Designing a Sacred Home Birth Arrival
This post is a class syllabus and progress tracker for part of my “adult-school” curriculum. Overview here.
Subject: Health Sciences & Family Studies
Course Title: Designing a Sacred Home Birth Arrival
Dates: Monday September 1st to December 22nd.
Learning Objective: Research and plan a safe, supportive, and meaningful home birth experience that integrates practical preparation with personal preferences.
Requirements for A+ Grade:
Intentions
Surrender: I allow the process to unfold in its own timing.
Presence: I anchor myself in each moment rather than rushing toward the next.
Connection: I stay connected to baby, to Clay, and to the lineage of women who have birthed before me.
Research, Study and Media Consumption
Research acupressure points that help facilitate labor, ease contractions and provide comfort during labor progress
Research birthing positions
Research the stages of labor and signs to look for
Listen to at least 10 birth story podcast episodes
Research Dutch insurance plans and get matched with a midwife in our area
Practice
Create lists of affirmations for third trimester and labor
Create a list of phrases I want to hear (and any that I don’t) during labor from those who are present
Print acupressure point cards and ensure Clay has been familiarized (SP6, LI4, BL67, brief cues & cautions)
Determine who will be present for the birth
Determine what nourishing food and drinks need to be ready (bone broth, dates, tea, smoothies, electrolyte drinks, organic popsicles, honey) for labor and after
Find or create birth playlists (3 mood lists: early, active, transition)
Determine what symbolic and supportive elements will be present (light palo santo, candles, music, massage oil, etc)
Develop a transfer plan and local emergency contacts
Labor boundaries (photos/videos, personal space, etc)
Postpartum plan for announcements (who will we share the news with, in what time frame, how, etc)
Postpartum plan for boundaries (when will we have first visitors, will they get to hold him, how long can they stay, etc)
Final Capstone Project
Have a healthy, safe at home birth to baby boy!
Purchases Required:
Inflatable Home Birth Pool and Indoor Hose
Large Yoga Birth Ball
Essential Oils
Plastic Tarp, Sterile Gloves, Cotton Towels, Etc.
Ice Packs and Heating Pads
Pack of Feminine Pads (Overnight / Extra Support)
Large Zippered Plastic Bag for Storing Placenta
Mattress Protector
Research Notes:
Hypnobirthing:
Definition: A childbirth preparation method that combines deep relaxation, breathing techniques, visualization, positive affirmations, and self-hypnosis.
Goal: To reduce fear, tension, and pain during labor by reframing birth as a calm, natural process instead of a medical emergency.
Core ideas:
Fear → tension → pain cycle: If you’re afraid, your body tenses, which can increase pain. Breaking this cycle can make birth smoother.
Language matters: replacing words like contractions with surges or waves to reduce fear associations.
Partner involvement: the birth partner learns scripts, massage, and cues to help guide relaxation.
Benefits reported: Many women say it helps them feel calmer, more in control, and less reliant on interventions. Some studies suggest it can shorten labor and lower epidural rates, though evidence is mixed.
How people practice it: Audio tracks, visualization scripts, classes (often 5–6 weeks long), and daily practice of relaxation/affirmations.
Physiological Birth
Definition: A birth process that unfolds without unnecessary medical interventions, relying on the body’s natural physiology.
Key principles:
Hormones like oxytocin, endorphins, and catecholamines are allowed to flow naturally.
No induction, augmentation, epidural, or frequent interruptions — unless medically necessary.
Movement, upright positions, and instinct-led pushing are encouraged.
Environment is calm, private, and supportive to allow the body’s natural rhythm.
Why it matters: Interventions (pitocin, epidurals, continuous monitoring) can interrupt hormonal flow, which may lead to longer labor, more pain, or cascading interventions. Physiological birth emphasizes trusting the body’s innate capacity when it’s safe to do so.
Not “no intervention ever”: If needed, interventions are life-saving. But the baseline intention is: let the body do what it knows how to do, in the right environment, with safety nets available.
Think of it like this:
Hypnobirthing is a mind-body technique you practice before and during labor.
Physiological birth is about the environment and medical approach — creating conditions for the body’s natural processes to work without disruption.
Early Labor (Latent Phase):
A few hours up to 12–24 hours (sometimes even longer, especially for first babies). This phase can last 24+ hours and still be normal, but in the “best case,” you feel rested and not too drained when active labor begins.
Surges start mild and irregular, like period cramps or waves of pressure. Back ache, or tightening that’s noticeable but very manageable. Use surge breathing + affirmations.
Stay mobile, eat lightly / small snacks to keep energy up, listen to hypnobirthing tracks, stay relaxed, go for a short walk to move baby’s head down, yoga ball exercises. You can talk, laugh, move around, eat, nap, distract yourself.
