Preparing Yourself and Your House for a Successful Home Birth

On December 31, 2018, in the comfort of my own home, I gave birth to my beautiful 7lb 10oz healthy baby girl.

Then again, on February 12, 2022, I was blessed with the experience of another successful home birth of my healthy 9lb 11oz baby boy.

Before our daughter was born, for months my husband and I flipped back and forth between whether we wanted a hospital or home birth. If you’re also considering this, I strongly encourage you to focus on what it is you want out of your birth experience, and what you are comfortable with. This is about you, and your family. I also think it’s important that both you and your partner are on the same page and are comfortable with whatever decision you make. Quiet down the outside noise, and the fear-based concerns of those around you, and connect with your own thoughts and feelings.

Getting You Ready

As far as preparing yourself goes, my number one suggestion would be to start reading positive birth stories. Hospital, home, or birthing center, it does not matter – as long as they are positive. There are way too many horror stories about how terrible childbirth is, and while it is painful and definitely a challenge, your body was designed to do this. Medical intervention should be secondary to your strength and ability to give birth naturally, not the first response. To get you started, you can read my birth story here. I also suggest reading Ina May Gaskins’ Guide to Childbirth. It is a little bit “granola” and may not represent the type of birth you are planning, but it is still wonderful to read the many success stories around natural birth.

Second, if this is your first birth, I suggest taking a birthing class, ideally offered outside of a hospital. This will help you better understand what to expect as you move through the stages of labour and delivery. My husband and I took a weekend class with a private provider recommended by our midwife team, and while we were the only ones in the class who were planning a home birth, she made sure to include information for everyone there. Some of the things we learned about in the class included different pain relief options (natural and medical), what to bring with you to the hospital, the stages of labour, breathing techniques, breastfeeding tips and resources, and what to expect in the first few days with baby, caring for a new baby, and how parents can support each other through this transition.

Third, in the last few weeks leading up to your due date, increase your self-care to the max.
Go for solo walks or with your partner, get a prenatal massage, go out with your girlfriends, get your hair or nails done, rest, relax, and do whatever makes you feel FRESH in the weeks leading up to your due date. This can help you feel energized and STRONG during delivery and can also help you feel somewhat “put together” (even if it’s the tiniest bit!) in the crazy newborn days.

Lastly, I strongly encourage you to take time out to connect with your body, mind and spirit. Read, journal, meditate, breathe, stretch. Discover the strength and power within you that has grown your baby and knows how to deliver your baby. To help you connect with your mother’s intuition in preparation for birth, check out my blogs “Preparing your Mind, Body, and Spirit for a Natural Birth” and “How to Spiritually Induce Labour.”

Getting Your Home Ready

This list will be useful regardless of whether you’re giving birth at home, a birthing centre or a hospital. It’s important to remember that when planning for a home birth, you must have a hospital bag packed, just in case you need to move the birth to the hospital for any reason. I have also included a free downloadable checklist you can print off to keep track of, but I suggest you read through my list below first, as I include additional information for many items.

It is also super handy to have a big box or basket to store everything in one location, not only for your midwives but also for yourself and your partner. We kept a big box in the bedroom, and it was easy to grab whatever we needed at all hours of the day and night after our babies arrived.

Birthing Environment

Waterproof Mattress Cover
Even if you are planning a water birth, protecting your bedding with a waterproof mattress cover is still a good idea. Alternatively, you could use a plastic shower curtain – put it directly on your mattress and place a fitted sheet over the top. I suggest waiting until the early stages of labour to prepare your bed, as the waterproof mattress covers are not very breathable for comfortable sleep. If you are worried about your water breaking in your sleep, put an underpad under your bottom half under your fitted sheet.

Underpads
Any pharmacy should have these; they are just plastic-type liners with a soft cotton cover, kind of like puppy pads. (Alternatively, you can buy puppy pads; they are almost identical and much cheaper!) These underpads help prepare for your water breaking, during labour, and even for laying on the changing pad when changing baby. There will be many times that your baby will pee when you are changing their diaper, so it’s helpful to have a disposable pad for quick cleanup during those early newborn days.

Old Sheets
To place on top of the waterproof mattress cover for birth, these will be thrown out after the baby comes. The best way to make up your bed for birth is to put new, fresh sheets on your bed (fitted and top sheet), then your waterproof mattress cover, and finally, your old sheets on top of the cover. This makes for quick and easy clean-up after delivery.

Old Blanket
You may want the comfort of a blanket to wrap around you at some point during labour. I suggest having only old bedding materials you don’t mind throwing out afterward.

Old Towels
It’s a good idea to have 6-8 towels for clean up, extra protection for your bed, and your shower after delivery.

