Maintenance Tips To Help You Prepare for a Home Birth

If you are pregnant or an expecting mother, you might be considering having a home birth. It’s important to know how to prepare for labor whether you plan on having your baby in the hospital or at home. We will focus on things to think about if your birth plan includes your child being born at home on the big day.

1. Take classes or read books on home births.

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As soon as you realize you want to have a home birth versus a hospital birth, it would help if you started reading up on the process. From hiring a midwife to preparing your home with necessary supplies, you will want to be well versed in what you can expect before, during, and after childbirth. Many hospitals offer free birthing classes such as prenatal massage and Lamaze to help with pain during labor and delivery.

Of course, you can’t know exactly what will happen on your due date, but if you anticipate anything that might occur, you will be better prepared at the moment.

2. Maintain and repair faulty appliances around your home.

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If you plan on having a home birth, you will want to make sure all necessary appliances in your home are up and running in good condition. You might be surprised how a properly running furnace, dishwasher, washer, air conditioner, and dryer will come in handy on the big day.

If you suspect something is wrong with a major appliance, such as your HVAC system or furnace, you should get it checked out as soon as possible. For example, if you have smells continuously coming from the vents in your home, you should contact an HVAC technician to come to check it out in advance of your due date.

3. Connect with a reliable midwife.

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Having a midwife and/or doula to attend and assist in your home birth is one of the most important steps of the preparation process. A midwife will help you prepare for childbirth, provide prenatal care, provide technical expertise during labor and delivery, as well as provide postpartum care and support.

If you haven’t chosen a midwife for your home birth, be sure to check online and see who is available locally. Having a midwife close to your home is important so they won’t have to travel far when you go into labor. They should also have some backup plan if things don’t go as smoothly as you anticipate during labor and delivery.

4. Finish any incomplete home renovations.

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If you have any home renovation projects that aren’t completed, this is the perfect time to get them done. Not only will you feel more organized while preparing for your home birth, but you will have fewer things to worry about when the time comes.

It’s a good idea to try to get home renovations completed as early in the pregnancy as possible because many projects can be risky in the second and third trimester. Renovations such as painting, laying hardwood floors, and moving large appliances are risky in the later stages of pregnancy.

5. Make a postpartum care plan.

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Most expecting mothers focus on prenatal care and childbirth when they are preparing for the big day. There is something many people call the fourth trimester of pregnancy, which is the postpartum period. You will want to prepare for things like breastfeeding, caring for a newborn, sleeping situations, and their first trip to a doctor’s office for a newborn checkup.

Many mothers describe the fourth trimester as trying, exhausting, and a big learning experience for both baby and mom. Everyone parents newborns in different ways, so try to find out what makes you comfortable while caring for your baby.

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Pressure Washer Uses: 10 Ways to Use a Pressure Washer

A pressure washer can be used for way more than just cleaning your car. We look at some practical as well as some unusual pressure washer uses.

You’ve got a list of things to get done around the house and you’re behind schedule yet again. Does this happen to you way too often?

Part of running a household involves thinking of new ways to get things done. When you can streamline a troublesome chore, life is much easier.

A pressure washer is a great tool to keep on hand. However, many people don’t use them to their full potential. The truth is, there are a ton of ways you can harness the power of water.

To help you get the most out of this great tool, we’re going over ten pressure washer uses you may not have thought of.Pressure Washer Uses: 10 Ways to Use a Pressure Washer

  1. Outdoor Furniture

It doesn’t take long for your deck or patio furniture to take on dirt and grime. The last thing you want to do is try to tackle this cleaning job with a wet rag.

Instead, use a pressure washer to cut through the buildup without having to use too much elbow grease. You can use it for vinyl, wood, or plastic outdoor furniture.

If you’ve repainted your furniture, make sure you use a lower pressure to ensure the paint doesn’t come off. This is called soft washing. Check out these differences between soft and regular pressure washing.

  1. Wooden Fences

Is your white picket fence not looking so white anymore? Use your pressure washer to remove the dirt that inevitably builds up over time.