A diffuser with lavender oil can also help promote relaxation.
Clay can massage shoulders or lower back, help set the space.
Emotional cues: Excited, a little restless, maybe nesting or wanting to set up your space.
Active Labor:
4–8 hours (can be shorter for some, much longer for others).
Surges grow stronger, longer (45–60 sec), and more regular (every 3–5 min). Talking through them becomes difficult. You might close your eyes, breathe deeply, lean on someone, sway, or go inward.
Get into warm birthing pool or use yoga ball.
Practice deep surge breathing + visualizations (like picturing the body opening or the baby moving down)
Use acupressure points (especially sacrum and hands).
Stay in dim light, low voices, rhythmic environment.
This is when many shift to the birth pool, use breathing techniques, or really lean on partner support.
Emotional cues: You become quieter, less chatty, more focused. Sometimes you want dim lights, less stimulation.
Physical signs: Belly tightening more visibly, breath deepening, maybe some bloody show.
Transition (“bridge” between dilation + pushing):
15 min to 1–2 hours (shortest but most intense phase).
Surges are very intense, close together, sometimes with shaking, nausea, or self-doubt. You feel done — shaky, sweaty, overwhelmed, emotional. This is called “the doubt phase.” You might say things like: “I can’t do this,” “I need help,” “Make it stop.”
Anchor into visualizations + affirmations.
Continue to use the self-hypnosis techniques you've learned to transport your mind to a relaxed and comfortable place.
Allow instincts to guide positioning.
Remind yourself “this means baby is almost here.”
Clay provides grounding touch, keeps you cocooned.
Emotional cues: Irritability, wanting to run away, sometimes crying or snapping. (All normal — it means baby is very close!)
Physical signs: Trembling, nausea, throwing up, hot/cold temperature changes, pressure in rectum, leg shakes, water may break here if not before.
Pushing Stage:
30 min to 2 hours (first births often longer, subsequent births usually shorter).
Surges are often shorter, spaced a bit more, but with intense downward pressure.
Energy shifts — you might suddenly feel relief that “the hard part is over.”
Switch to birth breathing (gentle, instinctual, downward).
Let your body lead the timing instead of forced directed pushing. This gives tissue time to stretch, lowers risk of tearing. In the smoothest scenario, pushing feels instinctual and productive without dragging out.
Stay upright if possible (gravity helps).
A strong, primal urge to bear down. If undisturbed, many women naturally breathe their babies down rather than force pushing.
Upright positions (hands-and-knees, squatting, side-lying, water) can shorten this stage.
Placenta Delivery:
10–30 minutes.
Afterglow + lighter surges to release placenta. Often you’re so focused on baby that this stage feels secondary.
Skin-to-skin + breastfeeding can help stimulate oxytocin for natural placenta release.
Optimal situation: Placenta separates naturally, bleeding controlled, I stay stable and grounded.
Midwife Roles (Clinical & Safety):
Monitoring labor & baby – tracking contraction patterns, fetal position, heart rate (traditionally with a Doppler or fetoscope).
Guidance on labor positions & comfort measures – ensuring effective pushing and safe positioning.
Recognizing complications – spotting red flags like excessive bleeding, abnormal fetal heart rate, stalled labor.
Physical support during birth – catching the baby if birth is in water or supporting perineal integrity.
Immediate newborn care – assessing APGAR, clearing airways, cord clamping, warmth, skin-to-skin initiation.
How to fill gaps at home:
Clay or your sister can learn basic fetal heart rate checks if you feel comfortable with a handheld Doppler.
Have a written emergency plan: nearest hospital, phone numbers, transport plan.
Prep for immediate newborn care — towels, warm blankets, bulb suction, etc.
Watch reputable home birth tutorials for safe water birth techniques and perineal support.
Doula Roles (Emotional & Physical Support):
Labor support – continuous presence, coaching through contractions, guiding breath, massage, positioning.
Advocacy & reassurance – reminding you of your intentions, affirmations, and ceremony cues.
Comfort measures – acupressure, counterpressure, hot/cold packs, movement suggestions.
Environment management – adjusting music, lighting, temperature, water pool, ensuring the container stays sacred and safe.
Postpartum support – facilitating skin-to-skin, breastfeeding assistance, calming mother after birth.
How to fill gaps at home:
Clay: acupressure, grounding, breath, and presence
Mom: massage, oil anointing, blessing, ritual
Sister: drumming, story journal, ceremonial cues
Prepare a “labor toolkit” with oils, massage tools, water bottle, snacks, music, candles.
Designate someone to watch timing, cue music, or sprinkle petals, so your focus stays on birth.