Birth support supplies

Leanna Mae is an author, women’s health educator, and birth doula. Her degree is in health sciences. She is passionate about patient education. She loves to teach! She is also passionate about patient rights and healthcare ethics. She became a birth doula in 2008, a certified breastfeeding specialist in 2014, and graduated college in 2018. After graduating, she started teaching classes. She now offers online classes and in-person classes in western Ohio as well as birth doula services in the Dayton/Springfield area. 

If you'd like to easily print this, here is a PDF you can download and save to your phone or computer and print. This PDF has check boxes for you mark off as you gather the support supplies you want.

Birth Support Supplies for comfort and non-medicinal pain management

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There are many support supplies and tools we can use in birth. You certainly don’t need to buy all of this. These are just options. Purchase what you think you will like. If you have a doula, check with her first to see what she brings. You may also be able to borrow things from friends.
 

For positioning

• Birth ball
  • The pump to inflate the birth ball
• Peanut ball
• Rebozo or birth scarf 
• A birth sling (labor sling or hammock) 
• A birth rope if you want to pull on it during delivery
• Pillows

 
 
To distract from the intensity of contractions

• TENS machine 
  • You may want to get extra pads or different size pads for the TENS machine
• Wooden combs to put in your hands
• Reflexology balls
• Reflexology rings or the spiky fidget sensory rings
• Fidget toys that are spiky (such as Little Ouchies)
• Stress balls or something to squeeze during a contraction (though we recommend releasing tension as much as possible, sometimes it’s helpful to squeeze something). 

 
 
For pressure

• Tennis balls to put counter-pressure on the sacrum
• Lacrosse balls can also be used

 
 
Massage tools

• A massage gun
• A rolling pin is a cheap massage tool
• Massage ball roller
• Handheld massage tools
• Any back and shoulder massagers the mom likes
• A scalp massager
• Massage oils or lotion that you know you like (and are not allergic to)

 
 
Hydrotherapy 

• A big water jug to stay hydrated 
• Flexible straws
• Towels to dry off with when getting out of the shower or tub that you don’t mind getting messy
• Washcloths you don’t mind getting messy (they probably won’t get messy but have some you don’t mind getting stained)
• A cooler with ice water to dip washcloths in

Tips: Keep cold water in the fridge ready to refill her water jug and have extra ice ready
 
 
Soothing heat

• A heat pack filled with corn or rice (you may want more than one)
• A rubber hot water bottle
• An electric heating pad (If you get the large ones, you can also use it as a towel warmer.)
• You may desire to set up a birth pool to labor and/or deliver in. Using a birth pool does require several items to go with it. 

 
 
Cool down

• A hand fan
  • Paper fan
  • Spanish hand fan
  • Frisbee fan
• An electric fan to sit by
• Clip on fans that are battery-operated or USB rechargeable
• Stroller fans that have wrap around legs
• Neck fans on a lanyard (battery or USB rechargeable)
• Handheld fans that are battery-powered or USB rechargeable
• Ice packs

 

Aromatherapy

• Essential oils or calming fragrance oils
• A diffuser (may not be able to be used in a hospital especially depending on what is being diffused)
• Cotton balls and plastic bags to keep scents contained

 
 
Setting the environment

• Soft lighting (low lighting is often more relaxing for mom than bright lights on)
  • String lights such as white Christmas lights
  • Twinkle lights or fairy lights
  • Curtain lights (a lot of home birth moms set up curtain lights in their birth space or behind the birth pool)
  • Electric candles 
  • Electric tealights
  • Some people like star/galaxy projectors
• Music or sounds that are calming or encouraging
  • A tablet to play music on (since your cell phones will likely get texts or calls interrupting the music)
  • A Bluetooth speaker for the music
  • Earphones or headphones if preferred
  • Sound therapy or noise machine
• Ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones

 
 
Supporting the best mindset

• Encouraging scriptures
• Faith-based affirmations
• Birth affirmations
• Any quotes that motivate you for birth
• Index cards or craft cards to write the above things on
• Tape to hang affirmations or tiny clothespins with ribbon or twine for hanging them

 
 
Other things to buy for comfort and support

• Lip balm – we’ll be doing lots of deep breaths
• Hair ties or other hair supplies to put your hair up out of the way 
• Your own gown as an alternative to the hospital gown
• A comfortable robe
• Non-slip socks
• Slippers
• Hankies for tears or sweat
• An eye mask if she likes those (bright lights in the hospital)
• A comfortable blanket from home instead of the hospital blankets

 
 
Tech for your supplies

• Phone chargers with a long cord
• Chargers for any other support supplies 
• Batteries for anything that needs it

Pro tip: Hire a DOULA.
 
While this list isn’t all you’ll need to prepare for birth or pack for the birth location, don’t forget to include items that will support you to have a more comfortable birth.
 
If there’s anything you would add, comment on the blog and I may add it to the list.

learn more about classes here

learn more about birth doula services here