The Home Birth Plan You Need: A Touchstone for Your Birth

Ready to create a home birth plan that truly reflects your values and vision? In this post, I’ll introduce you to the concept of a Birth Touchstone—an empowering way to focus on what matters most for your birth experience, helping you stay grounded and confident no matter what comes your way.

This post may contain affiliate links to products. I receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclaimer here.

When you’re pregnant, it’s common to hear the advice to “write a birth plan.” I have a lot to say about the need for a birth plan, but that’s a topic for another day.

Today’s question is, “Do I need a birth plan for my home birth?”

My answer? Yes…and no.

Let me explain by introducing the concept of a Birth Touchstone.

Home Birth Plan vs Birth Touchstone

A “touchstone” is a reference point from which to evaluate something. It helps us refocus and realign.

To clarify what a Birth Touchstone is, let’s use an analogy:

Imagine you’re planning a road trip. Perhaps you start by drafting a detailed itinerary, mapping out your stops, meals, and sightseeing spots based on your ideal route and timeline. That’s a good way to go about it. That’s like creating a traditional birth plan.

Alternatively, you could start by deciding the kind of experience you want on your journey—an adventurous exploration, a relaxed scenic drive, or meaningful connection with your travel companions. This approach focuses first on how you want the trip to feel and what you want to experience along the way, not just where you want to go.

That’s more like creating a Birth Touchstone.

Now, imagine the road trip takes an unexpected detour or plans fall through. A rigid itinerary (a traditional birth plan) might leave you frustrated or scrambling. But a clear vision of the kind of trip you want (your Birth Touchstone) keeps you grounded and adaptable so you can embrace the journey and stay aligned with what truly matters to you.

With that in mind, let’s talk about how to create a home birth plan that serves as a touchstone for your birth.

Before You Plan, Reflect

The most important reason to create a home birth plan (or any birth plan) is to give yourself time to think deeply about your upcoming birth experience and make intentional choices long before the critical moment.

Set aside quiet time alone or with your partner and reflect on the following questions. Be open to your feelings and honest with yourself:

Imagine you’ve already given birth. What words do you hope describe your birth experience?
How do you want to feel during labor?
How do you want to feel right after you give birth?
What do labor and birth look like in your mind? Sound like? Smell like? Feel like?
What do you want your baby to experience and feel during labor and after birth?
Who is with you during labor? How do you want your interactions with them to feel?
How do you feel your birth experience will impact your transition to motherhood?
What significance does birth hold for you as a cultural or spiritual experience?

(Note: It’s also crucial to address any fears you have about birth. I have other resources on that topic.)

Knowing Your “Why”

Another important element of creating a home birth plan is understanding your own “why” for choosing a home birth. Knowing your motivations will help you stay grounded when negativity comes your way or when things get hard in labor.

Ponder on your reasons for choosing a home birth. You could ask yourself things like:

What led me to choose a home birth?
What values are most important to me in my birth experience, and how does home birth align with those values?
How does the idea of a home birth make me feel about my ability to trust my body and my instincts?
What aspects of home birth do I find most empowering, and how do they align with my vision of an ideal birth?
What do I want my birth experience to reflect about me as a person and as a mother, and how does a home birth support that vision?
Why is having a home birth meaningful to me, and what specific benefits do I believe it will bring to my experience?

As you answer these questions, I hope you feel a deep sense of confirmation and confidence in your choice—one that no off-hand comment or intense contraction can sway.

Comfort Measure Considerations

Before diving into the specifics of your home birth plan, let’s talk about comfort measures.

This is a big part of your home birth plan, especially since home births are typically unmedicated. A great unmedicated birth requires preparation and intentionality.

Think about these questions as you consider what comfort measures you want to use:

What helps me and motivates me when things get hard?
What brings me physical comfort?
What brings me comfort emotionally?
What brings me comfort spiritually?
Who can help me feel safe and comfortable?
What kind of environment helps me feel safe and happy?
How do I typically handle pain? Can I prepare to overcome unhelpful tendencies?
What words or affirmations help me stay focused, positive, and engaged?

Once you’ve reflected on these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of which comfort measures are likely to help you during labor.

What to Put on a Home Birth Plan

Obviously, a home birth plan is going to look different from a hospital birth plan. So, what should you include in your home birth plan? Let’s break it down.

Rather than listing preferences about interventions and procedures, a home birth plan focuses on the kind of environment you want to create and how you want to manage labor. You’ll also need to think about logistics, food, and who you want and need to be there.

Early Labor

Do you want your older kids there for the birth (if applicable)?
- If so, who will be with them while you and your support people focus on labor?
- If not, who will take care of them and at what point in labor will they go to the caretaker’s house?
Do you want to eat a big meal before labor picks up?
What do you want to wear?
When will you call your doula, if you have one?
When will you call the photographer, if you hired one?
How do you want to set the mood for labor (lighting, music, scents)?
What activities do you want to try during early labor (walking, taking a bath, watching a movie, playing a game)
What comfort measures do you want to use during early labor?

