Wednesday, March 5, 2008

My Preparations for an Unassisted Homebirth


This is my list of things I get ready, buy & clean before new baby comes.

Things to do everyday:
*Prepare and freeze meal ingredients for at least 1 week of food
*Make and freeze bread (2 batches-8 loaves)
*Catch up on laundry completely especially towels (nothing in the machines-everything hung and put in drawers)
*Keep up on dishes
*Refill containers (well stocked cupboard/pantry/t.p.)
*Keep up on Cleaning
-Sweep/Vacuum
-Bathroom/Shower (especially)
-Straighten/Organization
(Keeping in mind that I cannot get upset, frustrated or otherwise bothered by a messy house...that's not what's important, but keeping the joy of everyday will help me to heal & recover!)

Misc. Things to do:
*Bring up baby cradle
-wash cradle sheets
*Get out special things for other children
-books
-music bag
-colored chalk & chalkboards
-balloons
-any saved new toy/video
*Birth announcement makings

Labor & Delivery:
*cord clamps
*sanitary pads
*Raspberry Leaf & Nettle (and anything other regular herbs like Camomile & Spearmint if desired) Tea
*Camera batteries charged & card downloaded to computer
*Baby clothes
*Newborn and small Bummis (diaper covers) & small kissaluvs (cloth diapers)

This is the question I ask myself:

"If this is the last day I have to prepare, what do I need to get done?"

~Make a good meal to bless husband and fill children so they sleep WELL!!
~Keep up on daily tasks to ease what my husband needs to do to take over the house.
~Organize office, pay bills, file paperwork, etc.
~Make instruction sheets for easy reference of daily tasks:
*Laundry
*Meals
*Children's Activities
*My Vitamin and Tea needs for fast and painless recovery
~Be ready early in the day so I can rest for the rest of the day :)

I am just starting to get excited about holding this new one...haven't had much time to think about it & now the baby's almost here!!