Since 2012, home births have been steadily on the rise. More mothers are taking labor into their own hands, choosing to give birth at home and loving the empowerment and intimacy it brings. We know that preparing to meet your baby is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming moment. The child you’ve dreamed so much about will finally be in your arms!

However, before you can meet them, there are things you need to do to prepare for a home birth. It isn’t just about preparing your body physically for labor; it’s also about getting you in the mindset and getting your home ready.

There are many things you can do to ensure that you’re prepared for the big day — In the following sections, we’ve compiled seven very important things to help you prepare for an at-home birth.

#1 Do Your Research

Home births are just that, vaginally delivered in the comfort of your home. They are an option for expectant mothers with healthy, low-risk pregnancies. But despite its rise in popularity, giving birth at home isn’t for everyone, and the best way to make sure that it’s the delivery method you want to go with is to do your research.

As the parent(s), you should always play an active role in decision-making regarding your pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. So, you must learn what the best option is for you and your baby.

It is also vital that you have a birth plan and a back-up birth plan if there are complications during labor. Not only will having your home birth plan mapped out make for a smoother and potentially complication-free birth, but it also ensures you get the birth experience you most desire and reduces any unnecessary stress.

#2 Childbirth Education 101

Another very important item is childbirth education!! You can prepare for a home birth by stocking up on books or even better sign up for childbirth education classes that specialize in home birth. These classes are a wealth of knowledge and will help you learn about what to expect throughout your pregnancy and during a home birth.

You will also learn about the physiology and anatomy of having an unmedicated or medicated birth. You can also learn about procedures, possible complications that may arise, and most importantly, the role of your midwife and their team. There is much to know to prepare you for a home birth!

Photo Credit: Garrett Jackson

#3 Assemble your Birth Team

Your home birth provider/midwife: Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) OR Certified Nurse Midwife (CNMs)

So, what is the difference? CPMs have attended an in-depth midwifery program and attend births along with their precepting CPMs to receive their hands-on training. This process can take several years to complete. They primarily attend home births or birth center births. CNMs are midwives that have become registered nurses first, then attend graduate school for 2-3 additional years to complete and work with their precepting CNMs to receive their hands-on training. They attend a home birth, birth center birth, and hospital birth. Most hospitals require a midwife to be a CNM. Both CPMs & CNMS specialize in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and well-women care. Different states have different laws and licensing requirements for each type of midwife. Giving birth is a unique, empowering, and genuinely vulnerable moment that should not be handled solo. Complications can arise! It is critical to have an educated and experienced provider to accompany you on this exciting journey. These beautiful people are experts on how best to take care of you and your baby in the home setting. So, you can see why we list finding an excellent midwife is one of the most important things to prepare you for a home birth.

Before choosing a midwife, do your research to ensure that you’re making the right decision. Ask yourself questions like the following to determine if they’re the one for you:

• Am I comfortable with their knowledge of midwifery and home birth?
• What complications can they handle?
• Will they work with my preferred hospital if there are complications?
• Do I agree with their strategies?
• Do I feel safe with the team?
• Do they honor my preferences and understand my plan?
• Do we get along?

If you answer no or unsure of any of these questions, especially crucial questions, then you may want to revisit and consider another midwife and team.

Hospital-based Provider: It is very important if your home birth provider does not have the ability to obtain labs, ultrasounds, and does not have hospital privileges that you select another provider that can provide those services in the event you risk out of home birth or a transfer becomes necessary. Unfortunately, patients may not feel comfortable sharing their desire for home birth due to the risk of dismissal from the practice or extreme judgment on their decision. This can be dangerous because there are some conditions that would increase the risks for home birth and if the provider is not aware of her plans and they assumed she is birthing in the hospital, then those very important shared decision-making conversations are missed.

Additionally, just walking into Labor & Delivery with no records or established care makes for a very stressful transition of care for both the patient/family but also the hospital care team. Often, those patients are assigned to the OB on call for walk-ins and they may not share or support your birth plans which can be additionally stressful for all. Choose a supportive practice that you can have OPEN and HONEST conversations with about all of your healthcare and birth plans.

