What do Midwives bring to home births?

[Marsupialmom]

I am working on my research paper.

I cannot find a link, article, et that says what a midwife's bring to birth. I found one that admits to Pitocin because of risk after birth but I was hoping to get a better list.

[lynsage]

It depends on the midwife- it varies a lot based on the midwife's care model and personal preferences. Also, they will often request that the client purchase a "birth kit" with a lot of supplies that they will use but don't actually bring to the birth themselves.

[nikirj]

You aren't finding a list because everyone brings different things. And because a list of the specific things a MW packs in her bags would be really long.

"Admits" to pitocin? I wouldn't feel safe without it, for potential postpartum use. All the MWs I have worked with have also carried misoprostol and methergine in case of PPH, in addition to various favorite herbal preparations. I am in a state where these are "legend drugs" (MWs can order them directly and are "authorized" to carry and use them). Also on the list of meds all the MWs I've worked with have thought necessary to carry are epinephrine, magnesium sulfate, and terbutaline. MWs in my state also carry injectable vit K and erythromycin cream for the newborn. And I may be forgetting a few things, because I haven't had to stock a bag since August.

In some states, these medications are difficult for midwives to get a hold of. Particularly where midwifery is illegal, some may consider it too risky to carry them, because if they use them the risk of prosecution could be too great. This is one reason, IMO, that midwifery is safer in states where it is a legally recognized independent profession; we have almost all the same things available for our use that a hospital would use in the first 20 minutes of most types of emergency.

This is a small fraction of the mass of things that are brought to a birth, though. All the meds and the needles and syringes necessary to use them fit in a small tackle or craft box.

There is also labor support tools, IV equipment, oxygen and resuscitation gear, tools for delivery and for suturing...it would take too long to list all the individual pieces of gear out.

[prothyraia]

It depends on what country/state you're in, what type of midwife, and what equipment the parents are responsible for purchasing, etc. You're looking at things like: -fetoscope/doppler, -local antiseptic & anesthetic/suturing supplies, -oxygen/resuscitation equipment, -IV equipment, -medication to stop bleeding,
-blood pressure cuff, -hanging scale to weight infant, etc.

Google gave me these examples:
http://www.homebirth.org.uk/maryequipment.htm
http://www.gentlebirth.org/equipment/overview.html

[Sk8ermaiden]

Yeah, even here in my city it is different for every midwife.

Mine brings (off her website)

Doppler
Urine Strips
Suture Materials
Ring Forceps
Stethoscope
Suture Scissors
Cord Scissors
Infant Scale
Blood Pressure Cuff
Hemostats (clamps)
Non-Sterile Gloves
Fetoscope

We also have the following supplies for use in an emergency:

Oxygen tank with adult mask and infant ambu bag.
Pitocin and methergine (as ordered by backup physician).
Syringes and needles.
Suture kit w/ sterile gloves.
Herbs and homeopathy remedies.

I also know she brings an IV with fluids and antibiotics. The birth kit ordered by me is what has the vitamin K, and we get a prescription for the eye ointment but don't fill it.

[emnic77]

My midwife told me she brings pitocin in case of post partum hemorrhage; I was very glad to hear that because I would HATE to have my homebirth and then have to be carted to the hospital for something as simple as a shot of pitocin if I were hemorrhaging.

[jackiev0626]

This came from the nchomebirth website:

Midwives are prepared for emergency situations. They carry with them all the essentials for routine births as well as items needed in emergency situations. These include, but are not limited to:

Doppler and a fetascope
Medication to control hemorrhage: Pitocin, Methergine (IM, oral)
Oxygen tank(s) and gauge(s) with adult and pediatric masks, and cannulas
Tubing suction devices, such as delee traps
Instruments: scissors, hemostats, needle holders, etc.
Blood pressure cuff/stethoscope for an adult
Ambu bags, adult and infant with a variety of sizes of infant masks
Amnihooks
Suturing equipment
Catheterization equipment
IV equipment
Baby scale, tape measure
Pulse oximeter
Newborn blood pressure cuff
Airways, infant and adult
ET tubes 2.0-4.0
Laryngoscopes: adult and infant
Medications such as Vitamin K, eye ointment, and lidocaine
Tubes for the laboratory examination of cord blood
Herbs for labor
Miscellaneous items, such as a mirror and flashlight
Extra birth supplies: sterile/non sterile gloves, Betadine, sterile and non-sterile gauze pads, K-Y jelly, bulb syringe, cord clamps, alcohol pads, perineal oil, and ammonia amps.

[sweetpea_119]

Here's a sample list from when I helped to retype some stuff for my former midwife:

•Blood collecting equipment: tourniquet, tubes, vacutainer, and needles
•Angiocaths, long IV tubing, tape, antiseptic, ointment, gauze squares
•Infant ambu bag
•4 tanks of oxygen—tubing and masks (neonatal and adult)
•Blood pressure cuff, stethoscope
•Fetoscope/Doppler (fetal monitors)
•Sterile and non-sterile gloves
•Sterile instruments:
Scissors
Cord clamp or cord tape
Large clamps (Kelly or curved hemostats) (1 pair)
Amnihooks
Needle holders
Ring forceps
Tissue forceps
Speculums

•Sterile 4X4’s
•Bulb syringe
•DeLee suction trap
•Injectable pitocin and methergine
•Oral methergine
•Herbal remedies
•Homeopathic remedies
•Glandular supplements
•Foley and straight catheters
•Suture/local anesthetic—syringes
•Baby scale
•Aquamephyton (vitamin K)
•Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
•Newborn screening forms
•Urine dipsticks
•Nitrazine paper
•Culturettes
•IV, Lactated Ringers
•Sharps box
•Forms for interpartum charting
•Measuring tape
•Light source
•Heating pad
•Flexible straws
•Digital camera
•Water birth tub (upon request)