If you have a large yard, you may need to get a hose extension so you can reach all sections of your fence. This is a small investment when you think about the alternative, which is scrubbing your fence by hand.

You can also use your washer to clean metal fencing, trellises, or lawn ornaments. Make sure to adjust the pressure if you’re cleaning delicate items.

  1. Deck and Patio Surfaces

If you like to entertain guests with backyard BBQs, you want your outdoor setup looking nice. Unfortunately, decks and patios are hard to keep clean.

These outdoor surfaces are prone to muddy footprints, dead leaves, and other debris. Plus, when it rains, you’re left with a huge mess if water from the yard flows onto your deck or patio.

A pressure washer is by far the best tool for this cleaning job. You can blast away mud, dirt, and leaves in a matter of minutes.

  1. Children’s Outdoor Toys

If you have children, there’s a good chance that toys are all over your yard. Because these items are for outside use doesn’t mean you should neglect cleaning them from time to time.

A pressure washer is great for removing dried mud from kid’s bicycles, scooters, or skateboards. Make sure to use lower pressure so you don’t remove paint or stickers.

Then, turn up the pressure and clean swing sets, monkey bars, or trampolines. If your children are old enough, assign them this cleaning task. There’s a good chance they’ll find the process fun.

  1. Garbage Receptacles

If you don’t clean your trash bins on a regular basis, they’ll start to emit a funky odor. This can attract bugs, which no homeowner wants to deal with.

A pressure washer provides an easy solution. Add a little detergent to an empty garbage bin and spray away. Any debris or buildup that’s stuck to the side or bottom will come off right away.

Don’t forget about your outdoor, curbside receptacles. These accumulate grime very quickly so make sure you wash them out from time to time to avoid foul odors.

  1. Gardening Tools

If you do a lot of gardening around your house, you need to keep your tools in good shape. This means cleaning them from time to time.

Instead of cleaning each tool by hand, spray them down with high-pressure water. You won’t hurt them and they’ll get squeaky clean in seconds.

In addition to small tools, use your washer on larger items like wheelbarrows, buckets, and wagons. Anything that won’t sustain water damage will benefit from the occasional spray.

Speaking of gardening, if you need to water your flower bed, set your pressure washer to low and start spraying. You can cover a large area and won’t damage your plants as long as you angle the washer up.

  1. Grills

What gets dirtier than a grill? If BBQs are a big part of your summer, you’ll need to clean your grill from time to time.

If you have a basic charcoal grill, use your pressure washer to remove heavy buildup from the grate. You can also spray out the bottom and get it looking brand new.

Remember to dry your grill directly after cleaning to avoid rusting.

  1. Getting Stuff Out of a Tree

Yes, you read that correctly. A pressure washer is a great tool for removing objects from trees.

We’re primarily talking about balls or other children’s toys. If you can’t reach them with a broom, a pressure sprayer can get to them.

You could also remove dead branches that have fallen but get caught in the tree.

  1. Home Exterior

There’s a good chance the outside of your house could use a wash. It’ll surprise you how much better your home will look.

You can use a pressure washer on any material, including brick, siding, or wood. Turn up the pressure to cut through all the dirt and grime.

It’s important to keep the gutters on your home free of debris. While you’re cleaning your home, go ahead and use your washer to spray out the gutters. You’ll need to buy an extension to reach them, but it’s well worth the cost.

  1. Unwanted Pests

If you’re dealing with a pest problem around the outside of your home, a pressure washer is a great alternative to insecticides. The great thing about this approach is it allows you to keep your distance while eliminating the problem.

Things like wasp’s nests, anthills, and spider webs are no match for a pressure hose. Plus, if you get rid of them once, there’s a good chance they won’t return.

Take Advantage of These Pressure Washer Uses

Maintaining the outside of your home is just as important as taking care of the inside. There’s no reason not to make the process as easy as you can.

Keep this list of pressure washer uses handy when starting your spring and summer chores. It’ll make life much less stressful.

Check out more articles on gardening topics and outdoor maintenance.

Maintenance Articles:
Low Maintenance Yet Beautiful Gardens
Seasonal Maintenance of Your Heating and Airconditioning Units

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