Doulas: They are AWESOME! Such an added blessing to your birth team. They are not medically trained but they are trained in prenatal, birth, and postpartum support. They are excellent in educating, encouraging you and your partner through your journey. They can offer suggestions for a variety of positions and comfort measures to help you successfully navigate your experience.

Photography: Some doulas are also photographers which is AWESOME, but some are not. If you have it in the budget to hire a photographer or videographer, I highly recommend it. It is such an amazing moment in your family’s life to capture in photos or videos is priceless. It’s so wonderful to look back through the photos and celebrate the process and event your family experienced.

Family & Friends: Choose wisely! Who is going to support you the most and not invade your space during those critical moments during your birth? Sometimes too many people can actually stall labor if mom is not feeling most relaxed and comfortable in her surroundings. The old saying “a watched pot never boils” is sometimes true for laboring moms!

#4 Assemble Your Home Birth Supplies

Contrary to popular belief, you need to gather a lot of supplies to prepare for a home birth. Who knew? Among the laundry list of items you need is a birthing kit. Some midwives provide one for the expectant mother, but it’s wonderful to create your own, as you know your body best. Typically assembled somewhere around the 36-week mark, these kits are your saving grace and feature essential items like under and postnatal pads, gauze, peri bottles, mesh underwear, sterile gloves, and cord clamps. A few other supplies you should have on-hand for your birth are:

• A birthing pool
• Ice packs
• Cookie sheet (for midwife’s utensils if she desires)
• Essential oils & diffuser
• Birthing ball
• Olive oil (unopened)
• Lip balm/ lotion
• Tape measure
• Music
• Plastic-backed sheet
• Large trash bags
• Alcohol/cotton balls
• Receiving blankets
• Towels
• Dim lighting options (candles, string lights, etc.)
• Words of affirmation posted in your birth space

#5 Prepare Your Home

One of the most significant differences between having a home birth versus giving birth at a hospital or a center is the level of preparation that your home must undergo so that it can be a safe and peaceful environment for your birthing experience. Imagine where in your house you want to give birth. Be sure to clean the bathroom thoroughly if you plan to labor there. And don’t forget to meal prep and freeze food for easy access postpartum.

Many are unaware that you are responsible for keeping your birthing area as germ-free as possible when you give birth at home. Any linens, towels, blankets, or clothes that you plan to use should be freshly washed and dried.

If you have kids or pets, a way to prepare for a home birth is to consider how they will handle your giving birth. Your older children may want to be present for the delivery, so you may have to discuss the sounds they might hear and the things they might see. There are even videos online that can help. For the pets, if you feel they will require a lot of extra attention or may become anxious at your labor pains, you may need to have your pets stay with friends or family during your home birth.

#6 Gather Newborn Necessities

Whether you choose to deliver at home or in a hospital, your baby will need the same things! Another way to prepare for an at-home birth is to gather all your newborn necessities. In the chaos and joy that comes with birthing and meeting your little one, you don’t want to be scrambling for essential items. It is best to have a few things your baby will need within their first hours and days postpartum handy. Here are a few things to consider:

• A comfortable onesie or sleeper and hat
• Newborn diapers
• Swaddling blankets
• Wipes
• Car seat
• Bottles

#7 Stay Hydrated and Well-Nourished

Another significant difference between delivering at home versus the hospital or a birthing center is eating and drinking during labor. Labor is hard, physical work, and some midwives will allow you to eat easy-to-fix foods and liquids to hydrate and nourish throughout. To prepare for a home birth, stock up on electrolyte-rich drinks like Pedialyte as well as nutritious snacks like yogurt, cheese, fresh fruit, crackers, soups and broths, and even a sandwich!

2Me Healthcare

There are many ways to prepare for the arrival of your baby. We hope that our list of eight very important ways to prepare for a home birth was helpful. At 2Me Healthcare, we offer in-office or in-home concierge prenatal care in the privacy and safety of your own home, so you don’t have to rush to the doctor’s office or stress about appointments. Every high-touch service necessary to make your extraordinary journey a stress-free experience is a must for us!

If you are planning a home birth and would like an honest and open relationship with a dedicated, passionate, and attentive hospital-based provider please contact us at 2meHealthcare.com or (833) 692-6342.