Pregnancy guide > Labour and birth > Giving birth > Home births > Preparing for a home birth

Preparing for a home birth

Advice on preparing for a home birth with information on the preparations you should make and the role of the midwife.

Preparing for a home birth:

Talk to your midwife. Get to know her and her colleagues. If you can, talk to someone else who has had a home birth.
Check that your GP will cover a home birth. If not, find a doctor who will. (Your midwife will help with this.)This does not necessarily mean your GP being present at the birth; it means being prepared to come if the midwife calls for him/her.
Encourage your partner to join in with the preparations. Plan together to fill the freezer, clean the house, organise any other children etc.
Try and arrange some extra help for a few days after the baby is born.
Make sure the room where your baby will be born is warm.
Try and be reasonably near the bathroom. This makes life much easier.
Have access to a telephone.
Have some sort of protection for carpets.
Have a table for the midwife to put her equipment on.
Have lots of nice warm towels for you and your baby.
Get your beanbag out and your rocking chair and any other "special" extras you think you might want.

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I want to plan a home birth for my second child. I had a good hospital birth with my first, only 8 hours and little pain relief needed other than gas and air for the last hour, but i didn't like the medical environment and getting there was a nightmare (rush hour!). I'd love a relaxed athmosphere as i can have at home and a pool would be great. From reading comments below it sounds like this can be easily achieved. I'm not frightened by labour now (was anxoius last time). Does anyone have any tips on home birth plans? Also, any tips on how to deal with a partner who is really not keen on the whole idea along with his side of our family? This is proving a challenge at the moment though he is at least reading some of the information i have gleaned from the internet now. Be good to chat to someone, i get online whenever i can!

by Happymummy123

27th Oct 2010, 9:31am

can u hav a waterbirth at home???
by 52BABY25	24th Sep 2009, 10:30am

i would love to giv birth in my home but not sure i hav had 1 very hard long and difficult labour and 1 very easy quick labour both in hospital i hav been very lucky to of had a six hour discharge with both so hav never had to stay in hospital but im worried that with my third they might wanna keep me in and thats not something i would b comfortable with helllllp please!!!
by mummythetrilogy	9th Mar 2009, 9:23am

hi all, just a note to share my experience on a home birth. i had my first baby in hospital and hated it ! second time round i have my baby boy at home - two hour labour - gas and air for about ten minutes - no complications, everything nice and calm. my eldest boy asleep in bed. and all tucked up nice and cosey in our bed at 1am !
i would highly recomend all mums to consider a home birth - it is more calming and relaxing and makes the whole stage of labour easier for you !
im now expecting my third boy and am planing a home birth again , i cant wait !

by mummycroud

20th Oct 2008, 8:54am

hi. i have had 2 home births and this will be my 3rd i would tell u all to have home births they are great. i will never give birth in hostpital again.
by 3boysandpreg	28th Jan 2008, 6:12pm

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