Switching to Homebirth..need suggestions (long)

NoeK

Backstory: I planned on using the birthing center that I had my other two children at even though we've moved an hour away since then. I was comfortable with the facility even though there are different midwives there and they do the whole rotation thing so you dont really know who you are going to get the day of. I also did not like the new rule of not letting anyone go past 41 weeks before they refer you to a hospital to get induced. (I have a history of babies that like to stay in the womb until the last possible second) but I sort of pushed aside my insecurities since I don't have a lot of birthing center options.

 Well my final straw was last night when I got an bill of almost 2K for "estimated future cost". When I questined them on it I was told that although my insurance plan covers the midwives themselves and any and all tests,sonos etc. It does not fully cover use of the actual facility(..umm okay). So I decided of I'm going to pay out of pocket costs I might as well pay the difference for a midwivfe to come to me thus elimating my travel and have a homebirth.

 So my question is this, I dont want to have the baby in our bedroom or the living room. But we do have a newly renovated basement that has a studio apartment a little past the laundry room. Its got is own bathroom and shower and a tiny kitchen area. I would like to set this up as my "birthing space". But what do I need? I was thinking of getting a good quality air mattress so it would be easy to clean. But what else would you include?

Noethola

Ask your homebirth midwife what she suggests you have. Mine basically said all I really need is chux pads. :-) Some midwives have helpful lists for you of items they like to have around.

Sounds like a sweet setup! I would love to have something like that. I would say stock the mini kitchen with some healthy snacks/food/drinks, so you dont have to go up and down the stairs.

All the best!

NoeK

I hadn't even thougth about the food part.Good idea.

(side note: how sad is it, that this is my THIRD pregnancy and I really had to google what a chux pad was. lol)

vintagejjane

I wouldn't do an air mattress because i don't find them comfortable, but that's just me. Instead, we used an old shower curtain, then 2 cheap bedsheets on top of that. It was still comfortable! I second the chux pads! You can't have enough of them either. All the other stuff, your homebirth midwife will give you a list of things you'll need or she suggests you have! Good luck!

LaurelBee

Here is my MWs website: gentlebirthcare.com

There is a list of birth necessities on there. GL! 

beckpreg

My MW (mother) gave me a list of must haves and items that would be helpful. I assume they all have a similar recommended list and could advise you about the air mattress.