78 Pregnancy and Childbir th
Preparing
for Labor
and Birth
Things to have ready before birth
A pregnant woman should have these things ready
by the seventh month of pregnancy:
soap alcohol
clean string
➤ If you do not have
a new razor blade,
you can use rust-free
scissors or a knife
if you boil them for
20 minutes just before
cutting the cord.
clean cloths
new razor blade
two bowls, one for
washing, one for
holding the afterbirth
These are some additional supplies a midwife or birth attendant may have:
flashlight
fetoscope
blunt-tipped scissors for
cutting the cord before the
baby is born all the way
sterile
gloves or
plastic
bags
several
injections of
ergonovine,
ergometrine,
oxytocin, or
misoprostol
sterile syringe
and needles
sterile needle and gut
thread for sewing tears
in the birth opening
HIV medicines
for mother and
baby if mother
has HIV
tetracycline or
erythromycin ointment
for the baby’s eyes
suction bulb for
sucking mucus out
of the baby’s nose
and mouth
This is also the time to:
• plan transportation
in case you need to
go to the hospital.
• clean the
birth place.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012