20 Things to Include in a DIY At Home Birth Kit
Planning a home birth and don’t know what you’ll need? Here are some popular items to include in your DIY at home birth kit!
One of the great things about planning a home birth is that so much of what you will need, will already be all around you at home!
But there are some essential birth supplies you might like to have set aside in advance, and one of those items is a birth kit.
In this guide, you’ll find an extensive home birth kit list so you can be fully prepared for a home birth. This is great for those who aren’t sure they want a hospital birth.
Preparing your birthing kit is one of the best ways to prepare for your home birth experience.
What Is A Birth Kit?
A home birth kit is made up of the most essential items that are required for a normal home birth, such as cord clamps, cleaning/care supplies, and postpartum items.
Your licensed midwife will bring the additional tools she needs to attend your birth, (such as emergency medical supplies like oxygen, sutures, and IVs, measuring tools, and a doppler). Some midwives also supply the birth kit, but many have the client assemble or purchase their own.
The term “home birth kit” usually refers to these basic necessary items that you (the client) provides for the birth, not the midwife’s gear or your own additional comfort supplies (such as snacks, music, pain relief, etc.)
The first thing you should do is ask your Midwife if she provides the at home birthing kit for you, and what you are expected to prepare if she does not. Many midwives have a list for you!
If you need to make your own DIY birth kit, here are some of the most popular items to include in birthing kits.
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At Home Birth Kit Supplies
- Plastic sheets or shower curtain liners – these are great for placing underneath or over your bed sheets to waterproof the bed. This is one of the top home birth essentials you don’t want to forget!
- Peri Bottles – Peri bottles are used to rinse your perineal area while you are healing postpartum. They are especially useful if you have stitches.
- Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach – Helps with cleaning and disinfecting, especially after a water birth.
- Drinking Straws – Something you may not have previously considered, but straws help you stay hydrated no matter what position you happen to be laboring in.
- Maternity Sanitary Pads – For use during postpartum bleeding. Most women purchase different absorbencies to use as the bleeding tapers off.
- Sanitary Briefs – Also called Mesh Panties, for the immediate postpartum bleeding. (I personally love postpartum diapers!)
- Infant Tape Measure – A flexible tape measure is used to measure both the body length and head circumference of the newborn baby
- Absorbent Under Pads – Under pads are placed underneath the bottom of the woman right after the baby is born, before she wears a pad or sanitary brief. Can also be used as backup at night in bed.
- Homebirth “Certificate” and Foot Printer Ink – A home birth certificate is typically brought by the midwife, as well as ink to take the baby’s footprints. Some birth kits include them if the midwife does not supply her own.
- Bulb Syringe – For cleaning the mucus from the baby’s mouth and nose
- Umbilical Cord Clamps – For clamping and cutting the cord after the birth.
- Perineal Cold Packs – Cold packs help relieve pain and swelling postpartum. Some women also like to make “padcicles.”
- Newborn Hat – To keep the baby’s head warm after birth.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – Can be used for getting blood stains out of carpet or clothing.
- Oral/Axillary Thermometer – Used to take the temperature of the mother or baby.
- Bath Towels – For cleaning up afterwards, especially during a waterbirth. Can also be used on the floor to cover carpet. Make sure to pick towels that you don’t mind getting messy.
- Old Bed Sheets – Make sure to put sheets on your bed or include them in your birth kit that you don’t mind getting a little messy
- Trash Bags – For cleaning up messes and discarding pads or cleaning supplies
- Disinfecting Wipes
- Latex Gloves
If you are having a water birth, a birth pool should be added to your water birth kit too.
Comfort Items to Include in Birth Kit for Home Birth
Above are things you will definitely want to have, but here are a few comfort items you might enjoy too for your home birth:
- Essential Oils – Relaxing smells can be quite comforting or you might want some essential oils for labor to help with the pain.
- Birth Pains Herbal Extract – This can help with labor pains and those nasty after birth pains too!
- Sitz Bath Salts – Sitz baths are so comforting after giving birth vaginally!
- Snacks – You will love having some snacks that are nutritious and tasty while you give birth.
- TENS Unit – a TENS unit can help with pain more than anything! I’ve used it throughout my pregnancy and plan to use it as much as I can during labor too!
- Birthing Ball – I wouldn’t go without a birthing ball, it is so helpful while giving birth!
Check out these 50 natural labor pain management tips too!
“Done For You” Home Birth Kits
If you would rather purchase a pre-assembled birth kit, there are some options online for great prices.
Make sure to check with your Midwife to see if there are any additional items she wants you to have, since each at home birth kit is different.
Here are two popular options of pre-made birth kits you can choose from!
Precious Arrows Basic Birth Kit
The Precious Arrows Basic Birth Kit includes just about everything you will need to give birth at home (not including the supplies a midwife brings.)
This birth kit includes a homebirth certificate, with multiple styles you can choose from, in addition you have the option to add a sitz bath, and an After-Ease tincture, which are two popular postpartum items!
If you are having a waterbirth, Precious Arrows also carries water birth supplies you can add to your kit order.
Cascade Health Standard Birth Kit
The Cascade Health Standard Birth Kit includes less items than the Precious Arrows Kit, but still covers the essentials such as gloves, povidone, cord litigation, and pads.
They also have Deluxe and Super kits that include more items, as well as add-on items for birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding items that you might like to have on hand.
Home Birth Kit Wrap-Up
Communicate with your midwife if you are unsure about what items to prepare for your birth kit, your other home birth supplies, or what kind of food you should eat.
Although the items in this home birth essentials list are common, each midwife has different recommendations depending on her practice and your needs.
Home birth is exciting and customizable, allowing you the flexibility to labor where and how you want. When you prepare your birth kit beforehand, you will be ready for the big day, even if it comes a little bit early!
