan or hand fan
  • Foam mattress
  • The birthing pool with accessories
  • Water thermometer
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Envelopes with blood group answers, ID documents, birth certificate
  • Dressing gown/kimono
  • Breastfeeding bra
  • Baby diapers (can be used as a maternity wrap for the first few days)

Maternity bag

A tip is to also pack a "maternity bag" for the car/hall in case you have to go to the hospital unplanned either during the birth or afterwards.
Tips for content:

  • Zip bags as vomit bags for the car journey.
  • Incontinence protection + towel, if the water has broken. Put in the car or taxi.
  • Some garments and underwear for adults
  • Clothes for the baby
  • Hair ties
  • Toothbrushes + toothpaste
  • Shampoo, conditioner, soap (travel size)
  • Do not forget! Envelopes with blood group answers, ID documents, birth certificate.