Evidence-based guides

Planning and Preparing for Home Birth

Once you have your midwife and your finances sorted, the planning starts. These guides cover everything from supply lists and birth pool setup to preparing your home room by room, writing a birth plan that actually matters, and what to expect in the first hours after your baby arrives.

How to Set Up a Birth Pool at Home: Step-by-Step Setup Guide

You'll need to set up your birth pool 4-6 hours before you plan to use it, allowing time for filling (typically 60-90 minutes for a standard...

Home Birth Plan Template: What to Include and What to Skip

A home birth plan should cover your preferences for labor support, pain management, immediate newborn care, and transfer decisions if needed...

Home Birth Supply List: What You Actually Need

You'll need about $150-$300 in birth supplies including waterproof pads, clean towels, receiving blankets, postpartum pads, and a few specif...

How to Prepare Your Home for Birth: A Room-by-Room Guide

Preparing your home for birth requires a clean, warm space with good lighting, basic supplies ($150-$400 in disposables and linens), and roo...

Newborn Care After Home Birth: What Happens in the First Hours and Days

Your midwife performs a full newborn exam within the first hour after birth and repeats key assessments at 24 hours and 3-5 days postpartum....

How to Tell Your OB You're Switching to a Midwife

You don't need your OB's permission to switch care providers. Schedule a final appointment, tell them directly that you've decided to contin...

What Happens During a Home Birth: Timeline and Real Details

During a home birth, your midwife monitors you through labor at home, checks vital signs and fetal heart tones every 15-30 minutes during ac...

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