Active Labor

Who will call the midwife and at what point?
What type of monitoring do you want (doppler, stethoscope, none)?
How often do you want cervical checks, if at all?
What roles do you want your husband/partner and your doula to play (encouragement, comfort measures, random tasks)?
What easy snacks and drinks do you want on hand?
What comfort measures do you want to use during active labor?
Do you want to labor in a specific room or area of the house?

Pushing

Who do you want (or not want) around during this stage?
What positions do you want to try for pushing?
What comfort measures do you want to utilize while pushing?

Right After Birth

Who will catch the baby?
How long do you want to do skin-to-skin before any testing or measurements are done?
Who will cut the umbilical cord? How long do you want to wait before it is cut?
What do you want to do with the placenta?
Do you want your baby wrapped in a blanket and hat or do you want them directly on your chest to warm and adjust to their new environment?

Early Postpartum

What do you want as your first meal after birth?
What would you like your postpartum environment to look like (dim lighting, quiet, family nearby)?
If applicable, when will your older kids come back home?
Are you planning any special ceremonies or traditions for the first few hours or days with your baby?
What kind of support do you want for breastfeeding and baby care (a lactation consultant, postpartum doula, etc.)?
How long do you want privacy before visitors come?

For a Water Birth

When will you set up the pool and who will set it up?
Where will you set up the pool? (Make sure it’s near the water heater or a sink for easier filling.)
Where are the pool supplies (hose, faucet adaptor)?
Where are pots, in case you need more hot water? (Make sure your doula and midwife know this.)
Where are extra towels? (Again, this is more for your midwife and doula.)

What if I Transfer to a Hospital?

While transferring to a hospital is never the plan, it can happen for women who choose a home birth. Before we get into the logistics of transfers, I want to put some fears to rest:

Most home birth transfers aren’t emergencies. In fact, the most common reason for a transfer is slow progress in labor. Often, this happens because the mom is exhausted from a long labor and needs the relief an epidural can provide.

It’s important to note that these transfers are slow and intentional—not rushed or panicked.

If you feel it would be wise for you to create a home birth plan that includes a potential transfer, here are some key things to consider:

Since you are most likely to transfer because labor has been long and isn’t progressing, you’ll likely receive an epidural and Pitocin upon arrival. These interventions are typically needed to manage exhaustion and help the labor progress. So it’s probably not necessary to list preferences against Pitocin or epidurals in your home birth plan.
If the transfer is due to an emergency of some degree, your plan will look a little different. Rather than focusing on preferences about interventions, you’ll want to prioritize how you want to be treated, requests about receiving informed consent, and who you want to be in the room with you for any necessary procedures.

Logistics of a Hospital Transfer

With those scenarios in mind, here are some logistical things to consider for your home birth plan:

What hospital will you go to? What are their policies for transfer from a home birth? Can you meet the doctors ahead of time?
What are your midwife’s policies for transfers? Will she come with you?
Does your midwife remain your primary caregiver once you arrive or does that role transfer to the doctor on call?
Who will handle communication with the hospital, family, and friends?
Who will drive in case of a transfer and what car will you take? (Be sure to keep this car full of gas!)
Who do you want with you at the hospital? (Keep in mind, you may only be allowed 1–3 people in the room.)
How will your doula be involved during the transfer?
What comfort measures will I use to handle the change in environment?
If you do need interventions like Pitocin or an IV, do you have preferences for how these are administered (lowest dosage, mobility, etc.)?
What’s your preference for monitoring during labor in the hospital? (Note: Electronic Fetal Monitoring is usually required if Pitocin or an epidural are used.)
Are there any specific hospital staff you don’t want in the room (e.g. medical students)?

Did You Hire the Right Midwife?

After creating your home birth plan, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate whether your midwife’s philosophy aligns with your new plan and touchstone for your birth. If it doesn’t, don’t be afraid to change care providers.

Choosing the right midwife for you is crucial because planning a home birth doesn’t guarantee the birth experience you want. Every midwife is different and their approach can have a huge impact on your birth.

If you need help finding a midwife who aligns with your vision, my ebook How to Find a Midwife will guide you through the process.

Next Steps

Once your home birth plan is ready, it’s time to start preparing for the birth you want. Along with hiring the right midwife, begin learning about doulas in your area, if that’s part of your plan.

You may also want to start gathering supplies and preparing your birth space.

These blog posts can help you get ready:

Conclusion: Create Your Birth

Planning a home birth may initially seem like a simple task. But in reality, a great home birth experience requires careful planning.

Start with your Birth Touchstone, focusing on how you want your birth to feel and understanding your “why.” This will help you create the birth you desire, from the ground up.

When planning logistics, be intentional and think ahead so you can relax and manage labor in a positive, calm way.

As your home birth unfolds—whether or not everything goes according to plan—you’ll be able to go with the flow, knowing that you and your birth team are making decisions based on your values and your intentions set long ago.

Birth is beautiful, and preparing for it with intention can help it feel that way. I hope this post makes preparing for your home birth a little easier.

Until next time,

Allison

How to Prepare for Postpartum: The Ultimate Guide

65 Questions to Ask a Midwife

The Home Birth Plan You Need: A Touchstone for Your Birth

Home Birth Plan vs Birth Touchstone

Before You Plan, Reflect

Knowing Your “Why”

Comfort Measure Considerations