A bath or pool
Hot water, buckets and hoses
Plastic sheeting and towels
Fans, flannels, water spray and Ice
'Poo scoop'
Water proof Doppler
Thermometer
Bunny rugs and a baby bonnet
A bath or pool. If you are planning to use a bath for your labour and possibly for the birth of the baby you will need to have access to a large, deep (at least 60cm deep) bath or pool. Many hospitals and birth centres now have pools. If this is not the case women have been known to hire one or buy a kiddies blow up pool, getting permission from the hospital to use it. For women planning a homebirth organising a pool is often part of their preparations.
Normal domestic baths are not ideal in that they make it difficult for the woman to change position, and are often not deep enough to allow her body to be submerged, especially if she is in an 'all fours' position. Achieving a water birth in one can be a 'tight fit', but if its all you've got and you are motivated to make it work, it can be done, possibly with you reclining in the bath or squatting in the water.
If you are planning a homebirth, check with your caregiver about options to acquire a pool. Hiring one or buying a kiddies pool are probably the easiest options. It should have strong sides to be able to lean on in labour, allow you to be on your hands and knees and have the water covering you and big enough to allow you to change position easily. If your baby is due in the cooler months, try to purchase your pool earlier, when the weather is warm. Some places do not stock pools in winter. (For example women having a homebirth in the winter months in Melbourne and Sydney have needed to order their pool from Brisbane because they are not available).
Hot water, buckets and hoses. In most hospitals the bath will be plumbed, allowing taps to fill the bath and a plug and drain to empty it.