Gentle Hands Midwifery Services
Serving Michigan & Indiana's Home Birth families
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.“
Psalm 9:10
Birth Supplies
List of Supplies
You Will Need
Underpads-found in the bladder control section of the departments stores. Get two large packs.
Sterile Gauze Pads. 4x4 size. Get at least one box (has about 20 in a box).
Olive oil. 4 ounces. Any brand is ok. Just be sure it is olive oil.
large garbage bags. At least 3 of them.
Thermometer for the baby. I expect you to monitor the babys tempature daily for the first week.
Sanitary Napkins. The pads you wear for your periods. The best ones are the large ones usedfor bladder control. Get one pack of these and then one bag of a regular kind like kotex.
Large underwear for right after the birth. The new disposable ones are nice also. Its your choice.
Peri bottle. This is to be a small bottle about 4 ounces in size to be used for the olive oil at the birth, and for warm water after the birth to squirt on your bottom after you go to the bathroom this helps you keep clean. It needs to be a new one, no used ones.
Orange juice, apple juice, or some other juice that you like-- for right after the birth. Be sure it is real juice, not fruit punch. You can choose to make your own juice if you like, that is best.
Old towels or baby blankets to be used right after the birth, these will become bloody so don‘t use good ones. Be sure they are clean.
Blankets to use after the baby is dried off.
Baby clothes, diapers, burp rags.
Night gowns for you to wear that are older. To be used during labor and right after.
Clean wash cloths for you and the baby, clean towels, at least 5 each.
Baby shampoo, soap, wet wipes. I prefer that you use a NATURAL soap for both you and baby, or an herbal mixture.
Large plastic to cover your beds mattress. This protects your mattress during and after the birth.
Comfrey leaves or salve. If you have the leaves, get three new muslin tea bags.
Rubbing alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide and bleach-all used for clean up on instruments, carpet and such, NOT used on baby!
Ice packs.
A box of clean (non-sterile) gloves. Medium size, and do NOT open the box. Get the ‘purple’ ones please.
large bucket to soak the bloody laundry in after the birth.
All necessary phone numbers.
Witch hazel, herbs for a bath after the birth.
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Periclens-or something like this.
Water birth supplies (ask me).
Hot water bottle.
Golden Seal powder (to be used on the baby‘s cord).
Bulb syringe (DO NOT OPEN IT).
Arnica oil.
Sanitary pads or pads that people wear for bladder problems, found in the bladder control section of the department store works best.
bed pads...also found in the bladder control section of the department store. These are also called chux pads. Get the largest ones. Get 2 packs.
NOTE I have a birth kit that you can order and have shipped to you. It will cover most of the supplies above. (contact me)
