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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.

Birth Pool Setup: How to Fill, Heat, and Drain It

A birth pool holding 75 to 150 gallons weighs roughly 625 to 1,250 pounds of water alone, since a gallon of tap water weighs about 8.3 pound...

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

Your midwife sends you the list, and that list is the one that counts. Typical items are waterproof pads, clean towels, receiving blankets, ...

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

You need a clean, warm space with good lighting, the supplies on your midwife's list, and room for her to work. Most midwives bring the medi...

What Happens to the Baby After a Home Birth?

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

Switching care providers does not require your OB's permission. Schedule a final appointment, say directly that you have decided to continue...

What Happens During a Home Birth? Step-by-Step Timeline

During a home birth, your midwife monitors you through labor at home, listens to fetal heart tones at intervals set by her own protocol, sup...

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When is your baby due?
This tells us if midwives have availability in your window.
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Tell us about your pregnancy history
This helps us match you with the right credential and experience level.
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Has your provider mentioned any of these?
Select all that apply. These affect which midwives are right for you.
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Twins or more
Placenta previa or low-lying placenta
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Have you talked to your doctor or midwife about your interest in home birth?
Most midwives like to know your current provider is in the loop.
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What's your insurance situation?
This helps us understand whether insurance fit should be part of the match.
Step 5b of 8
What's your insurance plan name?
This is useful for finding a midwife who can bill your plan, but you can continue if you do not know it yet.
You can find this on your insurance card, your employer's benefits portal, or by calling the member number on the back of your card.
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One last thing
What's drawing you toward a home birth? This helps us find a midwife whose approach matches yours.
Please tell us what's drawing you to home birth. This is the most important part of your referral.
Example: "My hospital birth felt rushed and impersonal. I want to be in my own space, with someone who actually knows my name when I walk in the door."
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Come back once you have a confirmed due date

Most midwives begin taking clients at 8 to 12 weeks. Leave your email and ZIP and we'll send local directory options plus a timing guide.

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Your insurance plan name unlocks the right match

It's a useful detail for billing fit. Leave your email and ZIP and we'll send local directory options while you check your plan name.

How to find your insurance plan
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We'll be here when you're ready

Midwives in your area book out 4 to 6 months. Leave your email and ZIP and we'll send local directory options plus planning guidance while you research.

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Based on your answers, a hospital birth is likely the right setting

This isn't a dead end. A hospital-based CNM can give you a midwife model of care inside a hospital. Here's what to ask your provider.

Read: Am I a good candidate?
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We'll be in touch within 1 to 2 business days.
What we know about your situation
When there is a referral fit, we share your summary only with selected midwives. If not, we send directory listings to contact directly.
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