Prepping for a Home Birth
Supplies and Doula / Photography Tips
Bringing your baby into the world at home is the best. Preparing your space isn’t only about gathering supplies, it’s about creating an atmosphere of peace, comfort, and beauty. When your home feels cared for, you can relax into labor, your birth team can move with ease, and your Atlanta photographer or videographer can quietly capture timeless images of your story unfolding. The good news is that it doesn’t take much. A little thoughtful preparation can make your space both functional and beautiful, while also giving you peace of mind.
Redemptive home water birth video with Rachel of Birthing Way Midwifery and doula Maegan Hall of Atlanta Birth Collective.
Light & Atmosphere for a Calm Home Birth
Lighting sets the tone for your birth space and makes all the difference in your photos. During the day, open blinds or curtains to let in soft, natural window light.
At night, swap harsh overhead lights for lamps, candles, or string lights. Warm, soft light not only calms the room but also creates photographs with depth and timelessness. Birth spaces get warm and emotional, so think cozy and calm instead of clinical.
If you’re planning a waterbirth, fabric + fairy lights under your clear liner can get rid of the blue pool color (most parents use gray sheets) and add a beautiful glow to the birth pool. The photos look incredible.
Decluttering Your Space Before Birth
A clutter-free space makes the room feel calmer and keeps the focus on you and your baby. Clear off nightstands, counters, and tables. Even if it means tossing everything into a laundry basket, tote or closet for now.
Arrange seating so your birth team and loved ones have a place to settle. Make sure there is enough space for people to walk and move easily around your pool or bed, and don’t be afraid to shift furniture to create more room. Some parents even take some furniture to the garage, and bring it back after the birth. You don’t need to have everything perfect and you don’t have to know everything. We are happy to help and advise when we come over.
Cleaning and Preparing Your Space
A clean, fresh environment makes a world of difference for your comfort and for your baby. Before labor, give your birth space a simple refresh: vacuum or sweep to minimize pet hair and dander, wash your linens, and stock bathrooms with hand soap, clean towels, and toilet paper. Avoid toxic plug-in air fresheners, synthetic sprays, or toxic candles, which can be overwhelming and aren’t safe for newborns. In the first hours after birth, your baby’s sense of smell helps them orient and bond. They only need to smell you, not artificial fragrance. If you enjoy scent, keep it natural and gentle: a beeswax candle, a washcloth with a single calming essential oil, or simply opening a window for fresh air.
Choosing Linens and Fabrics for Birth Photography
Neutral, solid-colored sheets, blankets, and towels look best in photos. Patterns can distract, while soft colors keep the focus on your story. Some parents even take stuff off the wall. Christmas babies are fun because the tree is up!
Stock up on more towels than you think you’ll need!! I can’t stress this enough. Dark ones for practical use and an extra stack nearby for quick access. Take a few minutes to cut the tags off towels and blankets so nothing distracts in your photos, or rub on the baby.
A Note on Photography & Backgrounds
We are often asked if we can “clean up” a background in Photoshop or remove a busy pattern from a sheet or blanket after the fact. The answer is no. Your photos will capture the space as it is. This is why we talk so much about planning ahead with neutral linens, decluttered surfaces, and thoughtful details. We truly don’t care what you decide for your space! We are only making suggestions based on hearing twenty years of families’ regrets and “I wish I had…” moments. A little preparation now helps you love your photos later.
Aesthetic Touches That Make a Difference
Small details go a long way. Cozy blankets and pillows bring comfort, but they also add beauty to your space. Think woven throws, candles, greenery, or even a small vase of flowers. These touches create warmth and photograph beautifully, helping your birth environment feel like a sanctuary. Less is more, though.
Comfort & Care Essentials for Your Birth Team
Food and hydration are often overlooked, but they’re essential. If there isn’t food in the house, eventually someone will need to leave to get it and you won’t want that. Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy snacks (please a few gluten-free options) and drinks for everyone: juice pouches, fruit leather, nuts, broth, or meats and cheese. Keeping everyone fed and hydrated allows your support team to stay fully present with you.
