Mothers

1.Surgical gloves

Basically used by the midwives for protection and prevention of infections or any other diseases and as an expectant mother you need an average of 8 pairs gloves and they may also be used by your care giver while nursing you after birth.

2. Cotton wool

For cleaning, draining and dry the mother, the cotton wool is also used as absorbent for mothers to use to prevent further bleeding after birth

3. Surgical blades

This is meant to carry out an episiotomy  by a midwife or obstetrician during second stage of labor to quickly enlarge the opening for the baby to pass through. and for a C-section mother, it is used through surgery around  the stomach areas

4. Macintosh (Plastic mats)

For purposes of hygiene maintenances hospitals authorise mothers to carry macintosh(polythene mats) to prevent infection from the beds they lay on directly and it also acts as the delivery plastic sheet.

5. Immunisation cards

During postpartum period and immediately the baby is born  he/she is immunized to prevent  against several diseases and for purposes of monitoring the immunization statistics immunization cards are required for record keeping, Mothers are required to have immunisations handy when they are going to the hospital.

6. Umbilical cord knot

This is used to tie the baby’s code immediately after birth.

7. Disinfectant

To prevent infections, a disinfectant is needed to prevent  germs and also used for cleaning areas where the mom has delivered from, both the bed and the room. Most commonly used disinfectant in the local hospitals and health centre is JIK.

Of course this is also for washing and cleaning the mothers garments that maybe soiled during birth.

8. Gauze

Gauze is used together with cotton while draining and dry  blood of the mother after birth. Due to the nature of cotton it may leave particles  in the  mother’s body which is harmful and to prevent it from happening gauze is wrapped around each piece of cotton before usage.

Also gauze is used in making pads that the mothers can used to pad them selves after birth to protect them from soiling bedding and panties

Related: How to Provide Extended Support to New Parents after delivery

9. Soap

This is usually needed for both cleaning the baby and the mother after birth.

10. Baby receivers & Baby clothes

These a smooth sheet  of cloth that are wrapped around the baby immediately after being delivered to prevent them from any risks to pneumonia and cold.

Baby clothes are those the baby can wear while still in hospital and after births. these include the baby gloves, caps, diapers, wipes blankets and bed sheets. Ideally these clothes are meant to keep baby warm and clothed. Always carry enough of these as the they will be changes often as the baby will wet them.

11. Normal saline water(in case of a c-section)

Traditionally people have come up with a number of myths for cleaning the baby code and ensuring it dries up quickly like, using saliva, salty water and many more but for purposes of preventing infections and germs health workers encourage mothers to use saline water to clean the baby code, saline water is basically drip water.