Women who are expecting should know there’s no real reason for childbirth to be a feared or negative experience. With the right preparation and mindset, childbirth can be a positive, happy occasion. The more knowledge you have about the birthing process, the more prepared you’ll be for one of the most momentous and joyous events of your life.

Having a well-thought-out birth plan—and a supportive team by your side—is especially integral for women who have the opportunity to give birth at home. In the present day, many expectant mothers are exploring nonhospital birth options. Home births offer ideal solutions for enhanced comfort and empowerment. For women with low-risk pregnancies, experiencing the process of labor and delivery in a familiar, nonclinical setting can be rewarding. Let’s look more closely at the topic of a life-changing home childbirth experience—here are eight tips for a happy home birth experience.

Find the Right Care With a Midwife

A happy, healthy home birth requires a care team to help you deliver the baby safely. Ensuring you’re comfortable with the medical professional guiding and supporting you through this process is key. You should feel 100 percent certain about your choice of a health-care professional.

In the case of at-home births, many women prefer hiring experienced midwives to provide personalized and more holistic care. The midwifery model of care is uniquely hands on and client centered, and it revolves around building a trusting, nurturing relationship. Midwifery is also generally associated with lower intervention rates and improved birth outcomes.

If necessary, interview more than one midwife to ensure they share the same vision and goals for pregnancy and birth. You shouldn’t just like their personality and skill set; you should also be able to trust them with your and your child’s lives. Being on the same page with your midwife can assure that they will meet your preferences. A well-planned home birth experience has the best chance of being a successful birth experience.

Write Out Your Birth Plan

Each labor is different, and mothers-to-be have the option to decide what types of birth experience they most desire. Nothing that may occur during labor is ever set in stone, but you can lay out your wishes with a detailed birth plan. Writing out a birth plan involves determining your core needs and preferences for childbirth. Generally, a birth plan explains what you’d like to happen, step by step.

Components of a birth plan can include the people you want with you, your delivery location preferences, newborn care selections, postpartum care needs, and even emergency backup plans. These are critical considerations to reflect on before labor. Be realistic about these desires for a happy, calm scene. The goal is to develop a birth plan that helps you feel completely safe and comfortable and that also allows labor to flow as intended.

Take Care of the Logistics

Taking care of the logistics is another of our eight tips for a happy home birth experience. When you’re planning for the arrival of a child, there’s a wide array of logistical considerations to make for your own peace of mind. These preparations will hopefully prevent possible interruptions or grievances.

For example, stocking up on nourishing foods and drinks is a wise idea to avoid the need for grocery shopping and cooking postpartum. Precooked meals and desserts are ideal to have on hand for family members and friends during this time of celebration. You’ll also enjoy having various food options readily available before, during, and after labor.

Other key logistical aspects to consider for a home birth are pet care and childcare. Most times, children and pets are welcomed parts of the home birth process, but that decision is entirely personal. Otherwise, plan for friends or family members to provide proper support or care so that you can focus on the birthing experience.

Create the Ideal Atmosphere

Birth is ultimately an intimate, life-changing experience. The decision to experience the event in an intentionally prepared space in your home further enhances the intimacy. For this reason, clean and organize your home early on. Then, you can begin to prepare the physical birth space within your home a few weeks or months before your due date.

Consider Possible Pain Relief Options

Home birth doesn’t provide access to traditional pain relief options such as epidurals. Nonetheless, you may find other options available to you. Discuss your options with your midwife as soon as possible so that you can make a choice in advance. A popular method for alleviating pain during labor and delivery is water; expectant mothers can labor in bathtubs or purchase birth pools to ease the process.

Pack Up an Easy-Grab Go Bag

The idea of a home birth is to stay at home, but emergency situations can arise, calling for the need to quickly go to the hospital. Ergo, moms-to-be should pack hospital bags in the event of a hospital transfer. Hopefully, you won’t need this, but prepare clothes, keys, wallets, IDs, and other essentials in a central location just in case.

Even a well-planned, happy home birth may require a trip to the hospital later for health reasons, such as stitches or jaundice. Don’t forget to identify and discuss the closest hospital to your home with your midwife when you’re preparing for labor and delivery.

Be a Flexible, Active Participant

A home birth allows far more freedom and control over your birthing experience than one in a hospital setting. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to listen to your midwife during labor and delivery, even more so if any issues develop. Don’t be afraid to speak up and inform your midwife about any feelings of discomfort or uncertainty. Rely on their expertise and experience to decide what’s best for the situation.

Have the Right Supplies Ready

Last but not least, you’ll need to gather the necessary supplies for a home birth early on. Nobody wants to be searching or dashing around for the essentials during labor. Be sure to purchase, gather, and have accessible all the items you may require, such as gloves and towels. Many midwives also have individualized birth kits available that their clients can order in advance. You can also find precompiled home birth kits online to be delivered right to your front door at your convenience.

Cascade Health Care is a trusted supplier of high-quality pregnancy and birth supplies. Shop our collection of carefully curated products to ensure you have everything needed for the big arrival, including our home birth kit supplies. We recommend ordering around five weeks prior to your due date. Feel free to reach out to our customer service team with any questions.