Home Birth

 

Advantages

• Freedom from hospital rules and strict routines
• A more private and intimate birth is possible
• There is no need to travel or be moved about while in labour and afterwards
• Your family share more in birth

 

Disadvantages

• You may need to be transferred to a hospital, if complications arise
• You may not get as much rest afterwards if you have to look after your family

 

home birth checklist

Important Points

• Although you may want to give birth in a particular room, it is best to be flexible and prepare a couple of rooms so that there are no last minute confusions. It should be warm and have easy access to warm water. It should also be spacious and have enough room for the midwife to move around. Your house should be within easy access where an ambulance can reach you in case of an emergency. There should be a toilet close to the room and a telephone either in or quite close to the room
• If you have other children, you may want to arrange for someone to come to your house and look after them so that you and your birth partner can concentrate on the delivery.
• To prepare the bed for delivery, place a clean undersheet first over the mattress and cover it with a plastic sheet. Place another clean undersheet over the plastic one. When this sheet gets dirty during birth, it can be removed along with the plastic sheet and you will have a freshly made bed under it.
• You may be very hungry after giving birth so it is a good idea to prepare some food beforehand and freeze it. This prepared food will also be handy in the first few days after the baby is born.

 

General Needs

• A bed with a firm mattress
  There should be two clean surfaces next to the bed - one for the midwife to keep her equipment and the other for the baby's examination after birth by the midwife.
• You need to have sufficient plastic sheets to protect the bed and the surrounding floor from the amniotic fluid and the blood from the delivery. Alternatively you can use old sheets and shower curtains.
• Have some bin liners so that cleaning up after delivery is easier.
• Have plenty of cushions and pillows so that you are able to keep yourself comfortable during labour.
• A low stool for squatting purposes.
• A hard-backed chair to sit and lean over.
• Clean towels, sheets and blankets.
• Large plastic bowls and soap
• A lamp or other source of bright light which will be needed by the midwife to examine you from time to time.
• Camera for photographs

Your things

• Stick-on maternity towels
  Disposable knickers
• Old T-shirt/nightdress for giving birth in
• Socks
• Breast pads
• Nursing bras
• Front-opening nightdress for wearing after birth
• Slippers
• Flannels
• Clean towels
• Hot water bottle

Baby things

• Soft, clean towels and sheets.
• Baby growers
• Vests
• Nappies (either disposable or toweling)
• Nappy cream
• Cotton wool
• Scratch mittens
• Baby blanket or shawl
• Basket, cot or crib
• Changing mat