I started this post a few days before Miss Gracie arrived and never got around to finishing it until now. So here are a few things I got ready for the preparation of our home birth.
Now... scroll to the bottom and you will find a list of the essentials that I wouldn't want to go without and were amazing during labor and delivery!
2. Birthfree & Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: 2 really good books that we learned so much from during this pregnancy. This was our 4th delivery and I am blown away by how much I learned. We also watched the 12 video series from Birthfree by Jennifer Davis. They were exceptional!
3. Music & Candles: Setting the atmosphere was very important to me. I wanted a relaxing peaceful surreal environment. I had a few playlists picked out and lit candles that filled my bathroom. It was perfect.
4. Fruit Kefir Smoothies: I had been using probiotics since I tested positive for Group B Strep and fell in love with strawberry banana kefir smoothies. So of course while I labored I drank one of these just a few hours before Miss Gracie arrived then had a smoothie every time I had a sitz bath. SO GOOD and highly recommenced!! :)
5. Sitz Bath/Pads: another must! I made the sitz pads and froze them, they felt wonderful for the first few days after delivery. I also took a few sitz bath. Very relaxing and rejuvenating!
6. Afterease: tincture Wish Garden Herbal Remedies, to help ease the after pains/contractions after giving birth. I used this every time I fed Gracie for the first 4 to 5 days and it did the trick!
7. Aloe Vera Gel: I used this on my pads each time I changed one, poured a little bit on there and it was wonderful. Very soothing and made everything heal a lot quicker.
8. Maxi Pads: I know, I know... I NEVER thought I'd be the one to put MAXI PADS on the essentials list. I'm NOT a fan of pads but as any of you moms know... the "After childbirth" isn't glamorous esp. for the first few weeks. I bought 4 different brands different sizes and thicknesses, it was nice to have the different pads throughout the last few weeks.
9. Tea Tree Oil: Fill a perennial bottle with warm water then added 5 drops of tea tree oil to the bottle... shake it up... and use this on your bottom each time after going to the bathroom for 2-3 days after delivery. Works amazingly!
10. Arnica: I bought the pill form,the cream and roll on. The roll on and pills are my favorite. A natural pain reliever and they are highly recommended!
11. Rice Packs: so thankful for Teah...who made me a few of these rice packs. I had one that we froze and one that we kept hot. During labor/hard contractions I had a frozen one on my lower back, that really helped with contractions. After labor I used the hot one on my lower back and that also felt so good.
12. Hot Tea: I drank a lot of this before and after labor/delivery. A mixture of Red Raspberry Leaf and comfrey and shepherds purse. That was very helpful for blood clotting and the bleeding. I didn't have an excessive amount of bleeding and I believe it was because of drinking this!
13. Freezer Meals: Highly recommended but DON'T do it alone ..(ask a friend or your hubby to help you) I tried that when I was 37 weeks pregnant and paid for it for a few days after that. But having freezer meals in the freezer has been so helpful the last few weeks since Miss Gracie has arrived!
14. Water Bottle: Another MUST! I drank a LOT of water during my pregnancy but during labor this was just what I needed. Water bottle FULL of ice and water, I went through a lot of these. I don't ever remembering being so thirty but I'm so thankful that my hubby always had it full for me!
15. Vitamin e-oil: This was also so helpful. I poked a hole in a capsule and put it on my nipples after each time I was done breast feeding. I never once got any sores or had any pain from feeding (that doesn't include the pain that I had from milk coming in or the engorgement) but it was so nice to not have that extra pain on top of that. This definitely is a must!
Now... scroll to the bottom and you will find a list of the essentials that I wouldn't want to go without and were amazing during labor and delivery!
BIRTH SUPPLIES
TJ and I organized all the birth supplies, I loved going through all this with him, a new experience for both of us and learning together was something I will never forget.
