https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:42:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1291060 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 11:06:14 +0000 Greentea 1291060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coconut water and unlimited hot water! I liked making power smoothies after birth with spinach chocolate milk peanut butter banana... anything I could eat quickly. Larabars are great too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1291039 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 10:57:44 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1291039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved cut up fruit after birth and it made that first BM really easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1290737 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:27:57 +0000 Happygal 1290737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you checked this out before? <a href="http://www.mothering.com/community/t/438630/what-do-you-wish-you-would-have-known-beforehand" rel="nofollow">http://www.mothering.com/community/t/438630/what-do-you-wish-you-would-have-known-beforehand</a></p> <p>It's a verrrry long thread of advice from been there, done that homebirthers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1290490 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 06:43:44 +0000 Beyond2 1290490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a home birth last September and am planning for another in April. Test run your birth pool early. THIS was going to test mine over the weekend and ended up going into labor the Friday before, luckily all was good. The room I birthed in was carpeted so I laid those felt backed plastic table clothes everywhere. They worked out great! Freeze water logged maxi pads for after, they are amazing!!! Right after birth I ate nearly a whole pan of rice crispy treats, they were so good lol. DH ordered me a sub and that was awesome I crave delimeat when I'm pregnant but don't eat it so that was a real treat! Good luck. My home birth was absolutely amazing and I hope yours is too!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1290438 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 01:55:17 +0000 Mrs. Fox 1290438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I made a potato pie for the midwives but honestly they didn't touch it. They were too busy but they definitely drank a lot of coffee, tea and oj.<br /> Just remember you're going to do great. I had my son at home (with two dogs and 3 cats present). It was the most empowering, wonderful experience of my life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1290376 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 23:31:44 +0000 Mrs Spoon 1290376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just had a successful home birth a little over two months ago. I'd say have ingredients for smoothies on hand. I really wanted lots of those postpartum. Also, you're going to want to eat protein so I had lots of cheese, nuts (trail mix) and peanut butter in addition to meat. The first few days I was totally focused on breastfeeding and otherwise having lots of skin to skin time so things I could eat with one hand were key!</p> <p>I'm not sure what your midwife's recommendation is, but mine suggested I stay in bed for a week. If you're planning this, make sure that you have the things you want close at hand (I had my razor and moisturizer on another floor and couldn't get it). Also tell your SO in advance where to find things! </p> <p>Apparently midwives drink a lot of caffeine cause of the on call nature of the job. So have coffee and tea on hand. Also I think a easy freezer meal they can all eat or even eggs and toast are good.</p> <p>Good luck!! I loved my home birth and hope you have great experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1289974 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 18:12:48 +0000 Vegmama 1289974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anutka: Thank you!! As I just mentioned to @FarmWifeGina, I keep forgetting about the packed bag, just in case.</p> <p>I think I'll plan on having a chili in the freezer ... It's my favorite meal, and I know I'll want something comforting!</p> <p>What did you ladies prepare for your midwives? I'm having trouble thinking of things! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1289973 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 18:11:14 +0000 Vegmama 1289973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FarmWifeGina: Thank you so much!!</p> <p>Yes, the midwives gave me a little checklist. Things like items to have on-hand and covering the bed w/ sheets/plastic, etc. are on there. </p> <p>I keep forgetting about packing a little bag just in case!!</p> <p>The tips for the birth pool are genius! Thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1287837 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 22:02:13 +0000 Anutka 1287837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My home birth mistake - I didn't really pack anything for the 'just-in-case'. </p> <p>The birth went great, but when our midwife came to check on us in the morning LO was running a fever. Off we went in an ambulance with a diaper bag of random stuff I pulled together last minute in a panicked state. </p> <p>So I spent a couple of days without a few essential (like a nursing bra or a change of clothes!), until our friends got us stuff from home.</p> <p>That being said, I am sure you won't ever need to use anything you pack or leave the comfort of your home :) Have a beautiful birth!!</p> <p>Ooh, and for food maybe you can make a freezer meal ahead of time and let it defrost in the fridge while in labour? Like mentioned, anything tastes great after, but personally I really wanted something warm and filling - like a chili or curry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1287754 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 21:35:48 +0000 artsyfartsy 1287754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Homebirth wasn't an option for me (grr) but I'm stopping by to wish you good luck!!! Hope it goes great for you. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1287749 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 21:34:19 +0000 FarmWifeGina 1287749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, anything is positively DELICIOUS when it's your first postpartum meal. Even crappy hospital food- I pretty much inhaled every little morsel after my hospital birth, lol. With my home births, I've generally had some variation of meat and cheese cold cuts on hand for the birth team and myself. With this last birth, my first meal was artichoke dip and tortilla chips (real healthy, baha) and it was divine. Oh, wait, no, before that I had about 87 cheese sticks because I was SO hungry at the end of labor (weird) and right after she was born I was taking ibuprofen to deal with the afterpains (that no one tells you how awful they get with multiple births) and had to shove something down quick so I wouldn't get sick to my stomach. So, CHEESE STICKS are good.<br /> Also, I took peach-flavored herbal tea (Celestial Seasoning's Peach Passion) and made sort of a homemade peach Snapple sweetened with honey and that was great for something different to drink besides water and the honey was good for energy.<br /> Ummmm, trying to think of some other things... I assume your midwife has given you a list of supplies to have gathered up in one place? And you know the old sheet set over plastic sheeting (we use a slip-on mattress protector) over the nicer sheets trick?<br /> Cord Care is the best thing ever for drying the cord stump up quickly.<br /> Having a bag packed with a few essentials for you and baby in case of transfer can be a nice thing, just in case.<br /> Christmas lights and candles create a really nice ambiance and hanging work lights work really well for if a bright light source is needed at the time of birth, lol.<br /> Do a test run for setting up the birth tub (if you're having one) ahead of time. Just setting it up, not filling it with water. Get it started filling with water when you call the midwife. It'll take a while to fill as it will most likely take several hot water tankfuls. Get it up to about halfway, have a blanket on hand to cover it with and hold in the heat until you're ready to get in. When you feel like you're ready to get in, fill it the rest of the way with more hot water, until it's the right temp and the right depth. Also, the endorphin effects of the water only last about 2 hours, so either wait to get in until you are in the late stages of labor, or if you're ok with getting out for 30 minutes or so after 2 hours' time.<br /> That's all I can think of for now. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1287657 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 20:58:50 +0000 avivoca 1287657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not have a homebirth, but for my first meal post-birth I had a cheeseburger and fries. It was THE BEST burger I had had, and I was so hungry since I hadn't had anything to eat for 17 hours. </p> <p>We took things like trail mix, cereal bars, chocolate milk, and Apple juice for my husband and I to eat/drink. I also had energy chews (Gu Chomps) on hand just in case. </p> <p>Good luck! I hope to have a home birth next time (as of right now, it's illegal for midwives to attend home births in my state). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/prepping-for-our-home-birth-tips#post-1287599 Tue, 17 Dec 2013 20:28:25 +0000 Vegmama 1287599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi mamas. So, we are full term as of today (!!!), which means I'm safely within the home birth window. As our birth approaches, I have a little list of things to get done, but I'd love to know some "not-so-obvious" ideas or tips about making our home birth easier for us. </p> <p>Our biggest stress: logistics of having 2 dogs at the house, and when to buy groceries (and what to make) to ensure we have something for our midwives to eat, and for my first post partum meal.</p> <p>I am sure there are things you did or would do to make your home birth more relaxing &amp; personal, and I'd love to hear about it!! </p>