Planning a home birth?
I am often asked about home births, so I thought it could be helpful to include some tips here for anyone who might exploring the option of birthing your baby at home.
When I had a home birth three years ago, it blew my mind in so many ways. Thinking about what stood out to me the most was how normal it all felt. I had dinner, a shower, my water broke, I moo-ed my way around the house, and then I kneeled next to my sofa and out came my baby. That’s it. No more, no less. It was all fairly uneventful - some would perhaps even say boring!
I was fortunate in the sense that what I experienced, was a very straight forward labour where my body instinctively guided me through it all. But - and this is a big but - what happened was in no mean extraordinary, or exceptional, for that matter.
Our bodies work for us, and with us - and labour and birth likes being left alone, letting what will happen, happen on its own. Baby will come in one way or another. And they often have their own way of doing it - we are merely there to guide them; vessels, if you like, carrying them through the transition that birth is.
But of course - life is not linear, nor is birth. What feels safe for someone, might feel different for the next person - and that’s completely normal. We come in all different shapes and sizes, with various baggage and beliefs.
What we do have in common though - is the transformative power of informed choice, and self-belief. Believing in our own capability, as much as believing in our baby’s, really does do wonders, and is something so important to remember when we prepare for pregnancy, labour, birth; the time after and in between. In the current state of our maternity system in the UK it is more important than ever to educate yourself, to plan for the ideal scenarios and the not so ideal scenarios; the what if’s, and to find our voice to be able advocate for ourselves and what we believe is the best choice for us.
Sometimes we think that home births are for a special type of person, who looks different from us, or who have nothing in common with us. It might be that you think it’s a bit ‘hippy’ to birth at home, or perhaps you think that’s it’s only an option if you’ve already had children - but this is not the case at all! It’s as much an alternative for you if you’re expecting your first child as if you’re having your second, third, or fourth - and for whatever reason you might explore the choice of birthing at home, I bet your reasons are not too different from someone else’s.
Whether you're considering a home birth or have already decided for one, here's some tips you might feel useful:
Your birth, your space
You get to choose your environment: When having a homebirth, you are able to select a space where you feel most comfortable, relaxed and safe - and perhaps for you, that is your home! Home is often where we feel at ease, and where we can get the oxytocin flowing.
Set the mood: Your choice of lighting, your own playlist, scents that you like - whether you’re into fairy lights, a fully dark room, or wanting to listen to 70’s jazz during your first stage, the choice is yours!
Prepare the area: Laying down waterproof sheets or plastic covers to protect your flooring and furniture is a good way of making sure there are no unexpected accidents. Puppy pads? Inco pads? They’ll be your best friend. Want to record the birth? Think about having a camera or phone nearby.
Good things to have around
Whilst your midwife will bring medical equipment, here are some things you might want to think about having at home:
Comfort items: Pillows, blankets, birth ball, a fan, cold compresses, a comb, something to black out your windows if you’re labouring during daytime.
Practical tools: Old towels (loads and loads of them!), a directable light source - a bucket can come handy as well for various things. If you’re planning to have a pool, an extra sieve or a mirror are always useful. If you are renting a birth pool, don’t forget to buy a liner!
Personal touches: Snacks, drinks, your own comfy clothes, and of course - your birth bag! Even when we plan to birth at home a ‘hospital bag’ is important to have close by - in case of transfer. If you don’t want to think of it as a hospital bag as the language might feel charged -you could think of it as a ‘birth bag’, or ‘just in case’ bag.
Your tribe, your choice
Midwife support: You'll typically have two midwives supporting you during labour - one for the duration and another to assist during delivery. With home birth you have most likely experienced continuity of care, and you’re likely to have already met whoever attends your birth (whether that is your named midwife, or someone else from he team who is on call).
Many teams do ‘meet the team’ group chats on occasions; a wonderful way of meeting everyone in the team to familiarise yourself with whoever you might meet later down the line. Check out your trust for if they do them!
Birth partner: A birth partner doesn’t have to be your significant other per se; you decide who you want -and do not want - in your birth space, and who you see best to support you. The good things about a home birth is that you are not limited to whatever policy the hospital might have in terms of who can be there in labour and birth, when, and for how long.
Doula support: One more birth cheerleader is always a good thing! Doulas are there to, along with your birth partner, offer continuous support, advocate for your choices, and ensure your voice is heard, and respected. We hold the space for both the birthing person and their partner, in whatever form or shape we might need to.
Other children! Home birth can be a wonderful choice when you’ve already got other children. You don’t have to consider childcare in the same way - and it can be a really beautiful thing having your other children present for the birth of their sibling. Some families choose to have the sibling catch the baby when it’s time, and some find power in that their older children provide the ultimate oxytocin boost there is. There is a common misconception that birth is something that would scare our children, which I really disagree with. If children see birth as something natural, if it’s noisy or not, if it’s intense or calm - it provides them with such a wonderful introduction to birth, and will help them view this rite of passage in their own way, later in life.
Birth plans and contingency - the what if’s
Discussing any wishes and wants, or twists and turns with your support system is so important - ranging from the big Q’s all the way down to the nitty gritty.
Pain relief options: When birthing at home you might not have the choice (or need!) for the full range of pain reliefs, but there are so many wonderful things you might want to consider. You have access to warm water; whether that is a shower, a birth pool or a bath, you can use counter pressure or acupressure, a TENS machine, hypnobirthing, or gas and air when midwives arrive. And not to forget - the power of being more undisturbed and wrapped in oxytocin in the safety of your own home can get us through a lot.
Birthing preferences: Positioning, lighting, and third-stage labour choices are great things to think about before things get going, but keep a flexible mind - what feels right now might change once you’re going through it! You might plan a water birth, but in the end dry land felt like your perfect choice!
Emergency plan: Sometimes things happen that we cannot control, and to understand what those things might be and why they might happen can help us prepare for the unexpected. Understand the process for a transfer to the hospital if needed - which hospital would be your preference? How long does it take to get there? What is your plan B if you’d need to transfer in? Knowledge is power and educating ourselves for the what if’s can help providing a sense of calm should any issues arise during our labour.
When I think back to my own experience, what stays with me isn’t how “perfect” it was—it’s how normal it felt. Ordinary, in the most extraordinary way.
However your baby comes into the world, you deserve to feel safe, informed, and supported. Homebirth is just one of many paths—and if it's the one you're exploring, I hope this has helped you feel a little more confident in your choices.
Plan for the best, prepare for the unexpected, and trust that you are more than capable of navigating it all. With the right support and information, you can shape a birth experience that feels aligned, powerful, and yours. You can do this!
NB: I’m not a medical professional, and this post isn’t intended as medical advice. These tips are based on my personal experience and general knowledge as a birth worker.
