Moses basket

Home Birth & Postpartum Prep

This is my fourth baby (earth side) and third home birth. Home birth has always had a pull for me, but we had our reasons for opting for the hospital for #1. At this point, there is no question that home birth is for us, and – while it’s not everyone’s cup of tea – I can’t imagine welcoming a new life any other way.

For all three home births (I’m anticipating this third one very soon!), we have been in our small 2-bedroom duplex. It’s not the most spacious, but it’s worked for us (currently in the process of trying to buy a house which is a headache for another day). So everything I share should be seen through the lens of “small space living” and somewhat minimalist. 

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Moses basket
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Home Birth Supplies

Most midwives will give you a list of supplies, and my midwives work with a company where they build out a pre-made kit that I just order. This covers the basics that the midwives will need on hand. But beyond that here is what I always make sure to have:

  • Birth tub & hose – tub is dropped off by midwives at 37 weeks, and I buy a new drinking-safe hose each time
  • Shower curtain – this is for laying on the couch/bed after birth so that we don’t ruin any furniture
  • Old sheets – to go over shower curtain for comfort
  • Old towels – good to have a bunch on hand for after birth!
  • Receiving blankets – I have a ton of boring receiving blankets for baby after birth
  • Bowl – for the placenta (we just discard)
  • Large mason jars – midwives brew some herbs after birth, and they fill up peribottles and leave the rest in the fridge.
  • Birth sling! This one was new to me this time, and I got it in my 3rd trimester. It’s been great for some gentle movement support, but I also plan to have it around during labot since I’ve birthed each of my 3 children upright so far. It just seems like it would be great support for that position!
For right after delivery
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Supports & Remedies

There are a few tinctures/remedies that are for daily use, and a couple that are for targeted support. 

    1. Nurtured Mother: I absolutely love Wild Wholistics blends. We use a lot of their blends in our home, despite the cost. They last a while, and I’ve found them to be more effective. This isn’t by any means the only postpartum support option out there, but it’s a new release from WW that I’m excited to incorporate this time for general postpartum herbal nourishment. I particularly love that their blends are shelf stable (versus some postpartum herbal drinks that require refrigeration), so that I can keep it by my bedside and actually remember to take it.
    2. Nourished Body: this is a foundational blend from Wild Wholistics for general herbal support that pairs well with the Nurtured Mother blend.
    3. Happy Ducts: this blend from Wish Garden was not in my kit last time, and I wish it was! I had one experience after my 3rd with clogged ducts and gah – never again! I’ve heard amazing things about this blend.
    4. Quintessential Isotonic Solution: I’ve been recommending isotonic seawater for years now, and I almost always have a giant bottle in my fridge for an electrolyte boost. It is so convenient having these in sachets by my bedside, though, during postpartum. Isotonic seawater is very close to human plasma and has an incredible ability to replenish us, ESPECIALLY after an event like childbirth.
    5. Earth Mama Perineal Spray & Balm: to say this stuff has saved my butt (quite literally) the last 2 postpartums would be an understatement. I have quick births and pushing, and consistently tear and just overall kinda wreck myself up down there 😅 this combo is my absolute favorite and I am double stocked with it. 

See our Fullscript Postpartum Support selection and get 20% off through our dispensary. In our Fullscript dispensary you’ll find our postpartum support section, and there we share practitioner-grade supplements that we often recommend for postpartum. This includes our favorite probiotics and foundational supports.

Comfort Supports

I have learned time and time again how important it is to be comfortable postpartum, and to prepare for it! And time and time again, I have neglected this aspect. I’ve tried to be extra minimal and frugal, but I’ve splurged on a couple extra things this time around to help me heal quicker and better.

  1. Mini Camp C-Shaped Pillow: I looked high and low for something like this that was somewhat non-toxic but also not crazy expensive (it’s insane how pricey these things can get). I settled on this one. I had a classic pregnancy pillow my first pregnancy and absolutely hated it, but this one I love because I can just use it as a back support, a front support, curve it, do whatever I want with it. But my main motivation was for something I could maneuver to fit my needs sitting up in bed and nursing a newborn. Stacking regular pillows just never cut it for me, and just led to more back pain. So far in the last weeks of pregnancy, I’ve really loved this pillow.
  2. Donut pillow: believe me, I laughed at those who recommended this before. But with quick intense pushing (for me! maybe not for you!) my bottom is often very sore, so having a supportive cushion will be clutch (I hope).
  3. A nice pair of nursing PJ’s: yes, it’s taken me FOUR pregnancies to purchase a pair of comfy, easy nursing jammies. 
  4. A rocking chair/glider: you can get one easily on FB marketplace or second hand. I’ve never really had a chair to sit in, and I’m looking forward to having one this time around.
Nursing pillow

Other helpful things

These lists are certainly not exhaustive, and we all have our own preferences and needs. Explore our amazon storefront for more details!

