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Homebirth Supplies List

HOMEBIRTH SUPPLIES LIST printable version

You may not believe us, but you don’t really need too many supplies to have a home birth.

***Recently, the BC government has starting supplying some basics to clients planning home births.***

In addition, Pomegranate Midwives adds a number of extra supplies to create a full kit. This will be given to you once you are term at 37 weeks. Additionally, you will need to gather some items from around your house, from friends or the local thrift shop – and our free store occasionally has donated supplies too.

Once you have all your supplies at home, it is extremely helpful to your midwives if you have a designated box or a basket that you will use to store everything, including the receiving blankets and towels – a laundry basket works well.

HOMEBIRTH KIT SUPPLIES LIST

What comes in your Pomegranate Homebirth Kit

  • 2 Plastic+paper mattress liners
  • 4 large Underpads (pink)
  • 20 medium Underpads (blue)
  • Garbage bag, black
  • Laundry bag, white
  • Ziploc bags for placenta
  • Peribottle
  • Mesh underwear
  • Maxi pads x2
  • Straws x2
  • Labour medications: Gravol & Tylenol
  • Postpartum medications – enough for 24hrs: Ibuprofen & Tylenol
  • Instructions for making frozen pads
  • Labor Ade recipe
  • Various midwife supplies (gauze, syringe, etc)

Additional supplies you will need

Labour Supplies

  • 2 Stainless steel or glass bowls (medium)
  • Digital oral thermometer
  • Box of baby wipes
  • Cookie sheet

Linens:

  • 8 receiving blankets
  • 1 fitted sheet – ok to get stained
  • 1 fitted sheet – to replace the above after the birth
  • 4-6 large towels
  • 2 hand towels
  • 3 face cloths

 If using a birth pool:

  • Plastic and towels to surround pool
  • Mat for floor close to the pool
  • Lots of extra towels
  • Fish aquarium net (large size)

OPTIONAL:

  • Hot water bottle/heating pad
  • Cold pack/frozen peas
  • TENS machine
  • Lip balm
  • Hand mirror

Postpartum Supplies

  • Overnight large maxi pads (12) … set aside six of these to make frozen pads
  • Regular maxis (1box) … avoid the dry-weave types as they are too drying
  • Ibuprofen & Tylenol
  • Nipple cream
  • Sitz bath basin

MAKE: 6 Frozen pads

OPTIONAL:

  • Homeopathic Arnica 30C pellets
  • Lavender &/or tea tree essential oil
  • Epsom salts (1-2kg)
  • Sitz bath herbs
  • Postpartum recovery tea (calms afterpains, promotes healing)
  • Mother’s Milk tea or tincture (helps promote fast and
  • Witch hazel & cotton balls (soothes & shrinks hemorrhoids)

**** Also, you should have a hospital bag packed that includes your wallet with your care card. because sometimes plans change!

Nourishment

We can’t say enough how important food and hydration is in labour. Your body is working hard – keeping nourished and hydrated is essential. It is great to have different beverage options as well as easy and healthy snacks for when you are in labour. But make sure you have something grand in the fridge for after the birth when you are ravenous… Don’t forget to have some nutritious snacks for your labouring partner as well. Here are some ideas for you:

  • Beverages
    • Labour-Ade
    • Electrolyte drinks
    • Teas with honey
    • Less-acidic juices, such as coconut water
    • Smoothies
  • Snacks
    • Fruit (frozen grapes very popular…)
    • Broth
    • Energy balls/bars
    • Crackers & cheese
    • Yogurt
  • Food for birth partner/team
    • Protein-rich food definitely helps when you are tired
    • Hydration!
    • Coffee/tea – nobody wants a withdrawal headache when they are meeting their baby
  • Victory Meal
    • Think about a meal you can have all ready to pop in the oven and dine on while your baby is nuzzled and nursing and you are ravenous from a hard day of work done. Lasagna or a nice casserole are good options that will also provide you with leftovers the next day.