Supplies for a Home Birth
What you need beyond the standard hospital bag
Planning Ahead
A home birth requires more preparation than a hospital birth because everything your midwife might need must be in the house before labor starts. Your midwife will provide a list, but the items below cover the most common requirements. Gather everything by week 36 so you are not scrambling when labor begins.
Birthing Supplies
- Disposable waterproof underpads, sometimes called chux pads, to protect surfaces
- Sterile 4x4 inch gauze pads
- Water-based lubricant like K-Y jelly
- A bulb syringe for clearing the baby's airway if needed
- Cord clamps for the umbilical cord
- A squeeze bottle for perineal cleaning after birth
- A waterproof mattress cover. A shower curtain works if you do not have one
- Washcloths, hand towels, and bath towels. Have several of each
- At least two sets of clean bed sheets
- Flexible straws for drinking during labor
- Large trash bags for cleanup
- A basin for the placenta
- A thermometer
Birthing Tub
If you plan a water birth, arrange the tub well before your due date. Portable birthing tubs are available for rent or purchase. Some midwives have a preferred rental company. A kiddie pool at least 24 inches deep can work if a professional tub is not available. Ask your midwife before buying anything.
Other Preparations
- Long, maternity-size sanitary pads for postpartum bleeding
- A hat for the baby to keep them warm after birth
- Food and drinks for the midwife and support team during labor
- Directions to your home provided to the midwife and backup well in advance
- Turn up the water heater so there is enough hot water for a long shower
- Clean and organize the birth space ahead of time
Preparing the Bed
Layer the bed to make cleanup easy after the birth. Place a waterproof mattress cover over the mattress. Put a fitted sheet over it. Add a second waterproof cover and another fitted sheet on top. After the birth, the top sheet and top waterproof cover can be removed quickly, leaving a clean sheet already in place.
Transfer Plan
Know the route to your backup hospital. Keep the car full of gas. Include your preferences for transfer in your birth plan. A planned home birth that transfers to a hospital is not a failure. It is a sign that you and your midwife are prioritizing safety.