Anyone planning a home water birth?

Question

Hi all, I will be 35 weeks tomorrow - FTM - baby girl. I am planning a home water birth and was wondering who else is planning one? What are you planning in details? Is a modwife coming too or are you doing an unassisted birth? What are you getting for the birth? Towels, linens etc... i got a list of stuff to prepare from my midwife. 
Thanks for sharing!

Answer

First baby here as well.  Due any day and just had my home visit.  I was told I needed:

8-10 towels
6 cheap wash cloths
Baby blankets and outfit
Flashlight
2 rolls of paper towels
Bowl for placenta (my midwife takes placenta for encapsulation)
Fishnet (in case you poop in pool)
Hydrogen peroxide
Depends
Witch hazel
Cheap shower curtain to line the bed
2 bed sheets (a clean set goes under the shower curtain then an old sheet on top of the shower curtain)
I bought my birth pool off amazon it was a cheap kiddie pool that my midwife recommends instead of the expensive birth pool.

I also received my birth kit already which includes everything from bed pads to umbilical clip.

Answer

I hired a doula and a midwife. It will just be us. Daddy ran away.  I'm 35 and this is my first child. What scares me more than being a single mom is the number of girls getting induced and the medical staff in this country taking birthing to an unnecessary medical level. I do what I can for women's rights and a home birth just was a no brainer!

Answer

FTM as well planning a home water birth. Midwife back up and doula will be in attendance as well as hubby and best friend. I/we choose this route because I don't care much for hospitals. They bring on feelings of anxiety that I have yet to overcome. I also feel comfortable with my decisions because i have educated myself heavely on the pros and cons. My last point is I have a solid team. Not saying they couldn't be solid inside a hospital but my team is there for me and I know if I do the grunt work then baby and I will be looked after 100%. And theres so thing so appealing about being able to be at home, so comforting. As for the comments that other people give I don't find they count or even matter unless they have done a home water birth. If their experience is soley based on an epidural and how easy it was or what ever then their opinion doesn't matter because they don't have experience and knowledge that could be of value to me.

Answer

My first baby I had at a birth center with my husband, a midwife and a doula. Hoping for a similar experience this time. I have the same midwife and doula (lol same husband too). I labored mostly at home, was only at the birth center for 2hrs before I had him. Was it hard? yes. Was it painful? Yes. Am I doing it again? Yep. It's mind over matter, then you get in a "zone". At the time it can feel a little overwhelming BUT it was worth it. The empowering feeling. The magic of having my husband being such a part of it. We were laboring together. He was with me, holding me, talking me through it and being a full, hands on partner in it every step of the way. It was personal, intimate and perfect. There are times you want to scream but keep in mind, that makes it harder. More groaning and low guttural sounds help to relax the pelvic floor and keep you in the right  mindset. It's so doable. It's been done since the dawning of time. You can do it and you will be thankful you did. The epidural stories are way scarier than the natural labor stories. Google stories of natural labor, the women who have done it usually have great uplifting stories.

Answer

Thank you all for sharing your lists!

Another question: what comments do you get from people? I get asked all the time where I plan on giving birth so I just say at home. Some of my friends are saying that I will be screaming to death and should think of them when I wish for an epidural... it is so annoying. I get so many negative comments and people tell me about their bad experience (after having epidurals), etc.... how do you filter the negative and concentrate on this positive decision?

Answer

Also, apparently they don't take your placenta..... I don't know what to do with it. Can't bury it cause of the dog... Def not eating it 😷

Answer

36 weeks here and having a home water birth! Midwife had me get my whole checklist compiled by this week and put in a big plastic storage bin. Her midwife practice also sells homebirth kits that include everything sterile they might need. 
Don't forget to make your padcicles! I used the aloe Vera, witch hazel, and lavender essential oil combo - all organic and alcohol free (get on Amazon).
Here's my list from midwife .. excuse all the notes (T for Target, R for Ross lol!)

Answer

We're doing one! We had our home visit the other day. She gave us a list of things to gather like towels, crock pot, bowl, baby clothes, space heater etc. We are renting a tub and the goal is to use it for pain management mainly and hopefully the birth. It's getting real!!

Answer

We are having our son in our home. Our midwife comes here with her assistant. My husband and our fur-kids will be here.

We have a birthing tub set up on our patio (luckily we have a very private yard) and we received a supply list from our midwife.

It included many of the same items as above but also had arnica, flannel backed tablecloth, adult diapers, thermometer, hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, etc on it.

Answer

This is my list.

Anyone planning a home water birth?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey