Due Dates and The 'Birth List'

It's May 1st today, which means 2 weeks to go until 'expected due date'. I should point out that I had two ultrasounds, and both gave slightly different due dates. The first was May 14th, and the second was May18th, but apparently the earlier ultrasound gives a more 'accurate' date. Realistically, baby will come when he/she is ready, which could be anytime now or within the next 4 weeks. Nothing different to report, though am noticing quite a few Braxton-Hicks 'rehearsal' contractions over the last few days; this is quite common apparently in the 2-3 weeks before birth.

Going back to my last post regarding the home birth decision, I thought you may also be interested to know what is involved in preparing for a birth at home. Sure, going to the hospital involves having bags packed and ready, but there were some rather interesting items on our midwife's 'Birth List', eg:

• one large plastic sheet. A cheap shower curtain will do, or even a painter's drop sheet
  
• 2 buckets with lids
  
• one large saucepan - for boiling midwife's instruments
  
• 3 old nappies to be used as hot towels and pair of thick rubber gloves
  
• 1 pair of tongs
  
• ice blocks (fruit juice)
  
• 2 hot water bottles, for warming baby's receiving blanket in winter and for you in labour
  
• any pure oil (eg wheatgerm olive, almond) for massage in second stage and for baby massage later
  
• container for storing placenta (eg ice cream or 2 ltr fetta bucket) + tree for planting
  
• 1 packet of incontinence pads (eg Depends)
  
• 1 packet of frozen peas (small, in freezer)
  

And the list goes on...But I thought the last 3 might need some explaining. Around here, a lot of women ask to keep their placentas - amazing trees of life that they are during the pregnancy. The placenta goes in the 2 litre bucket, you dig a hole in the garden and plant a tree to commemorate the birth - I would think placentas would make great organic compost as well! Re the 'Depends' - incontinence pads are great for post-birth bleeding, apparently, but would you believe Lismore Woolworths has been out of stock of these for almost 2 months? Believe me, I've been trying to find them, but the only ones on the shelf were the underwear/diaper kind, and there's no way I needed (nor wanted) those. The only person wearing nappies will be the baby. Finally I got Noah to find the proper, less complicated ones in another supermarket. And for the peas? Well, apparently a bag of frozen peas can work wonders as a cold pack for the woman during labour - the little peas are like the beans in a bean bag and can roll around to get to where you need them most.

So, there you go. There was obviously a lot more to get ready, so it seems preparation for the birth has become almost a full-time occupation. I think we're ready now, though I do need to find a tree for planting.

Erica