15+ Tips for a Great Homebirth
I love attending home births - they’re often calm and cozy, even when labour gets intense. Here are my top tips for a great homebirth (most require prepping BEFORE labour but the last three can be done as early-labour-do tasks).
Image description: a mother is reclining in a birth pool full of water holding her newborn on her chest who’s covered in a green towel. Her partner sits behind her, outside of the pool, gently touching the top of her head. They’re both smiling. In the background is a counter with cupboards on which rests a glowing salt lamp.
Before labour:
Make a plan for your older kiddos: if you’d like your older kiddos to be present for the birth, plan to have an extra adult or two around who’s sole responsibility is caring for the kids. Prepare your kids for birth – what it sounds like, who will be there, who will be available to help them, etc. Let them know they can come and go to their comfort level. If it gets to be too much, have a backup plan for them to be elsewhere.
Make a plan for your pets: some pets do great at birth, others are super distracting and/or stressed. Even if the plan is to have your pets present during labour, have a backup plan in case it’s not going the way you hoped.
Be thoughtful and mindful about who you invite into your birth space: just because it’s a home birth doesn’t mean you need to invite everyone and their dog. As you move deep into labourland, you’ll be sensitive to other peoples’ mood and energy. If other people in your space feel nervous, bored, impatient, or worried, you’ll pick up on it and it may affect your labour process. Do NOT invite anyone who thinks homebirth is dangerous or is afraid – it’ll be stressful for you, for them, and for your support team.
Have many more towels you think you’ll need: you’ll need towels for after baby’s born (your midwives will often have someone pop the towels in the dryer so they’re nice and warm once baby’s earthside). And many labouring people find the shower and/or tub helpful so you’ll want towels for drying off (plan to be in and out of the water at least a couple of times). If you’re planning a water birth, you’ll want some hand towels around for your midwife/partner/doula to dry their hands on. Last, but not least, you’ll also want extra towels for wiping up spills/drips/splashes/etc. You literally can’t have too many towels.
Buy a full pack of chux pads. Really. You won’t regret it.
Have two LARGE garbage bags: one will be used for dirty linens (I usually suggest using one of the clear blue recycling bags for this so everyone can easily see that it’s not the garbage). Your team will make sure this goes in the laundry before they leave. The second bag is for the garbage (this can be a regular black garbage bag, but you’ll want a big one – not one of the small white kitchen garbage bags).
Make sure your water bottle has a straw (or purchase bendy straws): this makes it super easy to keep hydrated no matter what position you’re in. Having to change positions to take a sip from an open glass or a water bottle you have to tip up sucks.
Have options for dim lighting everywhere! You may be surprised at where you actually want to labour when the time comes. Having LED candles that can be moved around, or other lighting options that can be adjusted based on where you’re labouring and what you want helps keep you in the zone.
You’ll want at least four containers/buckets: one for the placenta (if you plan to encapsulate your placenta, it should go in the fridge after the birth), one in case you feel nauseous or throw up, one for making warm perineal compresses and one for cool cloths for your forehead, chest, or back of your neck while you’re pushing. You’ll also want two large Ziploc bags for the placenta as well.
Make 6-8 padsicles (here’s how – the only caveat about this video is please don’t use the lavender oil, it’s not recommended for topical use). Your perineum will thank you after birth. Make sure that you buy the THICK maxi pads (no dry weave please!) and that anything you add to your padsicles (like calendula or witch hazel) are alcohol free. You don’t want to dry out your tissues while they’re healing.
Make sure your partner knows where all the supplies are and what the plan is: in labour, you’re not the one who’s going to be digging through the bins for your special labour socks when your feet get cold.
Pack a hospital bag: some folks worry that packing a transfer bag means they’re not committed to having a home birth or that they’ll somehow manifest a transfer by being prepared for the possibility.
Reminder from your friendly neighborhood doula: birth is something you influence, NOT control.
Even if you make all the “right” choices (FYI – those are giant scare quotes) birth may have a different plan for you. If birth is showing you that it needs extra help or support, it’s important to trust that and be ready to go. Having to pack a transfer bag while you’re trying to get out the door is only going to be stressful.
BONUS TIP: have a list of important/emergency contacts easily accessible (ie on the fridge) in case your midwives or doula need to call anyone in for extra support because of the transfer.
Early Labour:
Make your bed in layers: plastic sheet, then a clean fitted sheet, then a plastic sheet, then another clean fitted sheet. Once baby’s born, your doula can just strip the top sheet and plastic layer off and you’ve got a clean set ready to go.
Turn the temperature of your hot water tank up: even if you’re not planning a water birth, turning up the temp on your tank increases the amount of hot water available to you which means more opportunities of using the shower while not running out of hot water.
Make sure your team can access your house: is there anything tricky about finding it? Does Google maps always take people to the wrong spot? Make sure your team knows. Also, make sure your lights are on (if it’s nighttime - which is likely), that your house number is clear and visible from the street (if not, make an extra sign), and make sure your front door is unlocked once your team is on their way.
