What’s in a Midwife’s Bag? (Hint: More Than You Think!)

Written By Estee Zosman Cupo

Well Being and Vital Sign Monitoring

  • Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)

  • Stethoscopes for both adult and newborn

  • Dopplers (hand held to hear fetal heartbeat and doppler gel) 

  • Fetoscope

  • Tape measure (for prenatal belly growth and to measure newborns)

  • Pulse oximeter for CCHD (critical congenital heart disease screening) or to be used during resuscitation

  • Laboratory set up for blood draws, cultures, amniotic fluid detection, PAP smears, PH paper, urinary dip-sticks, pregnancy tests, newborn screen tests, etc.

  • Intravenous fluids (IV) set-up

  • Urinary catheters

  • Newborn resuscitation tray including: oxygen source, Ambu-bag (bag, mask, valve), laryngeal mask airway (LMA), oximeter and suction tubes

  • Oxygen cylinders and adult masks

  • Instruments to cut cord and suture

  • Disposable supplies (sterile gloves, underpads, sterile gel, peri-bottle, 'granny' undies, pads, baby diapers, suture material, syringes, hazardous waste bags, non-sterile gloves, etc.)

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Herb List

We carry various homeopathy and herbal tinctures. 

  • Cotton Root Bark

  • Angelica 

  • Black & Blue Cohosh

  • Arnica

  • Pulsatilla 

  • And many more.

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Medication List

  • Vitamin K (for newborn if requested)

  • Erythromycin eye ointment (for newborn if requested)

  • Pitocin (not to be used in labor, only to prevent or treat a hemorrhage)

  • Methergine (postpartum only)

  • Misoprostol (postpartum only)

  • Antibiotics for prophylactic use (only for GBS positive people)

  • Hydroxyzine (rest, Mama)

  • Lidocaine (for use while suturing)

  • RhoGam injection (for RH negative women)

  • I.V. Fluids

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Birth Support Tools

  • Birth tub

  • Birth ball

  • Birth stool

  • Rice socks, heating pads, hot water bottles

  • Herbal (arnica) massage oils

  • Love (oxytocin), gravity, patience, privacy and time.

Estee Zosman Cupo
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