Nappies: Disposable or reusable

Whilst I was pregnant I put some serious research into whether or not to go down the re usable nappy route. 

It quickly became apparent that the advantages of using reusable nappies were that:

·      It saved me money

·      It was kinder to the environment

·      It was kinder to the baby

However, the perceived disadvantages were:

·      It was a pain to wash the nappies

·      That the frequent washing nappies could also impact on the environment 

·      That the initial cost output was high

I found an excellent discussion about the advantages of using reusable nappies on Twinkle Twinkle’s website

I would like to say it was saving the environment that did it for me but I am afraid to say the decision came down to how much money we would save.

My research showed that using reusable nappies was likely to save me as much as £500 (and that’s per baby, if we are lucky enough to have a second baby the savings are even greater). 

A packet of 54 organic cotton Huggies costs £7.49.  Based on a baby needing roughly 6 to 8 nappies a day; a packet of 54 nappies would last a week. 

If I bought the suggested 24 nappies needed plus 20 wraps (5 of each available size) that was a cost of £285 which should last me until Edward starts potty training.  That would only buy me 38 packets of Huggies (lasting only 38 weeks of nappies). 

With that decision made the next was what type of reusable nappy to go for… 

A pain free home birth

My son was born into this world nine weeks ago.  He arrived in the peaceful setting of my childhood bedroom with my family and other animals looking on.  

I had a beautiful home birth assisted by two amazing private midwives,

• ·      Chrissy Hustler of Wessex Independent Midwives 
• ·      Erika Thompson of Beautiful births. 

I spent my short labour exchanging nappy tying techniques with Erika and listening to the James Bond theme soundtrack, which my husband in his infinite wisdom, thought might encourage me to push. 

We only just made the birthing pool in time and fortunately managed to dissuade a curious cat from falling into the birth pool.  

Our home birth was everything I could have hoped for and baby son arrived within 4 hours without the need for any pain relief other than the achieved from the birth pool. 

Looking back at my NCT classes I was sad that the advantages of having a home birth were not discussed.

In fact I felt alone in my desire to experience a home birth.

If it had not been for the original encouragement of my mother, who had a home birth with my younger brother, I don't think I would have even considered it.

It has certainly sparked my desire in my quest to become a natural born mother.