Essential Home Birth Checklist

Essential home birth Checklist

Mum

• Comfortable, loose clothing.
• Sanitary pads.
• Comforting food and drink.
• Hot water bottle / wheat bag / heat pack.
• Homeopathic remedies / bach flower remedies.
• Aromatherapy oils and diffuser.
• Massage oil.
• Lip balm.
• Spotify playlist, speaker and charger.
• Rubbish bags for used sanitary pads and blueys.
• Laundry basket (lined with a plastic bag) for used / wet linen, towels, flannels etc.
• A bowl / container for vomit
• Towels
• Flannels
• Birth mat.
• Container for the placenta (approximately the size of an ice cream container).
• Props, like: pillows, Swiss ball, peanut ball, rebozo etc.

Baby

• Soft towel / blanket to cover baby at birth and during skin to skin.
• Nappy and wipes.
• Soft clothes.
• Safe sleep space, with bedding.

Things you might like to consider.

• A soft umbilical cord tie instead of a plastic cord clamp.
• Salt lamp / fairy lights for ambient lighting.
• Affirmation cards.
• A birth mirror, so you can see baby during birth.
• A sign for your door asking for privacy and no visitors.
• A birth pool or TENS machine for comfort during labour.

Pro tips

• Have the car seat installed correctly prior to birth, in case of transfer to hospital.
• A wide bowl to hold the placenta will float in the birth pool if you choose to birth the placenta in the pool.
• Make sure your camera / phone has lots of storage space.
• Use your drier, or hot water bottles to warm towels for when baby is born.
• Have some pre-prepared meals ready for afterwards.
• Bendy straws can make sipping drinks easier in any position.
• In winter make sure you have dry firewood or an effective heater ready to warm the birthing room.
• It is a good idea to have food and drink easily available for your support people so they can help themselves when needed, and don’t need to ask.
• Set the ring tone on your phone to a low volume.
• Ice blocks are a good way to keep fluids up and provide sugar for energy if you don’t feel like eating or drinking.
• Have a practice run with your birth pool / TENS machine to make sure you know how to use them. See 'Birth Pool Dry Run Checklist' for more information.
• Have a plan for your other children if they will be at the birth. Some activities to keep them occupied and happy, some roles for them to have during labour, someone to be with young children.  See 'Children and Home Birth' for more information.