Preparing Your Home for a Home Birth: A Step-by-Step Guide

Annie Kuntz
Oct 11
4 min read

Choosing to have a home birth is a deeply personal decision that offers a unique, intimate, and empowered birthing experience. At Attuned Midwifery Service, we believe in preparing your environment so you can have a smooth and peaceful birth. A little bit of planning can go a long way in ensuring that your home is safe, comfortable, and ready for your baby’s arrival.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you prepare your home for a home birth, so you feel confident, supported, and ready when the big day arrives.

Step 1: Choose the Right Birth Space

The first thing you’ll want to do is designate the birth space in your home. This is the area where you’ll labor and give birth, and it’s important to choose a space that feels calm, private, and spacious enough to move around. Here are some things to consider:

🛏️ Birth Space Considerations:

Size: Ensure there’s enough room for your birthing team (midwife, assistants, support person) and any supplies. You’ll also need space to move freely between contractions.
Comfort: Choose a room where you feel comfortable, whether it’s your bedroom, living room, or a quiet corner of your home. Make sure the space is easy to clean in case of any mess after birth.
Privacy: A private room will make you feel more relaxed and in control. Make sure you can maintain privacy for yourself and your birth team.

Step 2: Gather Essential Birth Supplies

At Attuned Midwifery Service, we provide most of the medical and birthing supplies you’ll need for your home birth, but there are a few items you’ll need to gather yourself. Here’s a checklist to help you get organized:

🧰 Home Birth Supply Checklist:

Birth Tub (optional): If you plan to have a water birth, we’ll help arrange for a birth tub and explain how to set it up.
Plastic Linens and Drop Cloths: Protect your furniture and floors. We’ll help you with recommendations.
Towels: Have plenty of clean towels available for after birth, including soft towels to dry the baby.
Chux Pads or Disposable Underpads: These absorbent pads protect your bedding and furniture during labor.
Birthing Kit: Your midwife will provide a birth kit containing necessary medical supplies (sterile gloves, gauze, cord clamps, etc.).
Heating Pads or Blankets: These are helpful for staying comfortable during labor, particularly in the later stages.
Drinks & Snacks: Have plenty of water, electrolyte drinks, and light snacks on hand for your laboring body. Consider easy-to-eat options like fruits or protein bars.
Comfort Items: Some people find comfort in soft music, candles (if safe), or special items like pillows, essential oils, or a massage roller.

Step 3: Set Up Your Birth Team’s Space

Your midwife and birth assistants will need a space to work during your labor and birth. Prepare an area for them with easy access to all the tools they may need. Here's what to keep in mind:

🩺 Midwife & Birth Team Considerations:

Work Area: Make sure there is enough room for your midwife to set up her medical equipment and perform any necessary checks.
Communication: Place your birth team’s items in a place that’s accessible but not intrusive to your personal space.
Seating: Provide comfortable chairs for your support people, midwife, and any other assistants.

Step 4: Organize Postpartum Essentials

The time after birth is equally important, and it’s essential to plan for your postpartum care in advance. Having everything you need ready for after birth will help make your recovery period smoother and more comfortable.

🏡 Postpartum Preparation:

Newborn Care Station: Set up a spot for baby essentials, such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes, a blanket, and a bassinet or crib for sleep.
Comfort Items for You: Prepare a postpartum care kit for yourself, including:
- Ice packs
- Comfortable clothing
- Herbal sitz bath for perineal healing
- High-quality pads
- Breastfeeding support items (nursing pillow, nipple cream)
Support for Recovery: Make sure you have easy access to the items that will help you feel comfortable, like snacks, water, and relaxation tools.
Postpartum Checkups: We’ll schedule postpartum visits to check on your recovery, answer questions about breastfeeding, and ensure that both you and baby are doing well.

Step 5: Set Up a Birth Plan and Support System

Your birth plan is a powerful tool that communicates your preferences and helps ensure everyone is on the same page. Whether or not you have a formal birth plan, it’s important to discuss key details with your birth team:

📝 Important Birth Plan Elements:

Labor Preferences: Positions you’d like to try, pain management options, and how you’d like to cope with contractions.
Environment: The lighting, music, and any calming rituals you want to incorporate.
Support People: Who will be present during your birth and their roles.
Emergency Protocols: It’s important to have a plan in place for unexpected situations, even though your midwife is well-trained to handle emergencies.

Step 6: Prepare for the Unexpected

While you’re planning for a smooth and peaceful birth, it’s important to have contingency plans in case of emergencies. Here’s how to prepare:

🚑 Emergency Protocols:

Know Your Transport Plan: While home births are generally very safe, we’ll discuss the nearest hospital or birth center and what to do if you need to transfer care.
Emergency Supplies: In addition to your birth supplies, we’ll ensure that any necessary emergency equipment is in place.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a home birth takes time and attention to detail, but the reward is worth it. With the right planning, you can create a calm, comfortable, and supportive environment for yourself and your baby. At Attuned Midwifery Service, we’re here to help guide you through every step of the process, from preparing your space to providing ongoing support throughout your pregnancy and birth.

Remember: a successful home birth is a team effort—and with the right preparation, you’ll be able to have the empowered, peaceful birth you’ve been dreaming of.