A Complete Homebirth Supplies List That Will Get You Ready
Here is a list of all the home birth supplies I need to get together for the birth. Enjoy!
My Midwife’s Home Birth Supplies List
For the Bed
- 2 sets of sheets
- plastic sheet (fitted or plastic shower curtain)
- blanket
- pillows (can be covered with plastic liners)
Instructions For Making the Bed
- Make the bed with one set of sheets.
- Next, put the plastic sheet on the bed.
- Put the second set of sheets on (for birth).
For the Birth:
- 3 towels
- 4 washcloths (for warm compresses to prevent tearing)
- 8 receiving blankets – these will get messy!
- 2 baby hats
- 1 package of 18 disposable underpads (aka chux pads or doggy peepee pads)
- 1 small unopened bottle of olive oil
- flashlight with batteries
- unopened tube of KY jelly
- crockpot with fresh ginger root (for warm compresses to prevent tearing)
- heating pad/hot water bottle
- deep bowl for placenta
- 4 thick black garbage bags
- ice
- bendable straws
- 1 roll each of paper towels and toilet paper
- oil or lotion for massage
- thermometer
- hair ties
- water bottle
- gatorade or other sports drink
- gallon size Ziploc bags
For After the Birth:
- maternity pads and/or adult diapers
- padsicles
- plastic squeeze bottle (peri bottle)
- pre-soak stain remover
- laundry detergent
- juice, high -protein meal
Plan to have some help in the house for two weeks, including help with housework and meals.
For the Baby:
- a supply of onesies, gowns, sleepers, etc.
- diapers
- receiving blankets
Birth Affirmations
Especially during transition, encouragement, reminders of what’s normal and affirmations are KEY to moving through transition unmedicated.
Mother Rising sells both birth affirmations AND bible verses for birth. Head on over here to Etsy to take a look. They’re so gorgeous they may just end up as a back drop to your next post birth group photo! 😉
My Homebirth Supplies List
Here are the homebirth supplies I added to supplement my midwife’s list above.
For the Birth:
- phone call list for people who need the dirty details
- snacks, food and drinks for everybody at the birth
- music, my iphone and chargers
- camera with batteries charged and memory card empty
- rice sock
- candles
- lip balm
- birth ball inflated to maximum capacity
- rebozo
- birth rules to post for non-birthy people to read and comply to (seriously)
- Binsi Labor and Birth Apparel (or Pretty Pushers)
For a Waterbirth:
- Aquaborn Birth Pool with Deluxe Kit
- extra towels
- bathrobe
- flannel backed tablecloth to put under the pool (flannel side up so there is a non-slippery place to stand when getting out)
- blanket for beneath the pool for extra cushion (I have wood floors)
- make sure my hot water heater is working appropriately
- large pots to boil water in just in case it doesn’t work appropriately
For Postpartum:
- Thank you gifts (if I have the time and energy to pull this off)
- Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm
- Homeopathic Arnica for healing of trauma/bruising to my nether regions
- My Brest Friend nursing pillow
- Warm, comfy clothes to sleep and nurse in.
- A postpartum clothes capsule wardrobe for after the first 3-4 first few weeks.
- Maternity pads for the first week
- Postpartum pads for the remaining 3-6 weeks of bleeding
Postpartum Survival Kit
I created a postpartum survival kit to place in the bathroom for immediate postpartum use. I was so grateful for everything in it!
NOT PICTURED: Padsicles!
Brooke B.
Monday 4th of February 2013
I'd love to read more details on the the info and birth rules you'll be sharing with those around you! If you have time! I'm looking to have my home birth in May.
Audrey
Tuesday 6th of November 2012
I totally agree with the sitz bath herbs!! AMAZING. And, bonus, you can use them to soak your pads (do this ahead of time and freeze them; feels good on that sore mama bottom). Also agree with using it in the peri bottle. See? 3 uses for one purchase. Worth it.
Also, if you're looking for good snacks, may have thought of this already, but honey sticks are handy....
(And what's the ginger for?)
nebbiek
Tuesday 6th of November 2012
great post! the only things i might add would be a nourishing herbal tea blend for mama to drink, one rich in ingredients containing iron and calcium, as well as milk producing herbs to help with lactation. and as for our special parts, dried comfrey is a great healing herb, you can brew it and then use it in the peri bottle or a sitz bath, it really helps skin heal. also, cold pads or mesh panties to hold ice packs really help in the first twenty four hours postpartum. last but not least, plans and materials to encapsulate the placenta so that it can be ingested, especially useful if done before the massive hormone drop that occurs sometime around 72 hours post partum. keep us updated, and sending best wishes for a wonderful birth experience!
saoirsewoman
Tuesday 6th of November 2012
I recommend these - they really make the first few days less ouchy and speed the healing: http://melbournedoula.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/post-natal-peri-care-kit.html
sarahkeith
Tuesday 6th of November 2012
awesome. and great post by the way!