Fans are another must-have. Plan for one or two full-sized fans plus a mini fan in the birth space, especially if you’ll be using a pool. Births get hot quickly, and airflow will make a big difference in your comfort. Peppermint candy is also a simple tool for everyone that helps with nausea, refreshes breath, and gives a quick boost of energy during long hours.
Waterbirth Pool Prep
If you’re planning a water birth, preparation is everything. Have bowls, pots, and pitchers ready for filling and emptying as needed. An electric kettle helps quickly heat water without waiting on the stove. If you want an herbal bath look, keep your mixture nearby to soften the water’s color, making the pool feel calm and inviting.
!!! YOU MUST do a practice run with your pool hose, and adapter so you know everything is ready. Almost 100% of dads get this wrong. I’m serious. It’s often created a disaster and it’s terrible. Happy to share all the not-so-funny stories of these families. But, quick warning: I’ve watched a bathroom flood, a dad almost miss the baby being born, the mom being left alone, I wasn’t able to take photos.
A special blanket for Marigold “Goldie”
How to do a practice run for your waterbirth at home:
Start by explaining to your partner that almost everyone thinks they “know enough” and that they are “different” or “smarter” than everyone else, so they don’t need to do the practice run. It’s not true — and skipping this step can create real problems in labor. Protect your home, your birth, and your peace by insisting on it.
Decide where you want the pool. Closest to a window is best. We use the natural light (which you’ll love) and, if it’s dark, we can hang lights from the curtain rods. We can help with this.
Once you know where the pool will go, decide on your water source. Measure - yes, measure -the distance from the source to the furthest point of the pool. You will need the extra hose length. There is no such thing as too much hose.
Screw the hose into your source and use the correct adapter. Buy a good one, you don’t want a leak or a flood.
Have someone hold the hose at the bottom of the pool while another person turns the water on. The hose needs to touch the bottom of the pool, not dangle.
Watch the water come out. You are not filling the tub, you are testing everything.
Considerations:
Is there enough water pressure? You don’t want the pool to take an hour or more to fill.
Does the water get hot enough?
Will you have enough hot water to fill the pool?
Is there any leaking?
Measure how much drop cloth you’ll need to protect the floor. At least a 9x12 sheet should go under the pool.
Make any changes necessary and then put everything back in your birth pool tub.
A pump for draining the pool afterward will also make clean-up much easier. Check with your midwife to see if they bring one.
The First 48 Hours Bag (Postpartum or Transfer)
No one planning a home birth likes to think about transferring to the hospital, but having a bag ready is a gift to yourself. When emotions are high, it’s not the time to scramble for clothes or baby essentials. A simple bag can serve two purposes: if you stay home, it’s your “first 48 hours” kit with everything you need for recovery within reach. If a transfer becomes necessary, it’s ready by the door. Either way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re prepared.
This bag should include comfortable pajamas or a gown, a nursing bra or bottles + formula, extra underwear, and something cozy like a cardigan or robe. Add flip flops, slippers, or socks so you don’t have to walk barefoot. Basic toiletries like chapstick, hair ties, and a toothbrush will help you feel fresh.
For baby, make sure the car seat is already installed and pack one or two outfits, a swaddle, and a few newborn diapers if you don’t like the hospital brand.
Don’t forget a snack bag with juice pouches, granola bars, fruit leather, or mints, plus bottled water or electrolyte packets. A phone charger! Whether you use it for recovery at home or as a transfer bag, you’ll be glad to have it packed ahead of time.
Don’t Forget These
A few small items make all the difference: full-sized and small trash bags, bottles of hydrogen peroxide for stains, extension cords and power strips, a step stool, and plenty of ice! Massage oil can be lovely as well.
A soft robe, diffuser and/or oils, and a favorite playlist to bring comfort and calm into your space.
Final Thoughts on Prepping for a Home Birth
By tending to both the practical details and the atmosphere, you’re preparing more than just a space, you’re shaping the beginning of your baby’s story. A well-prepared home supports your labor, comforts your team, and creates the kind of environment where your Atlanta birth photographer can capture every moment with beauty and artistry.