  • Silverettes: Admittedly, I’ve never used these before, but I’ve heard great things. And since I expect to be tandem nursing for the first time (not necessarily by choice 😂), and things are a bit painful right now, I figured I’d have these on hand. 
  • Snacks: Finding good snacks to keep nearby is so important! Protein-rich bars (with no nasty ingredients), grass-fed meat sticks, fruit (I like the solely fruit jerkey!), seaweed (get that iodine!) – things that you will enjoy and that will also nourish you.
  • Postpartum underwear: having items like this has always made me feel 100% more put together in a season where things feel like they’re all jumbled up. For all my postpartums, I’ve had the support bloomers from Love Steady (formerly Bao Bei Maternity), and I just added the Bodily pack this time around.
  • Hot water bottle or heating pad: we don’t have a microwave so I generally stick with hot water bottle. But warmth after birth feels so so nice!
  • Compression shorts/leggings: I don’t lightly recommend any generic compression items – I absolutely do no want to feel constricted postpartum (or ever), and many compression items out there I think do more harm than good. But again, I’ve had items from the brand Love Steady for all my pregnancies/postpartums and they are truly great (just size appropriately – do not try to go too tight!). The recovery shorts and leggings are some of my favorite postpartum items.
  • Squatty Potty: I mean, this is like a life staple no matter who you are but you should OF COURSE have one postpartum.

Asking for Help

We’re all in different places and seasons, with access to different resources. Some people have family just down the street, and some people feel like their on an island. I feel somewhere in the middle – we do not have family around, but we have a wonderful parish community and friends that we feel like we can lean on to some degree.

My parents always fly out right after the baby is born, stay at a hotel to give us space, and basically spend a few days out with the older kids so me, my husband, and the new baby can rest/acclimate. This is incredibly helpful to me, and the older kids have the time of their lives.

Our parish mom’s group has a very robust meal train ministry, and for about 10 weeks we get meals delivered 2x/week. I cannot tell you how amazing this is! Finally, we have some great friends who immediately offer to have the older kids over for play dates, will casually bring us coffee, or just stop by to see how they can help. 

Regardless of where you find yourself in your fourth trimester, I’d recommend not being shy about asking for help when and where you need it!

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Hi, I’m Alyse! I’ve never been good at titles or labels defining who I am, but have been asking God recently to help me understand what it means to be HIS, to be a bride (I’m getting married in a few months!), to be a friend, to be a faithful follower. Health and whole body wellness has been my goal since shifting away from disordered eating and climbing out of depression and anxiety a few years ago.

It hasn’t been easy but understanding that my body needs true nourishment has inspired me to honor the life God has gifted me with. I have passions for baking, reading, and photography, and I’m always trying to be more present to see the beauty of life. I love the ocean and a good acai bowl, long conversations with earl grey tea, and the quiet of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. It often feels like a whirlwind of change in my life so I turn to writing and journaling as often as I can. Others’ writing and beautiful images greatly inspire me, and the Ember Journal has provided so much of that since last fall. Elissa & I became fast friends after we connected over her family’s chicken eggs (very on brand for us both!) and she shared how she was creating The Ember Journal, the plans they had for it, and even invited me to assist with cover shoots.

I’ve since come on board as operations assistant and love the work I get to do to help create a place for holistic growth for so many! I’m extremely grateful to be with like minded women who share the Catholic faith. I trust in God’s timing for gifts such as these- He’s always seen me through. Here’s to seeking the slow in the constant movement of life, to being intentionally present to the Lord, and living our lives fully!”
@alysemariie
Hi there, I’m Ireland! Currently residing just outside Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, It’s been my mission the last couple of years to capture beauty in the slow and simple and to learn what rest and nourishment truly mean to one’s body. The Ember Journal has been a huge resource for that—not only in reference to health but also in the goodness of my heart.  While I am part of the Ember team here, I also run my own small business of brand design, media management, and curate a small shop of home goods.

