Planning for: Labouring and Birthing at Home

Early labour

In early labour you may be doing most of the 'work' by yourself, some women enjoy the company/support/distraction of their partner, a close friend or a doula. Some simply want to be alone.

In early labour, ideally you are trying to remain relaxed and rested. Here are some tips:

• Can you sleep?

• Light walks

• Miles Circuit

• Are you hydrated?

• Do you feel relaxed?

• Gentle movements & promoting oxytocin!
  

Active labour

Active labour is the point where contractions/surges are consistent and considered 'progressing'.

Items you can consider utilising in active labour include:

• Birth pool

  • You can hire these or purchase outright

  • Hiring can be done from a variety of businesses, often private midwives and some doulas offer these for hire

  • You will need a liner if you hire, a clean/new hose and adaptors

  • Consider your hot water system

    • Some set up a camping hot water system to ensure they have access to hot water

• Birth Comb / Spikey ball / Banksia Seed Pod

• TENS machine

  • Many women recommend a labour/birth specific one as best with the 'surge' function for contractions

• Birth sling

  • You can buy these but a cheap altrnative is simply tying a knot in a sheet and catching it between the doorway/door

• Smells - homeopathy

• Music - what music do YOU enjoy?

• Food + Fluid

  • Labour Aid

  • Coconut water

  • Soup

  • Frozen fruit

  • Icy poles

  • Dried fruits

  • Nuts

  • Honey

  • Poweraide

  • Watermelon

  • Dates

  • Bliss balls

Birthing

This is the stage when you're about to meet your baby!

Some things you can consider:

• Where do you want to birth?

  • Water

  • Land

• Where else could you possibly birth?

  • Sometimes you don't always end up birthing where you intended! Are you prepped for that?

• Birth Altar

• Who is catching baby?

• Blueys - this is the medical term for these but they're also called puppy pads. You can buy them easily from Kmart

• Warm compresses for perineum?

• Facewashes for cold water on your forehead/neck etc

• A couple of towels

• How do you want to tie off the cord? Cord clamp? Cord tie?
  

• Where will you go after you birth - are these spots prepared for you? Remember there will be blood + other!

  • Bed?

  • Couch?

• Matress protectors are great for protecting couches etc

• Bed lasagne - many mums swear by this especially if labouring in bed.

  • Basically, you just make your bed multiple times!