Doctor's home birth kit

Shared by Our Health Journeys e-museum

On display at Northland Medical Museum is this fascinating object: a home birth kit, offering a window into the world of birthing in times gone by. Until the mid 20th century giving birth at home or in small maternity units was common. General practitioners were trained to manage quite complex situations with limited facilities and they would be carrying their own equipment. Midwives similarly carried a kit with equipment and supplies needed for the birth and the immediate care of the newborn. This series of photographs of a home birth kit shows not only the contents of the case but alludes to the various situations that the doctor would be prepared for, should the need arise. Inside the lid of the case is an array of artery forceps, a scalpel, and a metal catheter for bladder drainage. In the case are a number of specula for visualising the birth canal and the cervix, more grasping forceps to assist with retrieval of the placental membranes, and a glass syringe for local anaesthetic injection. All the instruments in the photographs would be sterilised in the home or the birthing unit, usually in very hot water or an autoclave. The case includes a metal tray holding obstetric forceps to assist with the birth and a wooden tray containing medications. Both these trays fitted into the base of the case, being slid into a recess below the main case. In addition to the obstetric forceps, the metal dilators and glass syringe were placed in the metal tray. The dilators would most likely have been used to manage a miscarriage. Having the two trays like this was a convenient way of being able to carry all this equipment and medications in one bag. This home birth kit is on display at Northland Medical Museum in Whangārei. Read more on the Our Health Journeys e-museum website. Doctor’s home birth kit with various instruments. Collection of Northland Medical Museum. Photography: Ellen Smith.