What do people who have home births do about the mess?
Home births are usually very tidy, much neater than a hospital birth, because we re so careful. We had the couple make the bed with clean linens and then cover it with a fitted plastic sheet. On top of the plastic went an old sheet for the woman to deliver on. After the birth, we piled all the washable things onto the bed while the new mother was showering, popped the corners of the plastic sheet, and carried everything to the washing machine. And her clean bed was ready for her when she came returned.
Home births are usually very tidy and we try to be careful. We recommend protecting the floor and bed and having plenty of towels all of which can be thrown in the wash and soaked afterwards. Occasionally there will be a few drops of blood on carpeting (usually when mom gets up to go to the bathroom) which be cleaned with cold water and hydrogen peroxide.
Home birthings are usually very tidy and we try to be careful. We recommend covering the floor and bed with plastic sheeting and having plenty of towels – all of which can be cleaned with cold water. And hydrogen peroxide. If you are planning on having a water birthing, we have a tub that you can use. Or you may rent one from www.waterbirth.org or any other birth tub rental place. Some people just use blow up pools. Of course, if you are fortunate enough to have a large Jacuzzi tub, you may want to labor and or birth there.
