Writing a Home Birth Plan (and Planning for the Unexpected)

Although birth plans are more often created for when people are giving birth in the hospital, if you are planning to give birth at home, writing out a home birth plan is very beneficial. 

During labor, it can be hard to communicate with your full attention and remember everything you wanted. A birth plan is a document you can put together in advance to help clearly communicate your desires to the birth team. 

Families preparing for birth typically have thought about what they want, and don’t want, for the birth coming up. You may have had a birth previously that you loved, and want everything to be as close to the same as possible. Or maybe you’re healing from previous birth trauma, and you’d like things to be different next time.

If this is your first time giving birth, you may not even know where to start listing out birth preferences and choosing from so many options.

In this article, we’ll walk through what’s involved in planning a home birth, and provide plenty of information on choices you can make ahead of time. And because birth can be unpredictable, I’ll also include some tips to make sure your home birth plan covers any just-in-case scenarios.

Is a home birth right for you? 

How do you know if birthing at home is the right decision for you and your family? 

As a birth doula, it is super important for me to know what my clients want for their upcoming birth. A large majority of my hospital and even birth center couples tell me that they would like to labor at home as long as possible. Why would someone want to labor at home as long as possible, with an end plan being to deliver at another location? 

The simple explanation is that home is where we are usually most comfortable. 

If you think about having to go to the restroom in a public place vs. your home, I’m going to guess that you would likely choose home. Because home is typically more comfortable, people are starting to choose home birth or birthing out of hospital, when they have the option. 

Homebirth may be safer than you think, and it’s growing in popularity, even for people planning a Home Birth after Cesarean or HBAC. In a study of out-of-hospital births from 2004 – 2017, the number increased from 35,578 to 62,228 during that time period. Home births increased by 77%, and birth center births increased even more. 

Although home birth after cesarean is becoming more popular, there are still many states and even countries where it is not allowed or supported. If you are in an area where this is the case, and you feel home birth is the best option for you, try reaching out to your local home birth midwives and see if they know of any other options for you. Your husband’s support during labor will also be very important if you’re giving birth in your home.

I also encourage you to join The VBAC Link Community or local pregnancy and birth forums to see if they can direct you to any resources in your area.0

Why you need a plan for your homebirth

I love to look at a birth plan as a tool to use during the labor journey. This tool allows you to communicate what is most important to you, without having to communicate with words. 

When I am running or biking up a hill during a tough stretch of road, it’s really hard for me to get any words out, or even to collect my thoughts in the moment. Having a birth plan, no matter if you are at home or in the hospital, reminds your team of your desires, when you may not be able to tell them.

Home birth midwives typically spend more time prenatally with their clients. They take the time to thoroughly discuss birthing couples’ wants and wishes. However, they still have multiple families they are serving, so having a home birth plan present when you are in labor is important. 

What to Include in a Home Birth Plan

Below is a list of ideas to consider as you put together your home birth plan, including some things to prepare in advance, preferences for your labor, and some options for your new baby, once they arrive. 

Preparing for a home birth 

• Who will be there: It is always a great idea to list your birthing team on the top of your birth plan. Include your partner, doula, or anyone you have invited to help with labor coaching or support. If your other children will be there, list their names and ages. Also think about who will be helping look after them, and if there should be a designated person for that role. 
• Your home and privacy: Chances are, you’ll have several people in your home while you are occupied giving birth, like midwives, doulas, family, and friends. If you have an area in your home where you would not like anyone to be, you can write something like, “Please refrain from going into the back bedroom.” If there are multiple rooms you’d like to keep off limits, “Please avoid entering any door with a heart on it.” Get a paper heart and put it on those doors.
• Food: It is very common for a home birthing team to eat here and there for energy during labor. A lot of the time the birthing couple will provide food for the team. If you are planning on doing this, you may want to include where the food may be or what they are welcome to on your birth plan. Also include any dietary restrictions you or your children have.
  
