I decided that it’s time to start putting things together, slowly, in a birthing box. My midwife wants to see that everything is ready by 36 weeks and I figure that as slow as I’ve been moving lately if I start today, at 31 weeks, it might get done in time.
She gave me a list of supplies and optional items to have on top of everything she brings and I wasn’t really shocked by anything except when it said to prepare a bucket for the placenta.
What!
You mean there’s going to be a placenta in my home?!?
Maybe I haven’t realized the magnitude that will be this labor experience. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to be having this little girl at home. I feel more comfortable and at peace during this pregnancy without all the fear and anxiety about getting to the hospital on time or having someone be available to watch the kids on a seconds notice. I’m not worrying about anything, except having a placenta bucket.
What do you use for a placenta bucket?
Do I wash it first?
Does it have to be sterilized?
Should I dazzle it up with jewels and paintings of native women frolicking in the mountains?
Now I’m a huge advocate for natural childbirth, I just forgot how natural this time was going to be and I was a bit shocked. I searched through my house and found a factory ice cream bucket, cleaned it out and put it into my birthing box.
I am now prepared. For the placenta anyway.
Here’s some things that I am looking forward to during my first home birth.
Birthing music. Now that I have the option I want music playing. Any suggestions?
Beautiful flowers in brights colors.
Lots of sunlight, hopefully. I’ve usually gone into labor at night so this is not my choice.
Not being moved, poked, probed, bothered or asked to lift my leg so they can check my pad. I hated that!
The kids have the option of being in the room if they want but regardless they are in their own space, comfortable and safe.
My mom will be there. It’s taken me four times but I think this will be the time that I have my mom here when I have a baby and I feel so happy about that. I can relax and enjoy her company and know that she’s there when I need the help.
I’m looking forward to having time to experience the laboring part. I’ve been so fast that during labor I’m in transport or thinking about transporting to the hospital. This time I can let Chuck pay attention to the timing and I can just breath and stay put.
Man, I could talk about labor and birthing all day, which doesn’t explain why I was so freaked out by a placenta bucket, does it?
When my first son was born, we took all the classes and toured the hospital and carefully prepared for the blessed event enough in advance that we were not basket cases when It Was Time. My husband had to tell me I was in labor but, otherwise, things unfolded according to plan…until my water broke. WATER? Water does NOT look like THAT. Somehow, all the classes had glossed over the complete and total messiness that is labor. Sure, they talked about the pain and the work and the pain, but never, not once, did anyone say there would be 37 litres of yeuk coming out of me! They might have mentioned someone would swab the baby clean but the 37 litres of yeuk were totally overlooked. Nine years later, I’m still thankful my water (water – ha!) broke somewhere where I was not responsible for cleaning it up. The second time around, I was totally prepared for the mess factor and still marveled at it’s breadth and magnitude. I admire you a lot for planning a home birth! I like to think I’m a pretty strong person, but I don’t think I’ve got the constitution for a home birth, myself.
Song suggestion – Push it – Salt and Peppa
Let’s see if this works?!
Yeah! I love this blog, it reminds of the times I was getting ready to have each of the boys at home!! It’s funny I was just like you, I made sure that I had beautiful fresh flowers on the table, the house was spotlessly clean every night because I didn’t know if it was going to be the day I delivered and I had beautiful music on hand. I remember after Evan was born constantly playing the springtime Mormon Tabernacle CD!
And about a bowl for the pacenta we used the same large plastic kitchen bowl for both of the boys’ birth’s. But I remember being surprised that there was even a placenta because I was so in love with my little baby that I hadn’t even been aware that I had delivered it!
You are going to have a wonderful memory of this birth.
I think you SHOULD dazzle your placenta bucket up with jewels! After all, this is the last time you’ll be doing this so why shouldn’t it be a special occasion?
I really didn’t need to read this post… Placenta bucket…. Ewwww! You could play anything by Metallica, Megadeth, or Slayer… Three good but often overlooked bands when choosing birthing music