My midwife has a list of supplies we need to have on hand - many of them are common, everyday type items, such as juice, hydrogen peroxide, washcloths, and such. There is also a Birth Kit which is ordered from a specialty website, and that has all of the supplies the midwife needs, such a chux pads, cord clamps, rubber gloves, etc. I have to wash and prepare sheets, towels, the baby's clothes, diapers, and receiving blankets. I'm attempting to get extra food on hand in the freezer, so that food is readily available to my midwives, helpers, and me! after the baby is born.
Some friends of ours loaned us a birth pool, and while I'm not set on a waterbirth, I think it will be a wonderful luxury to labor in the pool - I've never labored in water before and I've heard nothing but awesome things about it! So we're trying to figure out the best place to set it up, and then we're going to do a trial run of inflating, filling, and draining the pool just to make sure it all works like we'll need it to!
All of this might seem like a lot more extra work, but it really isn't. And what work and organization it does require is good for me as I tend to get very antsy during the last few weeks - I'm terrible at waiting! So it is very nice to have projects for me to be working on.
Physically, I'm doing my own preparing by drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea and taking Evening Primrose Oil to help get my body ready for labor. I'm doing lots of squats and stretching, trying to make sure I drink enough water and get enough rest. Those are things I do before every labor, anyway, because I've found them to be so beneficial.
I find I'm having to prepare mentally, as well. After 5 hospital births, the reality of this being a homebirth is still sinking in! I am so relieved that we will not have to be trying to determine when to leave for the hospital, what to do about childcare, and endure a car ride while in labor! But it also means I have to be confident and comfortable with this decision. After desiring a homebirth for so long, that hasn't taken much effort, but since it will be a new and totally different experience than what I've been used to, the excitement of wondering what it will be like can be overwhelming sometimes! I'm *so* looking forward to finding out what it is like.
The only thing left for me to do is... wait! I'm officially "full-term" (37 weeks) as of tomorrow, but I know that doesn't mean baby is coming soon - it could still be another 3 or even 5 weeks! So we're chugging along with school, trying to keep up on housekeeping and organization, and waiting on the Lord's timing for when our new family member will arrive. We're all so excited and can't wait to meet this little one!
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4 comments:
I wish you nothing but the best for your homebirth! How awesome!
I had two fantastic easy labors/deliveries in the hospital (with the help of an epidural) but credit the ease of delivery thanks to the Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and EPO. I took those both religiously from 36weeks til birth (both kids came at 40w exactly) and I swear they helped so much.
I'm so excited for you!
I have had two hospital births and two homebirths. I never want to go back to the hospital to birth again. My fourth baby was born so quickly at home, that my midwife barely got there in time. I couldn't imagine if I had been the one traveling to the hospital during transition; that would have been horrible. Praying for a blessed birth for you!
Great! It all sounds so exciting! What exactly does the tea and oil do for labor and delivery?
Thank you, ladies! I appreciate the encouragement, and I love to hear other's homebirth experiences :-)
Meggan, Red Raspberry Leaf tea "tones" the uterus by causing mild braxton-hicks. Those help strengthen the uterus for when time to do the real work comes! Evening Primrose Oil encourages your body to produce prostaglandins, the hormone that helps the cervix thin and efface, which, of course, helps dilation. I've used them both with every pregnancy and believe they've helped me to have relatively easy labors. :-)
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