Basic Home Birth essentials
(This list does not include everything your local midwife or doula might ask you to have but these are some basics I would prep to have automatically)
Sanitation & Environment:
- Wash Cloths (6-8): For warm compresses, use with a crockpot or saucepan for soothing relief.
- Bath Towels (5-10): More if using a birth tub, essential for drying and warmth.
- Organic Cotton Blankets (6-8): Soft, hypoallergenic blankets to comfort both mother and baby.
- Baby Essentials: Include 2 hats, 2 outfits, and 2 diapers for the newborn.
- Period Panties and Maternity Pads: Essential for managing postpartum flow.
- Tea Light Candles: Create a calming ambiance in the birthing space without extra scents
- Aloe Padsicles: Provide cooling relief and reduce swelling post-delivery.
- Peri-bottle: Ready with lukewarm water postpartum
- Birthing stool & birthing pool so mother has options
- Birthing/yoga ball so mother can do figure “8” hip rotations and bounce
- Organic olive oil: to prepare the baby’s body for a diaper (I recommend leaving the vernix on the baby and not to rub off immediately)
Tools and Emergency Supplies:
- Metal Bowls (4): Useful for various needs during and post-birth and for placenta (especially if doing a lotus birth or even just delayed cord cutting)
- Large Hand Mirror: Helps with visual monitoring during delivery.
- Baby Thermometer: To ensure the newborn’s health.
- Blood pressure cuff & pulse oximeter (midwife will have all these supplies but you can have extras)
- Heating Pad: Offers back pain relief during labor but also keeps baby’s blanket and hat warm until postpartum)
- Large Cookie Sheet or Cutting Board: Keeps birthing supplies organized.
- Waterproof Pads & Plastic Covering for the Bed under sheets so blood doesn’t seep through
- Flashlight with Extra Batteries: Essential for additional lighting if midwife needs to suture perineum postpartum
- I also personally love having a TENS Unit on hand (you may book consult with me if you need guidance on placements and how to use)
Nutrition and Hydration:
- Calming and Restorative Tea: Such as chamomile, lemon balm or nettle, which are soothing, nutritive and beneficial for relaxation.
- Fruits: Burro bananas, berries (especially blackberries), apples, cucumbers, seeded grapes & spicy foods if labor is slow
- Natural Fruit Juices: Rich in electrolytes, such as coconut water (with pinch of Celtic sea salt), watermelon and strawberry fresh cold press juice, cucumber or honeydew melon juice is very hydrating also.
- Postpartum: prep a warm, hearty & nurturing stew, soup or comforting traditional meal for the mother to restore her after labor:
Here are 5 videos for inspiration I’d recommend:
(2) Alkaline Vegan Soup | Dr Sebi Approved King Oyster and Oyster Mushroom Stew - YouTube
(2) How to make a fulfilling Alkaline Vegetable Soup - YouTube
(2) The Ultimate Nigerian Okra Soup Recipe | Vegan & Alkaline Nigerian Okro Soup Recipe - YouTube
(2) Ethiopian Feast Dr Sebi inspired Injera Platter + 6 sides - YouTube
Spiritual basics:
- Cleanse the birth space with whatever spiritual herbs your ancestry uses to welcome in the divine feminine ancestors and midwives in the unseen realms
- Crystals: Include Rose Quartz for love, Black Tourmaline for protection, Moonstone for hormonal balance and Howlite for calmness
- Roses: I love roses in the birth room, they raise the vibration of the birth space
- Essential Oils: Lavender for relaxation and Clary Sage for pain relief
Midwives brew (ingredients not dosage): hemp seed butter, lemon verbena, fresh cold pressed mango juice, ice, castor oil & blender
- Youtube playlist for Divine Feminine Power Subliminals, Affirmations & Hypnobirthing (Sacral or Root chakra based). Dance songs are great for before labor, romantic songs to dance to with partner helps also to release essential oxytocin for labor contractions.
(This post may be updated by Empress N’Zola so feel free to leave comments or questions)
N’Zola Kuingi
