• Soft, absorbent material to put under the mom. Underpads, towels, sheets, even newspapers can be used. The cleaner the better, but sterility is not necessary.

• Clean, soft cloth to wrap mother and baby. Since wet newborns lose most of their body heat through their heads, a baby cap would also be useful. The mother and baby should be kept warm: the baby cradled in the mother's arms on her chest and both covered with a warm towel or blanket. Studies have shown that the mother's body temperature will actually rise in response to her cool newborn. Take advantage of Nature' incubator - keep the baby with the mother!

• Sterile cord clamp and sterile scissors or knife if you do not intend to go to the hospital after birth. These items must be sterile, since the cord stump is very vulnerable to infection ( that dry reed, out in the hot African sun for weeks, is very nearly sterile. Both drying and sunlight will kill germs. ) In single births, cutting the cord is a very low priority. In fact, most babies benefit tremendously from delayed clamping of the cord. Oxygenated blood will continue to flow through it for several minutes after birth, giving the baby extra oxygen as s/he learns how to breathe and providing a safety net if breathing doesn't begin immediately. If the placenta comes before the cord is cut, it should be kept at the same level as the baby.

• A bulb syringe or other suction device is often (although by no means always) useful to clear the baby's airway. Your level of training will determine what is appropriate - if you don't know how to use it properly, you are better off without it.

• Nourishment for the mother and baby. Obviously the baby should be put to breast immediately after birth, and allowed to nurse whenever s/he will. Immediate breastfeeding will help the baby maintain normal blood sugar and body temperature. It will also cause the release of oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions to speed delivery of the placenta and reduce postpartum bleeding. The mom will also need fluids and nourishment to regain her strength and replenish fluids lost during birth, as long as she is fully conscious. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person (of any age!).

The most important thing at an "emergency birth" is knowledge. Unfortunately, most emergency childbirth manuals focus excessively on uncommon problems at the expense of useful information on the normal physiology of birth (how and why it works the way it works). Homebirth midwives are usually a better source of realistic knowledge, because they are experts in out-of-hospital birth. Attending childbirth classes taught by midwives or intended for homebirth clients should give you knowledge useful in out-of-hospital settings.

Minimal knowledge should include the normal appearance of a newborn, infant CPR, how and when to control bleeding, and how to support immediate initiation of breastfeeding. Don't forget that it is the mom who gives birth, you are there only to support and safeguard her. Let choose her own position to give birth, and watch her for cues that she needs help. Remember that even babies born in taxicabs with no supplies are usually just fine - birth works properly most of the time.