Homebirth Supplies
HOMEBIRTH SUPPLIES LIST
One of the questions I am asked in the inquiry process is what supplies do I need for a homebirth? I wanted to share it openly so people could get a glimpse of what supplies you need to gather to give birth at home.
Unfortunately there isn’t a Columbus homebirth store where you can find all of the homebirth supplies together. Sometimes you can find some of them at stores like Meijer, Crosby’s or the chain drug stores. If you want more simplicity in purchasing my birth kit can be purchased here: https://www.radiantbelly.com/elizakay.html
I’m always really flexible with what you buy and you may have some things on hand.
Midwife Provided Items
30- chux underpads
Cold packs
Peri bottles
Sterile gauze, 4x4 2 pack
Birth tub and liner
Clients Collected Items
2- Ziploc gallon size
2- Trash bags, 33 gallon
1- Laundry basket
5 large towels
4 washcloths
8 Receiving blankets for baby
1 hand towel
2 sets of sheets
12 Depends*
2 straws
Baby hat
Plastic mattress cover to protect your mattress (a cheap plastic shower curtain works great, check the dollar store)
Plastic bowl or container or metal bowl for placenta (about 1/2 gallon size)
Digital thermometer
Heating pad
Cookie sheet (can be old)
Duct tape
Light scented cooking oil for perineal massage
Peroxide
Drinking water safe hose and adaptor (for water birth only)
*Depends works really well for the first days of postpartum bleeding. Then you’ll switch to heavy and light pads. These can be purchased on the website or locally. If you want the mesh undies and pads purchase through the website where you get the kit. Avoid Always brand.
Optional how to set up: When you are in labor, have someone put one of the fitted sheets on the bed. Lay the plastic sheet on whichever side of the bed you will be laying in, letting the edge hang down over the side of the mattress and box springs. Tape in place with duct tape. Lay a large towel on top, which will keep you from slipping around or feeling sweaty on the plastic. Place the other fitted sheet on top of all of this. Another method (if you have a regular cloth mattress pad you don’t mind getting stained) is to put the plastic sheet on the mattress under the mattress pad, mattress pad, and fitted sheet on top.
Food: Have foods in the house that you like and that are light and easy to digest, such as fruit, granola bars, hummus, cheese, applesauce, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, popsicles, smoothies, toast, crackers, cereal, and peanut butter. Please have enough food available for the midwife and assistant. We are not picky and mostly aren’t there to eat your food but sometimes we get calls right as we sit down to eat or have been laboring with you for a while.
Drinks: It is very important to stay hydrated during labor. Suggestions include juice, bone broth, electrolyte drinks (look online for healthy homemade recipes), herbal teas, and coconut water. Have something for after baby is here like juice or electrolyte drink.
Optional other items:
Birth ball
Soothing music playlist, unscented candles, essential oils, massage oil, etc.
Crock pot with water. It is used to keep warm wash cloths to be wrung out and placed on stomach and back for pain relief or perineum as baby is emerging
Lansinoh (lanolin nipple cream for sore, cracked nipples)
Extra strength acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen for after birth cramping
After Pain tincture (available as a birth kit add on)
Herbal sitz bath (available as a birth kit add on) or Epsom salts for healing baths
For soothing perineum: witch hazel (in hydrogen peroxide isle at drugstores)
Tuck’s Pads (pads soaked in witch hazel), or cold perineal packs
Homemade frozen maxi pads. Mix 1 teaspoon witch hazel and 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, lay flat to freeze
Teas: Mother’s Milk Tea or nettle, alfalfa, and oatstraw teas
How to get blood out of fabric:
Carpet: if wet, sprinkle salt on it, let it dry, then vacuum up. If dry, pour on some
hydrogen peroxide and blot with cloth. Repeat until stain is gone.
Sheets/clothing: spot treat same as above with hydrogen peroxide. Then put in
washer to soak with lukewarm (not hot) water and 1 cup salt (no detergent). After
soaking, drain water and run normal cycle with detergent.