We’re in the process of buying all the supplies for Max’s upcoming home birth. We’re about six weeks out and getting kind of excited and anxious. I fully realize that there is a whole list of complications that could arise between now and then but there’s no use in worrying about things you have no true control over, right? So much easier to say than to practice. Sigh.

So, here’s our home birth master list for posterity’s sake or in case anyone is planning for a future birth…or maybe someone has suggestions? I’d love to hear what helped during your labor, home or not. I’ve also included descriptions after some of the materials because if you’re like me, you’re going have no idea why in the world you would need some of this!

List Given By Midwife
- (1) box of large trash bags
- (2) quarts of hydrogen peroxide
- (1) bottle of alcohol (Jim said he preferred Jack Daniels but I think she meant isopropyl alcohol. Hah, maybe we should have both.)
- (1) medium cookie sheet (To make placenta cookies…Hah, I kid. To use as a medicine/tools tray)
- disposable underpads (You know those large disposable and waterproof pads they often have you sit on in the hospital? Turns out Walgreens sells them too. Who knew?)
- straws (For the mother to drink while in any position. Makes sense now, huh?)
- oversized sanitary pads (blech)
- set of sheets to throw away (doesn’t everyone have a set of sheets that they kinda hate and want to throw away anyway?)
- (6) towels you can throw away (same goes for those ratty towels!)
- (4) plastic shower curtains (turns out birth can be kinda messy. Hah, between mentioning sanitary pads and messy births, there goes 90% of my readers.)
- Q-tips (for post-birth adorable baby cleaning)

Other Things I’m Considering (found mostly on a ridiculously long list at the Mothering.com forum)
- 3 bottles of juice or Emergen-C (I’d much rather drink Emergen-C)
- frozen meal and snacks for support group (sandwiches?)
- high protein snack or small meal for me (I have no idea, suggestions?)
- cheap washcloths (not really sure but they just kinda make sense)
- spray bottle with water/witch hazel (to spray on pads and freeze for after labor comfort)
- round flannel backed table cloth (to put under birthing tub)
- small bottle of olive oil (to spread on Max’s bum as soon as he’s born so the meconium (aka black tar) is easier to wipe off)
- honey straws (quick energy)
- nori (seaweed) strips (for tears? We already have some in our pantry for when we make sushi but I need to do more research on this)
- ginger infused water (for tearing)
- emergency bag (packed and out of sight in the car, in case we have to rush to the hospital)
- emergency contact list (front and center on fridge with names/numbers of my home midwife, my hospital nurse midwife, Jim, my mother. Also handy to have simple directions to our house in case EMT needs to be called)
- receiving blankets you don’t mind throwing away (turns out babies are messy after birth too)
- birthing outfit (sports bra and bottoms? Would love suggestions for this too!)
- after birth outfit (comfortable and nursing friendly)

As you can see, the majority of the needed supplies are usually just household items so there’s only a few more things we actually need to go out and buy.

So, what do you think? Am I missing anything?