What’s in a Home Birth Kit?

Curious what products are needed in order to have a Home Birth? Below I break down what you will find in my Home Birth Kit for Baby #7. Now keep in mind not every Midwife requires you to have the same products. There are also additional items needed if you plan to do a water birth. With that in mind, I am going to list the item’s needed for my “land” birth. Keep reading if you want to know What’s in a Home Birth Kit?

Home Birth Kit Items

Now don’t ask me what all these items are for, I could guess on a few, but I wouldn’t know the answer for everything. Just like when you go to the Hospital, they have certain items they like to have on hand during a birth, a Midwife is no different. I figure there is a reason for everything in the Birthing Kit, so I don’t question it. These items are from the curated Birthing Kit that my Midwife has me order online.

• Gallon Sized Ziploc Bag (2)
• Paper Drinking Straw 7-3/4 Inch White Individually Wrapped (2)
• Stretcher Sheet McKesson Flat 40 W X 90 L Inch Blue Tissue / Poly Disposable (1)
• Gauze Pads/sterile/100% cotton/4×4/12 ply 2 per (10)
• Surface Disinfectant Super Sani-Cloth® Liquid Wipe 11.5×11.75 (1)
• Alcohol Prep Large (4)
• Sterilization Bags-Self Seal Pouch 5-1/4 X 10 Inch (1)
• Perineal (Peri) Cold Pads (1)
• TENA® Sensitive Care Pad (2)
• Bulb Syringe 2oz (1)
• Syringe with Hypodermic Needle PrecisionGlideâ„¢ 3 mL 21 Gauge 1 Inch Detachable Needle Without Safety (1)
• Purple Nitrile® Sterile Pair Purple Powder Free Nitrile Ambidextrous Textured Fingertips Chemo Tested Medium (2)
• Lube Jelly 4oz (1)
• Medline Sterile Vinyl Medium Singles (6)
• Peroxide 16 oz (1)
• Safety Lancet Tenderfoot® Fixed Depth Lancet Blade 1.0 mm Depth 2.5 mm Blade Pressure Activated (1)
• Umbilical Cord Clamp Sterile Plastic (2)
• Scrub Brush/ Hibiclens (1)
• Cotton Hat Newborn Regular (1)
• Amnicators (1)
• Underpads 30×30 (7)

Additional Birthing Items

These items you would typically already have around your house. You want them gathered up and stored with or nearby your Home Birth Kit by your Midwife Home Visit which typically takes place around 37 weeks.

• Clean Sheets + Waterproof Mattress Protector
• Box of White Unscented Trash Bags
• Flashlight with New Batteries
• Paper Towels (2)
• Towels + Wash Cloths (4- 6 of each)
• Receiving Blankets/Swaddles (4+)
• Large Bowl (2) One is for the Placenta and the other in case of Vomit.
• Large Cookie Sheet
• Newborn OR Size One Diapers
• Heating Pad
• Change of PJs for Mama to wear after Birth.
• Pads of Your Choice + Perineal Ice Packs
• Upside Down Peri Bottle
• Snacks + Hydration

Items I Like to Have on Hand

After being through this process many times over here are the items, I like to have on hand as labor progresses as well as close by during my Postpartum recovery.

• Birthing Ball. This comes in handy during labor and delivery for me as you can sit, lean, or rest on it to make the birthing process more bearable.
• Music Playing on Pandora to distract me. Sometimes this is Worship music or if Sam gets ahold of the music, then a Country Station will be playing when his boy is born. 🙂
• Candle + Lighter to help create a calm atmosphere.
• Ibuprofen + Arnica helps with the pain the first few days Postpartum.
• Iron Supplements + Prenatal Vitamins. These are what I take during Pregnancy and Postpartum.
• Basket of Snacks + 50oz. Simply Modern Tumbler of Water. Sometimes Sam is busy with the Kids and can’t get to my needs right away so having some snacks and water nearby help tide me over until he has a free moment.
• Basket of Feminine Care Items in the Bathroom. This makes it easier to have everything ready and nearby when I need to use the Bathroom Postpartum.

Looking for more Home Birth Resources?

Check out my Pregnancy + Home Birth Page on the Blog. Or leave any Home Birth questions you may have in the comments. I would love to answer them!