How messy is a home birth?
Birth is a messy process, but midwives do a great job of making sure that your home remains clean and free of stains. They will cover the bed or birthplace with plastic as well as the floor around the bed or birth area. They also use absorbent plastic backed pads for other areas, like under the birth stool. These pads can easily be held beneath you if you have to move around and are disposable. If you have a birth pool, chances are it will have a disposable liner. After the birth, simply pump the water from the pool, throw away the liner, and disinfect the pool with a bleach solution. Your birth supply list will include a bucket or bowl, which is used to catch the placenta. Episiotomies are rarely performed at home births therefore reducing the amount of additional blood. Most midwives clean up after the birth including doing laundry. Check with your midwife to see what cleaning duties she offers.