Washcloths
Having 4-6 washcloths for compress can help to soothe and prevent tearing during crowning, and are also helpful to have handy for breast massage as your milk is coming in.

Paper towels
It’s just always a good idea to have paper towels handy.

Garbage Bags
For clean up, extra protection for floors and to put around your pillows. 

Have a Plan for Pets
Even if your pet is very friendly, and you would like to have them present for your birth, it might be a good idea to have arrangements for family or friends to watch your fur baby during delivery. Some midwives/doulas are uncomfortable with pets, and because every home birth could evolve into a hospital birth, you don’t want to worry about caring for your pet while you’re away.

Energy and Endurance

Electrolytes
Staying hydrated during birth is very important. You can make your own “labour-aide”, add electrolyte powder to your water, or pick up some sugar-free sports drinks. As soon as you enter the early stages of labour, I would start drinking electrolytes to hydrate your body. If you can keep liquids down during active labour, continue drinking your electrolytes and be sure to drink after the baby comes as well. If you want to make labour-aide, there are many recipes available online. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep it down during labour, so I purchased a few sugar-free sports drinks that I knew I liked and supplemented with calcium and magnesium vitamins.

Protein Bars/High Protein and Healthy Carbs
To fuel your body in the early stages of labour, along the same lines as being hydrated, you want to ensure your body has adequate nutrition to support your muscles during delivery.

Headphones/Music/Guided Meditation
You may want to create a birthing playlist including calming music, energizing music, guided meditations and birthing affirmations. You can download my free empowering birthing affirmations here.

Comfort and Pain Management

TENS Pads/TENS Machine
I used the TENS machine in my second home birth and found it very helpful in the early and active stages of labour. A TENS machine can help alleviate some of the discomforts of labour by sending small electrical impulses through your skin using sticky pads, reducing the pain signals sent to your brain.

Heating Pad
A heating pad can be used to help relieve pain from your lower back during contractions and can be comforting during the early stages of labour. It is also super helpful to have after the baby arrives. I used mine to soothe my breasts as my milk was coming in, to sit on after delivery, and warm up towels and blankets after baby baths.

Birthing Ball
I recommend using a birthing ball (or any exercise ball) in the weeks leading up to your due date to help open up your pelvis and encourage the baby to move into position. During labour, it can be useful to lean over the ball and rock your body from side to side or forward and back. You might also find a birthing ball helpful after the baby arrives, as some babies find bouncing calming.

Optional Extras
Check with your midwife or birthing team first to ensure there are no allergies to scents, but to increase your comfort and focus, you may want to include essential oils, incense, crystals, healing gemstones, or candles.

Baby and Mama Care

Women’s Disposable Underwear
You may want to wear these during the early stages of labour and for about a week or so after delivery. You can also use padsicles with them as needed.

Padsicles
These are super easy to make, grab some overnight maxi-pads and put on some aloe, witch hazel and a few drops of lavender essential oil. I applied the aloe to the pads with a popsicle stick and then used a spray bottle to spritz the mixture of witch hazel and 2-3 drops of lavender oil.

Breast Pump
If you plan to breastfeed, having your pump ready beforehand is a good idea, as sometimes pumping your breasts can help labour progress. If you and your baby are having trouble with nursing, you may also want to start pumping right after delivery in between nursing sessions to help your milk come in.

Cozy Clothes
You will want something comfortable for you to wear right after birth. I suggest having 1-2 easy breast access nightshirts or loose track pants and a zip-up/button-up shirt.

Outfits for Baby
You may go through a few outfits in a shorter time than anticipated. Ideally, you will have these packed in your hospital bag. I suggest including diapers, wipes, three sleepers, four undershirts, and a hat.

Baby Blankets
Have a few soft and cozy baby blankets ready to wrap up your bundle of joy.

Hospital Bag
Have this prepacked and ready to go with your box: nightshirt/comfy clothes with easy breast access for after the baby is born, something you feel comfortable wearing home, socks, disposable underwear, nursing bra, snacks, juice, headphones/music, cash, slippers, toiletries, water bottle, diapers, wipes, hat, sleepers, undershirts.

And last but certainly not least, ensure you have your Car Seat Properly Installed a few weeks before your due date. 

You GOT THIS!

Love,
Megan xo

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I only send occasional emails with new blog posts or other relevant healing information to support you.

Empowering Affirmations for Childbirth (Free Download and Script)

Tips to Prepare Your Mind, Body and Soul for Natural Childbirth

How to Mindfully and Spiritually Induce Labour

My Home Birth Story

Opening Your Heart to Motherhood