Remote Primary Health Care Manuals

Birth and resuscitation equipment

General equipment — mother and baby

  • Good light 
  • Clock with second hand
  • BP machine, stethoscope, thermometer (axilla)
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Lots of blueys, spare sheets
  • Tourniquet, tape
  • Blood specimen tubes — EDTA, plain
  • Syringes 1mL, 2mL, 5mL, 10mL x 5 each and needles 19–26G
  • IV cannulas 14–24G
  • IV giving sets (blood/fluid pump sets), bungs, extension tubing, dressings
  • Intraosseous needle device, intraosseous needles, 15mm (baby), 25mm (adult), 45mm (obese)
  • Nasogastric tubes 5Fr, 6Fr, 8Fr
  • Normal saline

Birthing pack 

  • 2 sterile metal clamps with ratchets and grazed ends — for clamping cord — Figure 1.1
  • 2 plastic cord clamps and 2 spares in case first break — Figure 1.2
  • Scissors
    • Sterile blunt-ended scissors — for cutting cord
    • Sterile episiotomy scissors — curved, blunt-ended — Figure 1.3
    • Sterile long-handled scissors — at least 15cm (for removing cervical suture/tape)
  • Forceps
    • Sponge holding forceps for membranes — Figure 1.4
    • Sterile sponge forceps — at least 15cm (for removing cervical suture/tape)
  • Sterile Sims' speculum (for breech birth) — Figure 1.5
  • Sterile duck bill speculum (for breech birth, removing cervical suture/tape) — Figure 1.6
  • Urinary catheter equipment
  • Kidney dish for placenta
  • Equipment for taking cord blood
    • Kidney dish
    • Syringe
    • EDTA and plain tube
  • Suture materials
  • Small combine dressings
  • Sterile lubricant 
  • Wraps for baby — see Keeping baby warm after birth
  • Thick clear plastic bag — if baby thought to be preterm or low birth weight
  • Baby gown 
  • Name bands for baby x 4
  • Plastic bucket with lid or plastic bags for placenta — family may take it
  • Birth registration forms

Figure 1.1  Sterile metal clamp with ratchets and grazed ends — for clamping cord

birth - cord clamp metal.jpg

Figure 1.2   Plastic cord clamp

birth - cord clamp plastic.jpg

Figure 1.3   Sterile episiotomy scissors 

episiotomy scissors.jpg

Figure 1.4   Sponge holding forceps

forceps - sponge holding.jpg

Figure 1.5 Sterile Sims' speculum  

The Sims is a roughly U spaced vaginal speculum.

Figure 1.6   Duck bill speculum

speculum - duckbill.jpg

Newborn Resuscitation

  • Emergency trolley
  • Laminated copy of newborn resuscitation flowchart
  • Warm towels and baby wraps

Airway and breathing equipment

  • Oxygen/medical air with flow meter (flow rates up to 10L/min)
  • Oxygen saturation monitor (oximeter) with infant probe
  • Infant mask and oxygen tubing. Can used cupped hand if not available
  • Resuscitation bag-valve-mask, sizes 0, 00 — assemble and check before birth
  • Mechanical suction (low pressure if possible) and tubing
  • Suction catheters, sizes 8Fr, 10Fr, 12Fr

Intubation — if skilled in advanced newborn resuscitation

  • Laryngoscope with straight blades, No. 0, No. 1 — extra bulbs and batteries
  • Endotracheal tubes 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and tape for securing
  • Stylette or introducer

Resuscitation Medicines — under medical advice

  • Adrenaline (epinephrine) 1:10,000 (0.1mg/mL)
  • Normal saline 30mL
  • Glucose 10% 
  • Glucose gel
  • Water for injection 5mL