FREEZER MEALS
14 meals 1/2 gallon +10 quarts of soup: veggie medley, chili, and chicken noodle
SITZ PADS & BATH MIX
PROBIOTICS (KIFER)
Ok now.. Here is the ESSINTIAL LIST!
Things that I loved during my labor/delivery/post partum that I am so thankful for!
1. My BIBLE: A MUST. Spending time in the word daily is something I need and love to do. In preparation for the baby I spent a lot of time reading it was very relaxing and it was an amazing time to just be close to Jesus. A few verses that I buried deep in my heart...When I am afraid I will trust in you. Every good and perfect gift is from above. Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. The Lord is my strength and shield my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Everything is possible for him who believes.
2. Birthfree & Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: 2 really good books that we learned so much from during this pregnancy. This was our 4th delivery and I am blown away by how much I learned. We also watched the 12 video series from Birthfree by Jennifer Davis. They were exceptional!
3. Music & Candles: Setting the atmosphere was very important to me. I wanted a relaxing peaceful surreal environment. I had a few playlists picked out and lit candles that filled my bathroom. It was perfect.
4. Fruit Kefir Smoothies: I had been using probiotics since I tested positive for Group B Strep and fell in love with strawberry banana kefir smoothies. So of course while I labored I drank one of these just a few hours before Miss Gracie arrived then had a smoothie every time I had a sitz bath. SO GOOD and highly recommenced!! :)
5. Sitz Bath/Pads: another must! I made the sitz pads and froze them, they felt wonderful for the first few days after delivery. I also took a few sitz bath. Very relaxing and rejuvenating!
6. Afterease: tincture Wish Garden Herbal Remedies, to help ease the after pains/contractions after giving birth. I used this every time I fed Gracie for the first 4 to 5 days and it did the trick!
7. Aloe Vera Gel: I used this on my pads each time I changed one, poured a little bit on there and it was wonderful. Very soothing and made everything heal a lot quicker.
8. Maxi Pads: I know, I know... I NEVER thought I'd be the one to put MAXI PADS on the essentials list. I'm NOT a fan of pads but as any of you moms know... the "After childbirth" isn't glamorous esp. for the first few weeks. I bought 4 different brands different sizes and thicknesses, it was nice to have the different pads throughout the last few weeks.
9. Tea Tree Oil: Fill a perennial bottle with warm water then added 5 drops of tea tree oil to the bottle... shake it up... and use this on your bottom each time after going to the bathroom for 2-3 days after delivery. Works amazingly!
10. Arnica: I bought the pill form,the cream and roll on. The roll on and pills are my favorite. A natural pain reliever and they are highly recommended!
11. Rice Packs: so thankful for Teah...who made me a few of these rice packs. I had one that we froze and one that we kept hot. During labor/hard contractions I had a frozen one on my lower back, that really helped with contractions. After labor I used the hot one on my lower back and that also felt so good.
12. Hot Tea: I drank a lot of this before and after labor/delivery. A mixture of Red Raspberry Leaf and comfrey and shepherds purse. That was very helpful for blood clotting and the bleeding. I didn't have an excessive amount of bleeding and I believe it was because of drinking this!
13. Freezer Meals: Highly recommended but DON'T do it alone ..(ask a friend or your hubby to help you) I tried that when I was 37 weeks pregnant and paid for it for a few days after that. But having freezer meals in the freezer has been so helpful the last few weeks since Miss Gracie has arrived!
14. Water Bottle: Another MUST! I drank a LOT of water during my pregnancy but during labor this was just what I needed. Water bottle FULL of ice and water, I went through a lot of these. I don't ever remembering being so thirty but I'm so thankful that my hubby always had it full for me!
15. Vitamin e-oil: This was also so helpful. I poked a hole in a capsule and put it on my nipples after each time I was done breast feeding. I never once got any sores or had any pain from feeding (that doesn't include the pain that I had from milk coming in or the engorgement) but it was so nice to not have that extra pain on top of that. This definitely is a must!
