guerrilla mama medicine

quixotess asked: I was thinking of home birth, although I'd also be interested to know what you bring to a hospital birth! Thanks <3

homebirth stuff.  i keep it pretty minimal honestly (compared to this…).  and i havent gone to births recently, but here goes…

blood pressure

thermometer

fetascope

plastic garbage bag

notebook (where i keep notes of what is happening as well as birthy notes for details i just cant seem to keep in my head)

pen

watch with a second hand

large disposable pads

herbs — cayenne, shepherds purse (for bleeding issues) echinacea (to prevent infection) etc. depending on what herbs are available where i am…

snacks

novel or knitting project (keep my hands busy until they are needed)

old clean towels and rags/ paper towels

candles, lighter, sterilized scissors or razor (cutting the cord)

disposable gloves

a hand mirror

liquid soap

it’s funny i went to do a google search as i was writing up this list to see what other mw’s online carry and…okay…yeah…i keep it pretty minimal…

i dont carry oxygen, i was taught resuscitation with breath and massage and skin to skin contact, etc…. i really want to take a karen strange neonatal resuscitation course when i get back to the states.  i hear she is amazing…

i dont carry pit (or most drugs), i was taught herbs and massage and skin to skin contact/nursing, etc. i really dont trust pitocin and dont like how often it is used in births. 

and i burn the umbilical cord off with aluminum foil and candle rather than using string and scissors, i think cautherizing it is safer and doesnt require that i be able to keep everything super sterile in relatively non-sterile environments

the equipment i do carry, frankly i dont use that often…i mean i dont get bp readings, or fetal heart tone readings on a regular schedule through out the birth, most of times dont have to reach for them, unless sthg else about the mama or the birth says that i should get extra info. 

idk i was taught, and continue to be taught, to use my hands, and my ears, and my eyes, and knowledge of biology, anatomy, and birth, and intuitive sense, and relationships with the mama and the babe and their support systems to let birth happen the best it can. 

its funny cause in life im not really the ‘earth mama’ type.  i drink alcohol and smoke and drink soft drinks and think nicki minaj is awesome, and live in a huge 3rd world city with 18 million other people and lots of smog, i curse like a fucking sailor, so im not the crunchy girl who is in competition for who is more ‘natural’ or anything. 

i just carry what seems to work best for the mamas.