Labor and Delivery All the Supplies You Need for a Home Birth By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD Updated September 28, 2018 Pin Flip Email Print Andersen Ross/Getty Images More in Labor and Delivery Pain Relief C-Sections When you are having a home birth, you know that you don't have everything that the hospital or a birth center offers. This may even be why you're having a home birth. One thing that the hospital provides is basic medical supplies that are used during the birth. To get that in a home birth, the midwives could go through the expense and hassle of purchasing it in bulk, but transportation and money become an issue. A birth kit contains items like cord clamps, sterile gloves, mesh underwear, plastic-backed pads, and other basic medical supplies. Your midwife will carry reusable, sterilized supplies to supplement what you have purchased. It is much simpler to have each family order a birth kit which contains the basic supplies needed for the birth. In addition to this birth kit, there are some normal things to have around when giving birth that can aid in the birth process. Sample Home Birth Supply List This is a sample list used by some midwives for the things parents will need to gather for a home birth. Pint of 91% alcohol (or 99% alcohol, grain alcohol, or 180 proof Golden Grain)Bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol (70%)Cotton ballsPlastic drop cloth or plastic sheet (an old shower curtain or large plastic tablecloth works wonderfully)Plastic trash bags (AT LEAST 4 large) dark colored2 fitted bed sheets to fit your bed2 flat bed sheets to fit your bed (4 flat sheets is acceptable)4 bath towels4 washcloths8 receiving blanketsLarge mixing type bowlSmall mixing type bowl (prefer bowls not be glass)Working flashlight and extra batteriesExtra toilet paper (at least 2 6-roll packs)Several kinds of juice (at least one citrus and 1 non-citrus)One extra bag of iceProtein you like that is easy to fix (peanut butter, cheese, or eggs for example)Clothes for you for during and after the birth (gown and panties)Clothes for the baby (2 pair socks or booties, 2 onesies, 2 sleepers)Diapers for the babyLarge cookie sheetSilver duct tape (preferably new roll)Thermometer (if digital, include probe covers) Most of these things have a very obvious use - hello, bed sheets. The cookie sheets? They double as trays for the midwives to carry their things on should you decide to change rooms quickly. Instructions for Preparation Linens and clothes may be old or new. All should be freshly washed and dried in a hot dryer 10 extra minutes. Bag items in brown paper bags (NOT plastic bags), tape shut, and label clearly in large letters. This helps to ensure that they are clean and as close to germ-free as possible. Bag in this combination: SheetsTowels and washclothsReceiving blanketsBaby clothesMother’s clothes Please have your birth kit and other supplies purchased, prepared and ready for 3 weeks before your due date. Have everything in one place in the room you plan to give birth. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Continue Reading