When you first start planning a home birth, it can feel like there’s a never-ending list of things you’re supposed to have.
But honestly… you don’t need as much as the internet makes you think.
Here’s a simple home birth checklist of what’s actually useful—without overcomplicating it. You don’t NEED everything on this list, but it will help you determine what you do and don’t want in your space.
Read more: What You Actually Need for a Home Birth
Birth pool setup
If you’re planning a water birth, this is really the only part that needs a bit of thought ahead of time.
You’ll want:
- A birth pool
- A disposable liner
- An air pump for inflating the pool
- A drinking water hose, connector + tap adaptor
- A submersible water pump to empty it afterwards
- A thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature
You can source everything separately, but most people just go with a hire or purchase bundle so everything arrives together and it’s one less thing to think about.
Making the space feel good
This matters more than people realise.
You don’t need anything fancy—just things that help you feel safe, relaxed, and not watched. This helps the oxytocin flow and helps labour along.
- Soft lighting (lamps, fairy lights, candles)
- Affirmation cards or temporary tattoos
- A rebozo scarf
- Birth combs, and/or The Birth Ally to squeeze for pain relief
- The Birth Sling
- TENS machine for pain relief
- Music playlist and bluetooth speaker or earphones
It’s less about creating a “perfect” space and more about creating one that feels like yours.
The practical stuff
Not glamorous, but you’ll be glad you have it.
- Disposable underpads
- A debris net for scooping poop etc out of the water
- Towels and blankets
- Old sheets or plastic drop sheets to protect surfaces
This is the kind of stuff that just makes everything easier in the moment.
For baby + after
Once baby is here, you really don’t need much.
- Towels
- A blanket
- A bowl for the placenta
- Food and drinks for you
- Umbilical cord tie or clamp, or candles for cord burning
That’s it. Keep it simple.
What you don’t need
This is the part people don’t talk about enough.
You don’t need:
- A perfectly clean or styled house
- Heaps of equipment
- A super detailed plan
Birth isn’t something you can control step-by-step anyway. The environment is just there to support you.
Keeping it simple
If you don’t want to spend hours figuring out what to buy and where to get it, this is exactly why bundles exist.
Everything you actually need, sorted in one place, and you can move on with your life.
👉 You can have a look at our birth pool bundles here
One last thing
You don’t need to get everything “right” for a home birth to be beautiful.
You just need to feel safe, supported, and able to do your thing.
Everything else is just extra.
Not sure what you’ll need for your setup?
You can always message me on Instagram @earthybirthaustralia and I’ll help you figure it out 🤍