How to Prepare for Home Birth and Postpartum Recovery (2025 guide)
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I have been having fun tapping into my 3rd trimester nesting energy to prepare for home birth and postpartum recovery!
These are the things I focused on this time around as a 3rd time mom!
Table of Contents
1. Preparing for Labor: Mental & Spiritual
Obviously since we have a home birth planned, my goal is an unmedicated natural delivery.
Natural labor is not for the faint of heart! I thought I prepared well for my first baby (and I did learn a lot!)—but as I grow more experienced my focus has shifted from understanding pain management techniques and positions to focusing on mental and spiritual preparation.
Some ways I prepare for home birth labor:
Listening to birth stories on the podcast “The Birth Hour”. (I’ve also treated myself to their $5 a month patreon subscription to get access to more birth stories since I have listened to everything they have available right now!)
Meditating on scripture in the mornings using my birth affirmation cards.
Practicing slow breathing and staying relaxed during my 30 second cold blast at the end of each shower. (You can read my article about why I love cold showers especially as a mom of toddlers!!)
2. Arranging Support in Advance
Don’t underestimate what an intense time delivery and postpartum can be!
It’s really nice when people offer to support you, but one of the best ways to prepare for home birth is by reaching out and seeking the support you need!
For this birth, my sister will join us to assist during the labor and immediate postpartum period. My children will stay with their grandparents during labor—assuming we have time to get them there and it makes sense!
Additionally, our wonderful church community is setting up a meal train to bring meals once our new baby arrives.
Don’t hesitate to accept all the support you can arrange—every bit makes a difference!
3. Gathering Home Birth Supplies
Our midwife had us order a birth kit, and also gave us a list of additional supplies to keep on hand.
I went through all the supplies I have on hand to prepare for home birth in this video from pain management supplies, birth supplies, postpartum recovery supplies & what I have on hand for the new baby!
Having these items prepared ahead of time—and organized so other people can find them if I’m out of commission—helps me feel confident and reduces last-minute stress!
4. Postpartum Recovery Supplies
After two previous births, I’ve learned what essentials help me facilitate a smooth recovery.
There are a lot of products marketed towards postpartum recovery.
It’s hard to know in advance what challenges you might face with each birth—tearing, nipple soreness from a bad latch etc—so I try not to over prepare. I keep it simple, get the essentials, and know I can pick up what I need for each situation as it arises.
Here’s my personal postpartum recovery kit:
• Perineal cold packs
• Peri bottle (do yourself a favor and get this “upside down” one—it’s so much easier!)
• Ibuprofen for pain relief
• Puppy pads for easy cleanup
• Adult diapers and large pads for initial heavy bleeding
• Disposable underwear (so I don’t mess mine up in the early postpartum days!)
• Smaller pads as postpartum bleeding decreases
• Nipple cream and nursing pads (In case you’re really leaky right at first)
• Stretchy nursing bras (especially useful when initially engorged)
• Comfortable button-down pajamas for easy skin-to-skin (I have this pair, I will get two pairs to rotate)
• Haakaa breast milk collector. (I put this on the opposite side while I nurse the baby to collect the extra milk. It helps me build a little breast milk stash just in case, and also keeps me a little cleaner!!)
Optional things for postpartum recovery:
- A kindle audible subscription to listen to audiobooks while nursing (especially at night).
- A water bottle with a straw like this one to help stay hydrated while nursing.
- Mother’s milk tea to support milk supply.
Having these items ready and close at hand has made recovery much smoother and allowed me to truly rest and heal!
5. Freezer Meals, Food Prep & Household Essentials
I’m not a huge fan of extensive freezer meal prep.
We just don’t eat that many freezer meals!
I’ve learned to prep strategically based on our family’s tastes. Instead of preparing a lot of dinners, I have focused more on having a fully stocked pantry + some fun and practical breakfast or lunch ingredients prepared in the freezer.
This time around I have prepared:
• Muffins and homemade granola (they freeze really well and make perfect easy breakfasts)
• Extra loaves of bread (Each time I make sourdough bread recently, I make one extra loaf to freeze)
• Mini chicken pot pies (a favorite for my husband—I use this recipe but divide it into 4).
We also stocked up at Costco on household staples like paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates, and pantry essentials.
Being well-stocked allows our family to enjoy uninterrupted bonding and healing time without frequent trips to the store!
6. Baby Essentials
As a minimalist-ish mom living in a 1,100 square foot house—my baby essentials list is pretty short. You can read my article on minimalist baby registry recommendations here.
One of the most important ways I prepare for the new baby is refreshing myself on sleep training essentials! You can read my sleep training cheat sheet here.
I am such a fan of sleep training from the very beginning—it’s a much gentler approach and has helped us so much postpartum!
What I’m getting to have on hand:
• 5 onesies and 7 sleepers (practical clothing basics for a newborn)
• One large box of newborn diapers (perfect for babies born around 7 lbs)
• Wipes
• An additional sound machine, I’m considering this one since it is also a nightlight which can be very nice during nighttime feeds. (all our babies have slept better with a sound machine—our first two are still using theirs which is why we need another!
Of course I have some things from the previous babies like baby toys, teethers, a play gym, a baby carrier, a mini crib etc.
Keeping baby gear minimal helps reduce clutter and stress.
7. Postpartum Mentality: Embracing Slowness
Perhaps my most significant mindset shift for this postpartum period is intentionally embracing slowness.
My goal is to rest deeply, stay in bed as much as possible, and genuinely cherish this sacred and fleeting newborn season.
Rather than rushing to resume normal routines, I’m committing to being fully present and soaking in each moment!
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Preparing thoughtfully for labor, birth, and postpartum helps create a peaceful, joyful experience.
I hope sharing my process provides encouragement and practical tips for your own home birth and postpartum journey!