Making your birthing room a cosy space... your ideas

[August]

Hi everyone!

I have read the odd thing here and there about what to take to make your delivery room more cosy. One suggestion was extra pillows with brightly coloured covers and I thought, why would you go to the trouble?? (Of brightly coloured covers that is!)

Well after seeing the delivery rooms where I will be giving birth I now understand! I could only describe it as a very bleak, cold, medical looking place, more suited for sick people, not labouring women! LOL!

But don't get me wrong there were a few good things about it too like a shower and loo, table and chairs and it was large enough not to get claustraphobic! And I suppose the ceiling high shelves of medical paraphernalia could be seen as the room being well equipt!

Anyway, I was thinking lots of coloured scentled candles are a must and I'd love fresh flowers as they always make brighten up a room and make me feel good. I'd love to hear what other mums did or plan to do to make their birthing rooms more comfortable?

[BellyBelly]

Melanie Cane, a doula in Melbourne sells Birth Lights (?) they are little battery operated lights made to look like candles with a paper outside, they look divine!!! So a nice ambient candlelight and all the other lights can be turned out. Very nice... candles aren't allowed nor are candle burners as naked flames are not permitted. Many places now have electric burners, you can't take your own electrical goods as they need to be electric tested in case you short the place out LOL

[AnyDream]

I brought in some special crystals and when I first arrived in the room I meditated and mentally filled the room with light to cleanse and claim the space as sacred.

[Lucy]

Music. Many hospitals provide a CD player. This made a huge difference to me.

(Olivia's birthing suite was lovely: very homely. But Charlie and Lexie were born in a different hosp and the birthing suites were a little clinical.)

So I made a couple of comopliation CD's..........

[min]

When I was having a vag labour I was taking some picture frames of Jackson to put on my bedside table - also my favourite CD - Silverchair Diorama, not exactly meditation music, but I love it, and it relaxes me!! Also taking your own clothes ie nightie or T-shirt to labour in would feel a lot less clinical

[Inanna]

Augustmoonmum,
It's a great thing to plan your space. The more homely it can be made and the more of a "stamp" you put on it the more comfortable you will feel...

As Lucy says music is a biggy for me... I love music during labour and music that I played throughout pregnancy is great...

Scent: Most hospys will provide electric oil burners. See an aromatherapist and get a mix made up for labour. Use it for massage in labour too and in the weeks leading up to the labour. The smell will take you back to the memories of using the oils before labour day - this helps with relaxation.

Someoen said photos or pictures. I have a beautiful lotus flower poster... I love it and it reminds me of how my body is opening up... I have seen others take photos of mothers , sisters, babies, children, wedding photos... Whatever feels right for you...

The birthing centre where I had 2 of my kids didn't allow candles but I had a lamp on and the rest of the room was in darkness - this was important to me. The hospy I had my last baby in allows candles so I chose two that I thought were beautiful... That was the only light during the labour... (I like it dark!)... Kelly's suggestion of the lamps sound absolutely fabulous...

Take your own pillow from home and maybe a blanket/doona/rug to make it more homey... Just remember it may get a bit grubby - but there is always napisan!

I hope you birth is all you plan it to be...

[Lucy]

Also taking your own clothes ie nightie or T-shirt to labour in would feel a lot less clinical

I wore the same pink night shirt for all my births........it is now faded and so very well worn, but it did the job beautifully. I doubt I will ever throw it out!

[Alan]

Kelly
Can you give Melanie Cane my email (or give me hers) I would like to get some of them birth lights

[LisaL]

Oooh those birth lights sound devine - id love one too - Kel can you give us info on how best to contact Melanie?

[Janet]

If you're birthing outside the home taking along some stuff to make the environment feel more familiar is really good on a few levels. Firstly you know where it's been and it hasn't had lots of strangers using it and secondly the familiar smells from home will help your brain settle back into labour in a strange place. So rather than fancy bed stuff, your own pillows and duvet straight off your bed are the best idea.

You can also take cloths to throw over clocks since the clock is the last thing a birthing woman needs.

Women I know have found a big dark piece of polar fleece useful too as it's lighter than a duvet but can still be very warm if you start shivering. You can put it in a lovely spot in your home where you spend time focussing on your upcoming birth, perhaps meditating and connecting with your belly babe. That way it too is familiar and your brain will recognise the Labour Snuggle when you start needing it.

Some women find an MP3 player with headphones is great because it helps you seal off from the outside world and get those endorphins pumping. Some nicely written signs for the door and wall are good too to help staff get into the mood of your birth. "Natural birth occurring within. No unnecessary talking, please be quiet." whatever suits your needs.

Getting naked can help keep staff who aren't comfortable with natural birth away. Strange but true. Birthing in the toilet is also helpful as really good staff are happy for you to do what works for you. You are, after all, the one birthing the baby and they are there to support you not tell you what to do. You're the expert

A big suitcase to open on the bed with your gear in it can make the bed harder to get onto and if you want to avoid unnecessary monitoring this can be good for you. A handheld doppler gives a better reading that CEFM anyway. You can move the bed anywhere you like too.

Of course you could just birth at home and make a very beautiful nest I had an altar in my bedroom with all my Blessingway gifts, statues, candles, beads, my Blessingway necklace and pics of my older child. And I had a birth pool in my study where I do all my best work and where my daughter was born Candles from friends were burning night and day and that was lovely like having them there

[Feathertop]

HI Janet, just had to say I love your signature.

[Hope]

Great thread! Very interesting reading indeedy! I now definitely plan on taking my own pillow, at the very least. I noticed the delivery suites at my local hosp have light dimmer switches and CD players in all the rooms so that'll be a couple less things I have to take myself. I'll continue checking in on this thread to pick up some other great ideas. Thanks girls,
Hopexo

[Janie]

I went into premature labour at 35 weeks so I hadn't actually organised anything along these lines! I had all sorts of things planned, CDs etc, but at the end of the day, it really didn't make a difference. I found that I couldn't stand any sort of music or anything, I was happy with the dimmed lights, and once I was in the bath I wanted the lights off! The hospital provided lovely oils for the bath, and I didn't want a pillow at any time (just as well cos I left mine in the car!). I did take my own clothes to labour in, which I really liked, not that I wore them for long LOL.

I guess what I'm saying is to think about what you might like, and take it all with you, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't work for you at the time. Good luck

[~Amy~]

To be honest, i didn't really care what the delivery room was like when it actually came down to it. I did have the intention to play relaxing music & have candles. But when it came down to the crunch, i yelled to have the music turned off & didn't even realise the the lighting.
However......these things were beautiful in the earlier stages of labour for me.
I would recomend having ur own nighty tho, those hospital gowns are really horrible & made me feel like a bit of a cow, not flattering at all:P.....well the GC hospital ones anyway.

[Janet]

Thanks, Feathertop.

[August]

Especially to you Janet as I really like your ideas!

I'd love a home birth and just may well have one next time around. My original plan was to stay at home until I absolutley had to go into the hospital, which is a 10min drive away.

I'm now being induced at 37 weeks at a hospital 3 hours away! So part of making the room cosy is wanting to get some control back over the situation too!

I love the fleece blanket idea, just perfect, and I will definatley be taking my blessing-way necklace too. I like the idea of the signs too, I was thinking of putting a copy of my birth plan on the door and highlighting the part which says don't come in unless you introduce yourself to my birth partners and state your reason for being here! No stragglers please!

I like your suitcase idea, very tricky indeed Although I am being induced and will need monitoring, I plan to have an as active birth as possible so this would be a good one!

Thanks again everyone this has been really helpful.

Love August x