What do I need to have a homebirth?

As amazing as it may sound, you don't need much. If you hired a homebirth midwife she will have a list of supplies she expects you to provide and she will bring the rest. You could purchase a bunch of midwifery tools, but they won't do you any good unless you actually know how to use them properly.

I spent a total of $20 on supplies in case my son was born at home. I could have spent more, but we didn't find that we needed anything we didn't have on hand. Here are a list of items to consider purchasing.

• Plastic mattress cover I purchased a very large plastic bag that we put over the entire mattress a few days before we thought labor might begin. It cost me $4 from a birth supply company and worked ok, even though it made an irritating crinkle noise. Some women have used shower curtain liners to provide a waterproof barrier. I just read a book in which the midwife recommends using several old towels instead of plastic because the towels are absorbent and the plastic would leave a puddle of bodily fluids there for you to sit in.

  Which ever method you choose to protect your mattress, consider making your bed in the following manner: Prepare the bed with a fitted sheet and a top sheet. Adjust your waterproof barrier over the top sheet. Now place another fitted sheet over the waterproof barrier and make your bed as usual. This allows you to simply remove the soiled sheets and waterproof barrier revealing an already made bed.

• Absorbent Pads Some women purchase puppy training pads, I just bought a few pads from the homebirth supplier. These pads were useful to catch fluids while pushing, and could be helpful if your water is broken and you want to keep furniture clean and dry. You may prefer to use folded towels, but the disposable pads are easy to clean up.

• Cord Clamps I think these were about fifty cents a piece from the home birth supply. They were very easy to use. I bought two, so we could clamp the cord in two places and cut between the two clamps.

• Sharp, Strong Scissors you don't have to buy a new set if yours a strong enough and sharp and can be sterilized. Remember, even though the cord doesn't have nerve endings where you cut it will be an open wound on your baby. Be sure the scissors are sterile to prevent infection.

• "Peri" Bottle in the hospital they give you these soft water bottles so you can squirt warm water on your perineum after you use the toilet. You don't want to use toilet paper on the tender skin after your baby is born, so you need some way to wash the area. This was another inexpensive item through the birth supplier, although you might be able to substitute any water bottle that lets you squirt.

• Oil and Gauze The oil is for the perineum, to help lubricate it. The Gauze is used to give perineal support and to remove any waste that is expelled while pushing. You can use olive oil to lubricate, so don't feel you have to buy something special. Instead of gauze, you might find warm washcloth compresses to be more comfortable.

• Pool or Tub If you want to use warm water immersion during labor, be sure you have a tub or pool that allows you to have water over your belly. Also consider how you will fill a temporary tub or pool with warm water once labor begins. If you will be using a Jacuzzi or hot tub with a pumping system, give thought to how you will clean the jets if bodily fluids get into the water.

A midwife made a web video of the contents of her bag and the kit she has homebirth clients order. You can view the video at Homebirth Talk.com by viewing episode 4:The Birth Kit.

You May Also Be Interested In: The Coach's Notebook of positions, techniques and tools for labor Homebirth Books for more information. Midwife Directory to find homebirth midwives and midwife organizations. Virtual Labor to practice your laboring skills. Labor Progress Guide to help you understand the process of labor. Birth Challenges to help you learn to navigate through a challenging labor. This is the story of how I ended up at home for Jaron's Birth.

© Copyright 2000-2008 Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally

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