Here you’ll find a compiled list of items that you’ll need if you’re planning to have a home birth. One important thing to note is that midwives carry a handful, if not most of these items listed here. Depending on the type of home birth you’re planning (assisted with a midwife/midwifery team vs. unassisted free birth) you may only need a handful of these items. This is a comprehensive list for anyone who may have a midwife who does not carry all of these items or who may be seeking to free birth.
If you’re looking for additional recommendations for postpartum, I have another (brief) post with links to everything I found incredibly useful during each of my postpartum periods.
Disclaimer: None of this information is to be taken as medical advice. These are simply suggestions for supplies in you are planning for a home birth. The content of this post is for informational purposes and uses only.
Supplies for Labor & Birth:
- Birth pool
- Pool liner
- Electric pump (to fill pool with air)
- Submersible pump
- Shower curtains (for in between the sheets on the bed, and underneath the birth pool)
- Faucet adapters
- Hose
- Duct tape
- Pots/large bowls
- Birth ball
- Birth comb
- Diffuser and essential oils & herbs
- Headphones and/or bluetooth speaker
- Heating pad
- Affirmation cards
- Contraction timer (usually on app on your phone)
- Thermometer
- Fish net (for cleaning remnants from birth pool)
- Water bottle with a straw
- Food & juice/electrolyte drink
- Camera (for birth photos/video)
- Mirror
- Trash bags
- Gauze pads
- Chucks pads
- Pillows
- Wash cloths (5+)
- Towels (5+)
Supplies for Immediate Postpartum/Baby:
- Bulb syringe
- Clock/phone
- Receiving/muslin blankets
- Umbilical cord clamp/tie
- Fish scale and sling
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Placenta bowl (can be a large stainless steel bowl)
- Large zip-log bags
- Long/large maxi pads
- Peri bottle
- More towels & wash cloths
- Foot printer pad/ink
- Notebook
- Ibprofen
- Peroxide
- Change of sheets (for after birth)
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