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Preparing For Your Free Birth - My Personal Checklist With Printable Guides

  • sydneyhagan818
  • Jul 15, 2024
  • 5 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

All printable guides can be found here for download: Printable Free Birth and/or Home Birth Guides


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Photo by: Jessica Rinehart, The Heart of Now Photography, LLC


Labor and Birth Checklist: with links


Labor

  • Snacks and electrolyte drinks (see labor snacks and drinks printable)

  • 4-6 old towels

  • Comfortable robe and nursing bras, or labor clothing of choice

  • Battery operated tea-light candles / pool lights for birth pool (if desired)

  • Birth pool - I have and rent out the earthside pretty white ones, but there are off-brand white pools on amazon for cheaper, and the oasis is another more affordable option. You can even use a kiddie pool if you're a smaller momma.

  • Air pump for birth pool

  • Pool liner - you can get the ones that go with your birth pool, or get a generic option. I prefer the ones specifically made for the pool you have, as it will fit it more snugly. The generic liners tend to be loose and crinkly, which can sometimes be annoying especially during labor.

  • Plastic covers - cover your floor, carpets, couch, bed, or wherever you're planning to labor and birth. This sticky plastic is worth the purchase so you aren't tripping over plastic on the floor, and it provides the most waterproof protection. **Another option that will work well with hard wood or LVP floors is this temporary floor protector

  • Hose, faucet adapter, and pump (to drain pool)

  • Water heater (the best way to use these is getting two 5 gallon buckets, fill both using the water already in the pool, and alternate heating each bucket with the submersible water heater. Add in when it gets to desired temp. This way you don't have to keep removing new water as you add it)

  • Floating pool thermometer

  • Handheld mirror (if you want to see your baby crowning)

  • Underwater flashlight (if desired)

  • Water birth gloves (if desired, but truly not necessary if you're birthing at home with family - check out the documentary MicroBirth)

  • Birth ball (this is the one I have and it is pet hair resistant - highly recommend! Remember, you'll want to choose your yoga ball size based off your height)

  • CUB birthing stool (if desired — a toilet works just as well, just don't birth your baby in the toilet!)

  • 25+ Chux pads

  • Fetoscope

  • Water birth net (or any fish net to remove poop or clots from the pool water)

  • Bluetooth speaker (I like the JBL linked here, but this is obviously just a preference, you can use whatever you have or find)

  • String lights and affirmation cards (if you want to decorate your birth space)

  • Essential Oils and diffuser (see list for uses below — Revive oils are not an MLM and are comparable to DoTerra or Young Living oils)

  • Gentle birth tincture without cohosh

  • Blood pressure cuff



Birth & Immediate Postpartum

For Baby:


For Mama and Birth Team/Partner:


Postpartum:

 For baby:

  • Newborn diapers (cloth or disposable) - not everyone uses diapers during the first few days of life since peeing and pooping is minimal, but. this is a total judgement call. Meconium still stains!

  • Olive oil (for wiping meconium) -- coconut oil will work as well, but olive oil is much better for the skin

  • Baby wipes -- we prefer to use water wipes, or you can make your own!

  • Sound machine (if desired)

  • Silverette Nursing Cups

  • Nail scissors or file kit

  • Organic clothes (if desired — I prefer lots of skin to skin following the days after birth)

  • Car seat (even if you aren't planning on going anywhere, this is good to have ready to go ahead of time, just in case plans change)

  • Infant tummy relief by Earthley Wellness

For Mom:





Stay Connected


Thank you for reading and walking with me on this journey of reclaiming sacred, undisturbed birth.


Follow along on Instagram for more reflections, real birth stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life as a birth servant: @untamedbirthkeeper


The Birth Room Podcast: Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and/or Spotify, and sign up for emails and follow along on Instagram to be the first to know when new episodes drop.


If you’re on a personal journey in birth work, I highly recommend exploring the Hearthmother Journey—a Christ-centered course and community created by women for women. If you choose to join, you can get $50 off by using my affiliate code: UNTAMED



With fierce faith and gentle hands,

Sydney



 
 
 

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