GLOSSARY

:: Alcohol Prep Pads :: our home birth kits come with a couple of small sterile cotton pads soaked in alcohol as extras for your midwives.

:: Baby Footprinter :: preserve a birthday ink print of baby's foot for posterity. Our easy to use footprinters have a unique design that keeps the ink off baby, unlike a normal stamp pad.

:: Emergen-C :: this electrolyte filled vitamin C energy drink will help keep you hydrated and your energy up during labour and postpartum. Check out all the benefits on our FAQ page.

:: Epsom Salts :: epsom salts are gentle and soothing. Use in the bath, sitzbath or a peribottle postpartum. They help to reduce swelling and stinging. Did you know? They are named for the mineral rich waters of Epsom, England.

:: Flexible Straws :: these will help you stay hydrated no matter what position you decide to labour in. Have partner or doula hold your glass so you won't need to be sitting upright to have a drink.

:: Garbage Bags :: we include two large garbage bags in our home birth boxes. If used throughout the birth, they help make cleanup quick and painless afterwards. Toss garbage in one and soiled laundry in the other. Afterwards, send one to the curb and the other to the laundry room and hopefully, you're ready to relax and gaze at that beautiful new baby.

:: Gauze :: our home birth boxes have a few extra gauze pads as back up for your midwife.

:: Gloves :: we include a couple of pairs of gloves in our home birth kits for your midwives in case they run out. Our gloves are non-latex so there is less chance that your midwife will have an allergy to them.

:: Hot Water Bottle :: apply hot water bottle to belly or back during labour to ease the pain of contractions.

:: Lip Balm :: relief for lips that can quickly become dry, chapped and sore during labour from all that open-mouth breathing and panting.

:: Lubricant Gel :: home birth kits also come with a couple of packs of sterile lubricant gel as back up for your midwives.

:: Massage Oil :: lightly scented massage oil helps to relax and soothe during labour. Great for foot rubs, back rubs, belly rubs....

:: Maternity Sanitary Pads :: Maternity grade sanitary pads (maxi pads, though ours are made by OB) are great for postpartum discharge which can be quite heavy in the first days postpartum. Tip: make a few into popsicles before you go into labour. Spray them with water, water and witch hazel, or with perineal wash. Arrange on a cookie tray and freeze. They will feel heavenly after baby is born.

:: Mesh Panties :: Women who have delivered in the hospital rave about these! One size fits all, super stretchy mesh underpants are comfortable and quick dry. Doesn't matter if these get stained and they hold your sanitary pad or ice pack firmly in place. You can rinse them in the sink and they will air dry quickly. They also stretch up and over your cesarean wound that waistbands of normal underwear tend to irritate. We like to call their 2-dimensional design a sexy boy-cut style! Note: the hospital will only give you one pair to keep so you may need a few extras to wear while others are drying.

:: Newborn Hat :: newborns aren't as efficient at keeping body temperature regulated as we are. A newborn hat and warm blankets or towels will help keep baby warm after birth, especially during those first few checks (Apgar scores, weighing etc.). Don't forget skin to skin contact too!

:: Peribottle :: this special spray bottle has four holes on the top for a gentler stream. This bottle can be used with straight water or with herbs to rinse your perineum. Especially useful when urinating as it helps to relieve sting.

:: Perineal Wash :: these herbs are specially formulated to soothe your sore perineum and to help reduce swelling. Brew like tea according to directions on the bag, strain and use in your peribottle, sitzbath or in the tub.

:: Plastic Sheets :: our waterproof sheets are plastic on one side and cotton/paper on the other. Two will cover a king size bed. Use them to protect the bed, carpet or couch during labour and delivery. If you have access, you can also substitute painter's plastic or a tarp. Our sheets aren't as stiff and crunchy though. Tip: Make the bed twice. First with your normal sheets, then lay down the plastic sheets, then again with old sheets that you don't mind staining. After the birth, you strip off the top layer and the plastic sheets and voila! You are ready to lounge with baby without having to make the bed first.

:: Sitz Bath :: this basin is shaped so you can set it on the toilet and soak your sore perineum postpartum. Overflow allows excess water to run into the toilet. Great for soaking without having to run a bath. You can use it with perineal herb mixtures, with warm or cold water, or with epsom salts and water. Generally use cold at first because heat increases blood flow and can make swelling worse. Switch to warm once swelling has begun to go down.

:: Thermometer :: To check your temperature during labour.

:: Umbilical Cord Clamp :: extra plastic clamp for baby's umbilical cord as back up should your midwife's break.

:: Underpads :: large absorbant cotton pad with a thin plastic backing helps protect sheets, carpets, couches from discharge associated with labour, delivery and postpartum. These disposable pads are roughly the size of small table cloth and are great if you don't have a lot of linens that you don't mind staining. Useful regardless of where you plan to deliver because even early labour and postpartum can be a little messy (bloody show, amniotic fluid, postpartum bleeding).

:: Ziploc Bag :: large size ziploc bag to store the placenta for disposal or other use (yes, there are uses).

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