Money Saving and Homebirth

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Hiya All

I am trying to get a realistic idea of what a home birth is likely to cost us. I appreciate that it is an 'experience' but I do need to consider the costs, especially as we will be on a reduced income thereafter.

I am pg with number 3 and based on my previous pregnancies and births, I do not see any reason why I can't have a home birth.

I must point out that I had my two previous births in a third world country, in a private hospital (that couldn't afford disposable nappies the second time) so am not really familiar with what hospitals / MW provide as standard practice here in the UK.

Firstly, I am really considering a birthing pool, and perhaps this is my biggest financial worry. As my baby is due in Nov, I have to consider the temperature of the pool, and I don't really know what kind of water system we have in the house (I do know that we run out of hot water after a full bath run) so it is likely that I would need a BP that either heats up the water, or at the least keeps the water hot. There are other things to consider with the pool, as regards to whether I can hire one from the MW (will be able to find this out at next appoint in 2 weeks time) or would need to hire one from an internet sites and of course the big question of how long to hire it for.

I also don't know if a birthing ball would be of any benefit, and where I can get one of these at a decent price. I have never used one, but am keen to not have medical pain relief (for as long as I can), so it might be of use. Worst case, I am sure the children will enjoy playing with it.

I also understand that I would need to get shower curtains as plastic sheets, and I appreciate that I can probably pick these up for next to nothing at pound shops etc. I have a couple of old duvets that I haven't thrown out as these could be used as padding on the floor. I am also quite happy to dispose of my existing towels (and buy new for afterwards). Oh and I would probably need a few buckets, but these aren't 'big' costs.

The MWs are also likely to want tea and biccies, and this shouldn't be too expensive (as long as I don't eat them all myself and have to go back out and buy more).

Oh and there are probably a 1000 other things that may or may not cost a few pennies that I haven't even thought of, but I would appreciate any advise anyone can give.

Many thanks in advance.

ailuro2

Save up newspapers in advance too- they are required.Free aswell:D

lex

Definitely worth asking your midwife, as a friend had a home birth a month or so ago, and she got given a "pack" from the midwife. This included a bucket (to take away the placenta I think), and some plastic sheets and other equipment.

As for towels, can you not just put them on a boil wash afterwards?

I'm sure the midwife won't be expecting a fancy spread, but a pack of biscuits can be 40p or less.

I think the only main expense would be the birthing pool, but I don't know much about these I'm afraid.

lex

Rikki

I just had an old duvet on the floor with a plastic sheet underneath.

Everything else is in the Orange homebirth box given to me by the midwife some weeks before the due date.

The midwives then bring everything else with them.

My midwives had tea and toast.

Becles

I was booked in for a home birth. The only thing I had to buy was plastic sheeting/shower curtain to protect the matress and bedroom carpet. She suggested using old sheets on the bed and having old towels to hand, so it didn't matter if they got badly stained.

The midwife said they would bring everything else, but I'm sure they would appreciate light refreshments.

In my area, all their stuff is packed in boxes and delivered to your home when you're 37 weeks pregnant, so all the midwife has to do is turn up when needed!

In the end I had to give birth in hospital due to complications and a premature arrival. I did sit on a birthing ball during labour, but it didn't really seem to do anything, other than make my husband crack up laughing at me :rolleyes:

Jo6673

Rikki wrote: »

I just had an old duvet on the floor with a plastic sheet underneath.

Everything else is in the Orange homebirth box given to me by the midwife some weeks before the due date.

The midwives then bring everything else with them.

My midwives had tea and toast.

Orange do everything these days, dont they!!

november

My last home birth was 14 years ago so thing may have changed since then a bit :rotfl:but I didn't have to provide anything as the midwife brought it all in a pack. I would ask the midwife what you need to provide. Obviously the midwife may need a sandwich and a drink or 2 if they are in your house a long time.

I didn't have a birthing pool. If money is a factor though and you are thinking purely of the pool for pain relief how about just using the bath? I got in a lovely full bath when I felt I needed to and out at the end to actually give birth. Much cheaper and it was excellent for pain relief (I used none apart from the bath and breathing exercises). Not as much room as a pool obviously to move around but it worked for me.

Justie

birthing balls can be got for anything from £5 to about £15 - just make sure you get an antiburst one but places like Argos, Amazon and supermarkets all do some of them - I think mine was from Amazon as it was the cheapest I found that was antiburst and I thought I needed a small ball as I have short legs - have since found out you can just get a standard size ball and just not blow it up as much.

there are various places where you can get birthing pools but they do use a lot of water - although you can't have it as hot as you'd have a bath pre-pregnancy but even so I think your hot water tank would struggle. I've not looked into them as I'm worried that it'll spill everywhere and make a mess and anyway our bath is pretty big so I'll use that as much as possible.

I haven't done it yet so can't say if it'll work or not but I've been reading a hypnobirthing book and listening to some CDs and I think (hope) that it will help with both pain control and everything else with the birth.

Freecycle is a good place to ask for old duvets, sheets etc

I wouldn't go spening lots of money on anything as you may not end up giving birth at home but as has been said the midwives provide a big kit of stuff that covers the basics anyway. The biggest expense would be the birthing pool if you get it.

jozshi

I bought a birthing pool from http://www.labassine.co.uk/ when I had a homebirth in March this year. It was great and the midwives were very impressed with it - also much cheaper than hiring the fancy ones. We normally get a couple of shallow baths out of our hot water tank, but we turned the hot water on to fill the pool and didnt have any probs. Then we just topped up with a boiled kettle from time to time to keep the temperature warm enough.

We can now use it as a paddling pool/ball pool for the little one, so should get our money's worth!

Aside from the pool, we got some plastic sheets from a pound shop to cover the floor/sofas and had plenty of old sheets/towels. The midwives had specifically asked for their to be refreshments available for them, so I got plenty of biccies in! As people have already said, everything else was in the pack we collected from the hospital (along with two cannisters of gas&air!)

Hope all goes well for you! x

Savvy_Sue

My midwives recommended putting cardboard on the floor rather than a plastic sheet - less slippery and more absorbent. We got some large boxes and flattened them.

I hired a TENS machine rather than a birthing pool. Cheaper, easier to use, can't compare effectiveness ...

izoomzoom

ailuro2 wrote: »

Save up newspapers in advance too- they are required.Free aswell:D

Why, surely I won't feel like reading ?