Private Midwifery Practice
Midwifery Kit
Midwives ask me often what I have in my midwifery kit. Therefore I thought I’d write this post to assist midwives entering into private midwifery practice. My midwifery kit is quite comprehensive, containing a lot of items just in case of an emergency. Mostly though, I use very little when I attend a birth. I hope that this post will help you to consider the items you might like to include in your kits. I compiled this list some time ago. Therefore my equipment is a little different these days. However, the essential elements remain the same.
A midwifery kit is very personal and varies from midwife to midwife. To make your life easier, I have included a PDF document of my midwifery kit that you can download and print. Also, you’ll find in our online store most of the items available for purchase. If an item you are looking for is not in our online store – don’t hesitate to contact us for a quote. Birth International can source most items. In short, I hope you find this post helpful
List of Items in Midwifery Kit
| IV Equipment | Needles and Syringes |
| Sphygmomanometer | 1ml insulin syringes |
| Large BP cuff | 2.5-3 ml syringes |
| Small BP cuff | 20ml syringes |
| Thermometer (and covers) | 19g needles |
| Tape measure | 23g needles |
| Urine testing strips | Blood collection equipment |
| Pinnard’s stethoscope | Tourniquet |
| Doppler | Maternal: multi-sample needles and holders |
| Transducer gel | Neonatal lancets |
| Maternal stethoscope | Blood tube for group and screen |
| Infant stethoscope | Blood tube for SBR |
| Regular exam gloves (non-sterile) | Newborn Screening Test collection cards |
| Single sterile exam gloves | Bandaids |
| Sterile gloves – pair | Catheterisation Equipment |
| KY Jelly | Catheterisation pack |
| Obstetric cream | In and out catheter |
| Blood sugar equipment | Foley’s catheter |
| Glucometer | Urine collection bag |
| Lancets – maternal | Saline solution |
| Lancets – neonatal | Medications |
| Strips for glucometer | Lignocaine 1% |
| Control solution for glucometer | Syntocinon |
| Resuscitation equipment | Syntometrine |
| Infant resuscitation bag | Additional Items |
| Pocket mask (maternal resuscitation) | Suturing material |
| Maternal O2 mask with tubing | Amnio hooks |
| Oxygen tubing | Cord clamps |
| Oxygen cylinder | Infant scales |
| Oxygen regulator | Torch |
| Bubble wrap (for neonate) | Bed pan |
| Emergency blanket (maternal) | Bluies – underpads |
| Neonatal Rescue Vac (suction apparatus) | Combine dressing |
| DeLee mucous traps | Gauze – large and small |
| Instruments | Cotton wool balls |
| Birth kit – 2 large forceps, 1 pair straight handled scissors, 1 kidney bowl, 1 10cm small bowl (cord clamp is added). | Normal saline solution |
| Episiotomy scissors | Cotton tips |
| Suturing kit – 1 needle holder, 1 pair small straight scissors, 1 small pair forceps | Client notes, Social Security paperwork, NSW Health Personal Health record, Registration of Birth form, NSW Midwifery Data collection form |
| Sims vaginal speculum | Sharps container |
| IV Equipment | Plastic bags (to store clean and dirty equipment) |
| IV cannula (size 16 & 18) | Mirror |
| Micropore | Clean hand towel |
| Opsite | Cleaning Solutions and Equipment |
| IV caps | Disinfectant |
| Normal Saline 10ml ampoule | Methylated spirits |
| Alcohol preparation | Scrubbing brush (for equipment) |
| IV giving set | |
| Normal Saline 1000mls | |
| Hartmann’s Solution 1000mls |
Author
Jane Palmer is a private practice midwife and international board-certified lactation consultant. Providing midwifery, childbirth education and lactation services since 1998, Jane supports women and their families from preconception to the year following birth. As one of the first Medicare-eligible midwives in Australia, Jane currently provides midwifery care in collaboration with the group practice Midwives @ Sydney and Beyond. Providing care for women planning to give birth at home or in Westmead hospital. Additionally, Jane is CEO of both Pregnancy Birth and Birth and Beyond and Birth International.
