For both delivery at home or as outpatient in hospital, and during the week immediately after birth, it is required to have an elevated bed, as soon as you hit the 37th week of pregnancy. This can be either a single or a double bed. The ideal height is 70 to 80 centimeters (measured from the bottom of the mattress). To elevate the bed, you can use bed risers or crates.

You will help our midwives greatly by elevating the bed, as it helps prevent back pain and subsequent absence. If you are having difficulty getting in and out of bed, you may want to use a step or stool.

No water beds or extra mattresses are allowed; our midwives should have easy access in case of complications.

It is also advisable to protect the bed against water and blood timely.

Vita Nova always recommends to have a care kit and a chamber pot at home. A care kit can be assembled or purchased at a pharmacy or at home care (thuiszorg). Most health insurances provide one for free. A chamber pot and bed risers can be obtained from home care or the private maternity care agency where you have registered. Make sure that the care kit contains at least the following:

• 10 underpads (50×70 cm) we prefer more in case of home delivery;
• 2 boxes of sterile dressing pads (5×10 cm);
• 1 sterile umbilical cord clamp;
• 2 packs of maternity pads;
• 1 small bottle of alcohol 70%;
• 1 pack of absorbent (zigzag) cotton;
• disinfectant soap.

During labor we will use two clean buckets.

Chamber pots can be rented at home care.

During labor we protect the bed against amniotic fluid and blood using garbage bags.

In case of a home delivery, normal lighting is sufficient. In case stitching is required, it’s important to have a strong light that can be moved around and pointed. Please make sure you also prepare this even if you wish to deliver in hospital.

Make sure the bedroom is properly heated. This prevents your baby from cooling down quickly. Also prepare two metal hot water bottles for in your baby’s bed (even in summer). Check the bottles for any leaks in advance. You won’t need the water bottles for long, so you could borrow them. Also, provide enough warm clothes, blankets and a cap/beanie for your baby.

It is also advisable to prepare a bag (even when you plan to deliver at home) with toiletries, underwear, nightgown / T-shirt, slippers, insurance papers, patient card and a camera. Also, make sure to prepare your baby’s first clothes and a wrap or blanket and a beanie. Also prepare the car seat. This will prevent you from forgetting important things in case you have to (suddenly) go to the hospital.

Make sure you arrange for a babysitter for any other children. The babysitter could come to your home, or the children could go to their place. It provides some peace and calm if you have your kids picked up. Make sure that it does not take too long before a babysitter is arranged during childbirth (preferably within 15 minutes). The delivery can suddenly transpire quickly.