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Homebirth is exciting but knowing what you will need can be a challenge. I have been blessed to have four beautiful homebirths so far, these are the top 5 things I think are essential to have prepared for your homebirth. Comment below what your 5 Homebirth Essentials are.
1. Your Midwife’s Kit
Even if money is tight DO NOT skimp on your midwife kit! Please get her all of the supplies that are listed on her sheet and make sure that any herbal supplies, vitamins or medications that you are using from a previous birth are still within date. Because we are planning on having more children we keep a tote with all of the non-perishable items leftover from the birth in our basement to use for the next birth.
2. Upside down Peri Bottle
For our third baby I decided to get a Frida Mama peri bottle, I love it! I recently got an off-brand one for my sister for her first homebirth and she loved that one as well. Both are linked below. It is so much easier to use one of the upside-down ones than the standard issue, I think the ease of use out ways the additional cost.
3. Honey/Electrolyte Packs
Having honey sticks or a small container of honey and a spoon can be a great option to provide a burst of energy to help when mom is getting tired during labor. Especially if you struggle with nausea or vomiting during labor honey can really help. Electrolytes packets or coconut water mixed with fruit juice can also be good to help keep mom feeling good during labor.
4. Comfy Nursing friendly Pajamas
One of the blessing of being at home is that you can be as naked as you want. However in case you need to transfer or simply when people come to visit you will want something comfortable to wear that you can nurse easily in. I got a nursing pajamas set from Bearsland off Amazon this time around and I love it! They are so comfy, easy to nurse in and wash up nicely. The pants are a little short on me but I am tall so most pants are. It makes such a difference having something that is comfortable but still stylish that you can feel good in.
5. Easy to prepare meals/freezer meals
Since you are in your home one of the benefits can be the fact that you are not eating hospital food. However you have to arrange it yourself. Figure out what you will want for your 1st meal after birth. Some easy ideas are eggs and toast, a slow-cooker meal, frozen soup or a freezer meal that cooks up quickly. Additionally prep meals for the days and weeks after birth. Think about what you and your family likes. For our family I prepped by stocking the pantry really well with the staples we eat. Additionally I made and froze muffins, protein balls, bread, pizza and cooked meat.
Having a lactation tea on hand will help if your milk is slow to come in or not sufficient. For an easy DIY lactation tea use this recipe https://oldfashionedgraces.com/2024/05/04/easy-diy-lactation-tea-recipe-that-tastes-great/
Shop The 5 Homebirth Essentials Post:
Bearsland Maternity Women’s 3 Pieces Soft Nursing Pajamas Set Postpartum Sleepwear for Breastfeeding Blue at Amazon Women’s Clothing store
I think an essential for a homebirth is an experienced doula. I may be biased on this since I am a trained doula, but the data does show that having a dedicated trained support person (doula) is the best thing that you can do to reduce your risk of interventions.
But I like your list as well.
I completely agree with you, I don’t know how I missed that one. My doula has been amazing at each of my four births!