First, deciding on a home birth is a huge step.  So is preparing for a home birth.  As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Although home births are still relatively rare compared to hospital births, more women are opting for home births.  Some reasons include having more control over the birthing process and not having to drive to the hospital during labor.  Whatever your reason, we’re sharing empowerment tips on preparing for home births.  

If your due date is drawing near, you need to prepare your home in order to make your home birth smooth and complication-free.  Here are the necessary steps that you need to take to prepare for a home birth:

Step 1: Find a Midwife

The most important step in preparing for home births is finding the right midwife to help you through the process. Think of your midwife as your birthing coach, your partner, your medical assistance, and your assistant, all rolled into one.

A certified midwife is someone who has undergone medical training and has a license to practice midwifery in your location. In the United States, it is necessary for a midwife to have passed the certification process of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in order to practice and assist women during home births.

Step 2: Prepare Your Home

After you have chosen your midwife, the next step is for you to physically prepare your home for your home birth. You need to pick the right room where you will give birth. The room must be spacious and roomy, and free from clutter. Make sure to clean your home thoroughly; you might even consider getting professional cleaning services to ensure that your home is as clean as possible. If you have pets around, you should consider getting them boarded during your home birth so that they don’t get underfoot when the birth is on-going.

Step 3: Prepare Other People in Your Home

It is also important to prepare everyone else who lives at home with you. If you have a spouse or a partner, make sure that they feel included and essential to your home birthing process. This is also applicable to other children you might have.

Home birthing can be a difficult experience for a spouse or children who has never seen a birth before. It can be helpful to attend live birth classes so that they know what to expect during your own home birth. You can also help them by giving them tasks to do during the birth itself.  This can include providing encouragement for you or providing fresh water when you need it.

Step 4: Have All the Essentials Ready

Before your home birth, you should have all the essentials ready and close at hand so they are available when you need them.  Here are some of the basic items that you will need:

•       Disposable pads
•       Peri-wash bottle
•       Disposable underwear (preferably mesh)
•       Birthing/exercise ball
•       Gauze
•       Gloves
•       Alcohol

If you are unsure what else to add to your essentials checklist, you should consult with your midwife to ask what else you might need.

Step 5: Draw Up a Home Birth Game Plan in Case of an Emergency

In general, home births are just as safe as hospital births if you go through the proper planning and preparation.   However, there are times when emergencies can happen, and you should be prepared for this eventuality. You should have the number of the nearest hospital ready, as well as a way to get there. You should also have an emergency kit prepared as well.

Certified midwives do have the necessary training to deal with most common emergencies that can occur during a home birth, but if there is a need for medical equipment or procedures in a hospital setting, you need to be able to get to a hospital as soon as possible.

Step 6: Prepare For Your Newborn’s Needs

Once your baby is born, you will need to provide for them to keep them warm and comfortable. Here are some of the items that you will need for your baby:

•       Comfortable baby gown
•       Newborn beanie or hat
•       Newborn diapers
•       Baby wipes
•       Swaddle blanket

Step 7: Prepare for the Mess

A lot of people envision a home birth to be messy and bloody affairs, but if you prepare properly, you can avoid making a huge mess. In fact, if you have a highly-efficient and experienced midwife, you won’t be making much of a mess at all. However, you can still help with making the cleanup as quick and easy as possible. Make sure to lay down a large waterproof plastic sheet on top of the area where you will give birth, and have a supply of towels and disposable pads nearby.