Money Saving and Homebirth

Savvy_Sue

I read through most of my first labour, in hospital with the epidural in ...

powysprincess

I got my pool for about £50 from birthpoolinabox https://www.birthpoolinabox.co.uk/birth-pool-eco-mini.html?gclid=CJCNufPvhY0CFQqHlAod-CMwiQ

They're a bit more expensive now but still reasonable IMO. We didn't have a heater, just used a digital bath thermometer to check the temperature, and kept topping up with buckets as needed, and it was December 23rd.

I also had a TENS machine for the hours before I got into the pool which was really good. I hired it from the hospital.

Definitely recommend a birthing ball, though I got a Reebok exercise ball from Argos, which was perfect, and was used a lot to ensure optimal foetal positioning, as well as for pain relief in the early stages of labour.

The MWs just had tea and biscuits; they won't expect anything fancy!

savememoney!

Hi I work as a Midiwfe in Southern England. For home births we provide all equipment at 37 weeks including 2 cylinders of gas and air.
The parents responsibility is to provide plastic sheeting to protect carpets, old sheets, towels and duvet covers -which can be binned after delivery-ask friends if clearing out or possibly ask charity shop as may have old ones that won't sell or may give u a load for £5 or free! You need paracetamol, sanitary towels, a place to keep towels warm for baby -airing cupboard or tumble drier, tea and coffee!!!! We recommend having friends on call for the other children to prevent them being distressed even in ur own home so u can get on and labour and know the children are well cared for.
Birth pool would be partners role to keep hot at 36-37c and 37c at delivery. the pool needs to be birthing pool for the depth, ask local nct group as some people may have pools and u will have to just pay for liner. or may know of pool to borrow. I have delivered a home birth on new cream carpets without one mark on the carpet!

Welshlassie

powysprincess wrote: »

I got my pool for about £50 from birthpoolinabox https://www.birthpoolinabox.co.uk/birth-pool-eco-mini.html?gclid=CJCNufPvhY0CFQqHlAod-CMwiQ

The MWs just had tea and biscuits; they won't expect anything fancy!

We were going to get one of these. They were at the baby show a few months ago and I was really impressed with them.

Even though I'm having a hopsital birth I wanted to garantee (sp?) I could have a water birth and as our hosiptal only has one pool they suggested I could take my own.

Unfortunately I've been told I may not be able to have one now due to my pelvis so have decided against buying one and keeping my fingers crossed that the hospital one is free if I am able to use it.

If you do decide to buy one from this company, drop me a PM as I have a 15% discount code that I was sent that is valid until December. I can't remember the T&C for it, but think it can only be used once, hence I'm not posting it on here.

Savvy_Sue

My MW never had any gas and air either, she said she'd never needed it at home and it just took up space. She did get me to ask for a prescription of pethidine, which again she didn't expect to use, but as I hadn't she told the GP who came to stitch me to take it away ...

Doozergirl

I laboured in the bath too and got out to give birth. It is magical for pain relief.

I was going to say don't bother with the birthing pool because the bath is so good, but if you get the benefit of it's pain relieving qualities right to the end when you actually give birth, then it has to be a wise investment.

The birthing ball was useless. If you do get one, buy a sports ball from Tesco or Argos for about £4 - I think the fact that they are relabelled 'birthing balls' by some companies means that they can put the price through the roof... much like a cake being so much more expensive when it's a Wedding Cake :rolleyes:

Otherwise it's not expensive at all. I got tesco value plastic decorating sheets which i put on top of a duvet, well tucked in and an old sheet on top. The sheet got scooped up in the sheet after little one was born and that was that - all gone, like nothing ever happened! And yes, no marks at all on the nice cream carpet.

And just one towel to rub baby off

I hope it goes well for you. I had my first in hospital and the contrast between the two experiences was vast. Having my little girl at home was the most positive and empowering experience of my life I very much hope it is the same for you. :kisses3:

Benmollymoo

Hi - I had baby no3 at home last December - delivered by my lovely NHS Midwife. The MW brought the kit with her when I was in labour and it included a lot of those absorbent pads. All we needed were plastic sheets (cheap decorating ones from Homebase) which we put on the bed under an old sheet - the Midwife just took them away and disposed of them for us. Oh and a couple of old dark towels which we put on a hot wash afterwards. So not much mess at all!
I did get in our (large) bath during labour, but found I really needed to be on all fours during contractions and so didn't stay in long. A brilliant experience, very positive - my first two were awful and traumatic. Hope all goes well and you have a good birth.

Seaxwyn

HI izoomzoom

I have had two home births. We hired a pool both times, from the Natural Birth Centre in London. The first time I laboured and gave birth in the pool and it was fab. The second time I was in it for a while but got out to give birth and honestly would have been as happy in the bath.

We bought a big plastic sheet, I can't remember where from but it was very cheap and still comes in handy from time to time.

Other than the pool and the plastic sheet, there were no costs involved. Both births were very happy drug-free experiences and I would highly recommend homebirth to anyone. I had two hospital births as well and they don't compare.

Good luck!

Lexi321

Tesco do value shower curtains which I've often seen used for homebirth packs.

izoomzoom

Thank you for all you input. It is actually a lot less involved that what I first thought.

I have to be honest and stay that I HATE my bathroom, with a passion, and I do not want to be in there under any circumstances. It is the room we said we would sort out first, when we moved late last year, but money for its overhaul hasn't been as forthcoming as we had hoped.

I really want to have a water birth. I also don't want my husband to be running around filling / topping up the pool whilst I labour. I WILL NEED HIM.

It is because of this, that I want a pool that retains its heat, whilst I am in it. I can deal with him having to fill up if I am in labour, but I don't want him to be backwards and forwards to the kitchen dealing with boiling water.

Anyone got some recommendations on this type of pool.

Oh, and Seaxwyn, I looked at your link, but can't find where to hire pools from. Do you have to go with the whole 'centre & their MW' to hire a pool. I will be using my NHS MW.

Many thanks, again