Birth Kit Arrives!

Maybe it’s the thrill of getting a package in the mail, or because it means it’s getting close to the birth (it certainly can’t be the sterile gloves and gauze pads that are in the package), but my birth kit arrived yesterday and I am so excited!  (click the pics for the best views)

Our friends and family have generally been in two categories when it comes to the birth of this baby – either they have or would like to have a home birth and are very supportive, or they are incredibly curious since they really havn’t know anyone who’s had a baby at home – and possibly think we’re crazy.  For those in the curious camp, and the ones in the supportive camp who care, I wanted to share what came in the kit, since I’ve heard of people imagining a midwife showing up at your house with nothing but hot water and towels. 

The kit we ordered was from a site called birthwithlove.com.  This site lets each midwife customize what she wants her clients to receive in their kits… so those sterile gloves will fit her hands, and she’ll have the right number of gauze pads.  Here’s the packing list that came with my kit, it has Julie’s name on it, since that’s how it’s ordered.  The picture is a bit blurry, but basically, it’s gloves, gauze, lubricant, absorbent underpads (to protect your bed or floor or where ever you give birth), a couple of straws (for drinking), umbilical cord tape, and some items for after the baby is born – super  fashionable mesh granny-panties, a peri-bottle (the same kind they give you to take home after a hospital birth), and maxi-pads.  I’m sure if you’re a woman, or if you’ve ever been around a woman, you can imagine how all these things are used.  But there is an item for after the birth that came that I truly am excited about… the sitz bath.

This is an herbal bath – that you put in the water, and it smells really good.  It’s supposed to make your bum feel better after pushing the baby out too… but right now I think it smells heavenly.  I’d take a bath in it now, if I didn’t know I’d need it later! 

Rick says it smells like oregano.  But it doesn’t have oregano in it… it’s things like yarrow flowers, and comfrey leaf, among others.  I’m excited to use it. 

In addition to all that stuff, there is a list of things that I have to gather up for the midwife to use during the birth (yes, towels are on the list).  It’s mostly stuff you’d already have around the house, a couple of trash bags, a roll of toilet paper, a digital thermometer.  Also, though, two inexpensive shower curtain liners (to protect your mattress and floor), and a bowl and ziplock bag for the placenta. 

The midwife will also bring her own birth kit to your home.  It includes things that she would not use only one time and then throw away, or things that are not needed at every birth, but she should have on hand for emergencies.  She’ll bring a fetoscope (like a stethoscope for listening to baby) or a Doppler to hear the baby’s heart, oxygen in case the baby or mom needs it, stuff to help with bleeding and stuff to sew you up if you tear.  Basically things that aren’t readily available in the average home.  But also, a lot more high tech than hot water and towels.

So the stuff that comes in the birth kit is not all that exciting.  But getting the kit, for me is.  It means that we are just a few weeks away from the birth, and that we’re going to get to meet this little person soon.  Well, that, and I really like getting packages in the mail.