  Labor can sometimes be long, and even when it’s not, it is very important to stay hydrated as a birthing person. Making sure that you have good drinks like water, coconut water, electrolyte drinks, and even something with a little bit of salt like chicken broth is a great way to keep you hydrated. 

Setting up for home birth

When people give birth at home, they often like to set up a birthing pool or tub. Usually, a midwife would bring this over a few weeks prior to the birth. When labor starts, it should be there to set up and use when needed. 

If you have any specific things you would like your team to know about the setup, add these items to your home birth plan. Specific instructions may include:

• Please use the blue tarp in the corner of the bedroom/living room etc. before blowing up pool
• The pump for the pool is located…
• The adaptor to the hose is located…
• There are extra pots in the cupboard in the event we need extra warm water
• There are extra towels… 
• List if any specific things with a water heater that someone should know. 

Helping your team know where things are and how they can help with things makes easier for you and your team. This way, there is less chatter and questions for you during a time where you will want to focus on other things, like contractions and birthing your precious baby. 

Home birth labor preferences

Creating a list of preferences on your home birth plan is great. Just as with any other birth plan, keeping it short and sweet will typically benefit you the most. 

Since there are some things offered at the hospital you won’t have to consider at home, there are different things to list on a home birth plan. Of course, wanting the benefits of a natural birth is one of the reasons many people choose home birth. 

Below is a list of common labor preferences to consider including on your home birth plan. 

For my labor…

• I would enjoy laboring in low lights 
• I would prefer low voices
• I would like to move around a lot
• I would love photography/video
• Please remind me to drink and eat
• I would love my child(ren) to be involved in the birthing experience
• I would like to avoid any/all cervical exams and follow my body’s lead when it seems time to push
• I would like to push in the water, on the bed, squatting, etc.

Upon delivery…

• I would like my baby placed right on my chest
• Please leave the umbilical cord attached until its completely white and no longer pulsing
• I would like to encapsulate my placenta
• I would love any vernix kept on my baby and or on my body 
• I plan to Breastfeed and would love assistance with this

Dual care

Sometimes, people who are planning to deliver out of the hospital, whether it be at home or in a birth center, will choose to also have a “back up plan” with an established provider. 

I personally did this when I was putting together a VBAC birth plan for my VBA2C. I had a provider who was willing to help me specifically if I needed to transfer for any reason. 

During my pregnancy, I saw an OBGYN and a midwife, with my midwife being the lead care provider. This brought comfort to me, knowing that the OBGYN knew me specifically and would be up to date with my care. 

If you choose to do dual care, it is a great idea to add to your home birth plan the contact information, who you would see, and where you will be going in the event of a transfer. 

Birth plan in case of hospital transfer or C-section

No one wants to plan on transferring to the hospital to give birth when they have full intentions of having a home birth. The thought of having a C-section is likely furthest from the brain.

While we want to assume the birth will go as planned, we know that birth can take wild unknown turns, and we want to plan for all circumstances. Creating a birth plan in case of a hospital transfer or C-section can help the team at the hospital, who has never met you and doesn’t know your preferences, help facilitate your desires to the best of their ability. 

Your home birth team may or may not transfer with you. First things first, I would suggest discussing this with your midwife and birth team in advance. That way, you know what their plan of action would be and how they would help you transfer with ease. 

Have your birth plan in case of transfer separate from your home birth plan, and keep it tucked away in your bag. Below are some things you may want to consider having on your birth plan in case of a hospital transfer. 

• Please refrain from using loud voices
• Please communicate with me and my birth partner about any medications or interventions that may be necessary 
• I would like to birth in the most natural position possible
• In the event of a C-Section, I would like to have the most family centered C-Section as possible. 
• I would like to have my baby placed upon my chest after the birth.

Get your free birth plan template

There are many birth plan templates available online. Some are pages long, some have no words and only pictures, and some have a few simple bullet lists. 

We want to give you a free birth plan template to help you start your home birth plan today. To learn more about VBAC and ways to prepare for your birth, including VBAC stories from real moms, check out our VBAC parents course and enjoy our many blog articles all about VBAC.