Creation is my happy place. Growing something with my own hands and caring for that life reminds me just how much a small simple thing has such a large importance. God’s love in creation and all the healing it has to offer is incredibly mind boggling to me and it’s one reason I find The Ember Collective so beautiful. These days, I find a lot of joy in the simple acts of journaling, photography, homemaking, and creating and I’ve been blessed to be able to make a living in curating beauty. My life feels constantly expanding and quite often overwhelming so learning to meet Him in the quite and mundane has been a never ending practice over here.
@missirelandrose
I’m Elissa! First and foremost I am a beloved daughter of God currently in a season of rebuilding and resting in my true identity. Formerly a full time traveling wedding photographer, I left it all behind 2 years ago and moved back home to San Diego, CA to focus on regaining my health after physically hitting rock bottom.

The Ember Journal is truly a beauty from ashes endeavor for me. In my darkest hour, this project has been a Springtime of hope and given me purpose in this season of ‘pause’. Samantha and I initially connected on insta through the small Catholic photographer world and became friends as we discovered our shared passion for our faith, holistic health, homesteading, and the NTA (future goals). One day on the phone I shared with her some of the future desires God has placed on my heart and she immediately told me about Katie and this magazine idea – it was like all of our desires just fell into place.

Our overall vision for the Collective weaves so perfectly into each of our individual callings. He is so faithful. Holistic wellness became a way of life for me after chronic illness ravaged my life for many years. I would never have chosen this path for myself, but God has truly paved a way through the wilderness. Yes, I’m grateful for the knowledge I’ve gained about ancestral nourishment and tossing toxins but most especially the pruning and deep healing of the soul in the midst of suffering. Health, freedom, telling stories through photographs, creating a beautiful home, living off the land, and upholding Truth are a few things that light a fire under me. I have big dreams that reflect the garden of God’s vast goodness and my heart lies in journeying alongside others as we run toward Jesus – to dwell in the hidden refuge of His heart.
@elissaannephoto

I’m Samantha! Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, wife and mama, plant lady, and lover of all things wild and free. We live in Omaha, Nebraska with our small flock of chickens and a city yard packed full of every kind of flower and growing thing I can get my hands on. Katie and I met while pursuing further education from the Nutritional Therapy Association and connected instantly over our faith, love for the church, and conviction that body and soul wellness must include an emphasis on nutrition.

I found the world of holistic wellness after having my son in 2018, when pregnancy and nursing pushed many of my health issues over the edge. PCOS and haywire hormones, gut issues, and everything that goes along with those had me asking lots of questions. He is so faithful. Holistic wellness became a way of life for me after chronic illness ravaged my life for many years.

I would never have chosen this path for myself, but God has truly paved a way through the wilderness. Yes, I’m grateful for the knowledge I’ve gained about ancestral nourishment and tossing toxins but most especially the pruning and deep healing of the soul in the midst of suffering. Health, freedom, telling stories through photographs, creating a beautiful home, living off the land, and upholding Truth are a few things that light a fire under me. I have big dreams that reflect the garden of God’s vast goodness and my heart lies in journeying alongside others as we run toward Jesus – to dwell in the hidden refuge of His heart.

@samanthakworthing
Hello friends! I’m Katie and I am a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner living in Saint Paul, MN with my husband and two small children. My passion for holistic health began in my mid-twenties; years of heavy antibiotic usage, endometriosis (and “infertility”), and compounding stress left my body in a dreary state.

But always a doer, I sought authentic answers that medical professionals simply could not give. It all led me to finding ways to address my body as a whole – a path with a lot of detours along the way. Each year I find myself with more information, resources, and knowledge, and yet it often comes back to simply trusting the innate wisdom of the body. There is so much goodness to be found as we probe the beauty of His creation, and yet it always, always comes back to HIM. The Lord has a way of humbling us so that we keep turning to Him, never to glorify the things here below.

The Ember Journal began as a small endeavor with a modest vision. And yet, the holy Spirit brought this little team of women together and kept paving the way for something great. I am always inspired by Brother André Bessette in that no matter how small we begin, if it be the Lord’s will, He will bless it tremendously! Besides, I think we each needed an outlet to gush about this content we love so much, without bothering those patient souls closest to us with constant unsolicited health talk.
@katiegearns