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

Figure 1.2   Plastic cord clamp

Figure 1.3   Sterile episiotomy scissors 

Figure 1.4   Sponge holding forceps

Figure 1.5 Sterile Sims' speculum  

Figure 1.6   Duck bill speculum

Medicines

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