Do home birth midwives have equipment and medications to help in emergencies?

Yes! Midwives not only bring a deep knowledge of physiological labor and birth but Midwives in Oklahoma are legally licensed to carry equipment and medications to safely manage normal deliveries at home. 

They bring medical equipment and medication to:

• Monitor and assess you and your baby during labour, birth and in the early hours after birth
• Help you safely deliver your baby
• Respond to any emergencies in the event they arise

Some of the equipment we bring includes:

• Resuscitation equipment for baby and mother: a bag and mask resuscitator and oxygen.
• Antihemorrhagic drugs to stop excessive postpartum bleeding.
• Monitoring equipment for you and your baby, including a doppler, blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, and infant stethoscope.
• Supplies for the newborn exam and any newborn procedures that you choose, including a scale, measuring tape, erythromycin ointment, and vitamin K.
• Suturing equipment to do repairs if any tearing occurred, and lidocaine to numb for suturing.

⬇️For a more comprehensive list look below⬇️

Licensed Midwives in Oklahoma are currently allowed to carry and administer certain medications that can be used in specific instances. These can include medications for postpartum hemorrhages, Antibiotics for GBS prophylaxis in labor, Rhogham, Vitamin K, Erythromycin, Lidocaine, Oxygen, EpiPen, and IV fluids. We also carry homeopathic medications and tinctures.  I cannot write prescriptions.

What’s in the bag?

Some midwives come with bags, some with boxes or tubs, one thing is for sure, we all have a lot of stuff!  The equipment and medications that midwives bring to home births are comparable to those available in a birth center or level 1 hospital. Oklahoma Licensed Midwives (A Certified Professional Midwife) care for low risk woman and babies. 

The things we will be bringing with us to your delivery:

Medical Supplies

• Doppler
• Fetoscope
• Maternal Stethoscope
• Blood Pressure Cuff
• Thermometer
• Reflex Hammer
• Adult Ambubag
• Nasal Canula
• Oxygen Tubing
• Delivery Instruments
• Suturing Instruments 
• Suture Materials 
• Flashlights
• Headlamp
• Sharps Container
• Gloves
• Sterile Gloves 
• Lubricant
• Gel for Doppler
• Needles 
• Syringes
• Lab Equipment
• Alcohol Swabs

Medications

• Pitocin / Oxytocin
• Cytotec / Misoprostol
• Methergine 
• Tylenol / Acetaminophen
• Motrin / Ibuprofen
• Benadryl / Diphenhydramine HCl
• Antibiotics for GBS+ clients

Newborn Medications

• Vitamin K
• Erythromycin
• Oxygen Tank

Newborn Equipment

• Baby Stethoscope
• Otoscope
• Newborn Ambubag 
• Advanced Airway Equipment
• ET tubes (various sizes)
• Pulse Oximeter
• Heel Sticks
• Cord Clamps
• Tape Measure

This is most of what we bring to a birth  but it is not an all in encompassing list. Parents are also asked to buy a small birth kit online including the things they desire (delivery kit, birth pool liner, postpartum bath, etc) and to gather a few things from around the house (towels, baby blankets, trash bags, heating pad, etc). 

For more questions or to schedule a consultation call 918.736.9955 or peruse our website for more information or to schedule online!