10 Things I Did to Prepare for a Natural Birth — and Why They Worked

I have had two successful, vaginal, natural births. What most women don’t realize is that it actually takes quite a lot of preparation in order to ensure that this happens.

When I first decided I wanted a natural birth, I was equal parts excited and terrified. I knew it was possible — but I also knew it would take intentional preparation: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I’m now so thankful I trusted my body, advocated for the birth I wanted, and had the most empowering, unmedicated birthing experiences-although both were different in their own way. My first birth, while ending in a traumatic homebirth transfer to hospital still ended up being “natural” in the fact that I didn’t have an epidural. My second birth was a redemptive home birth that had no intervention of any sort- my dream come true! If you're dreaming of a natural birth, here’s what helped me get there.

1. I Chose My Birth Team Carefully

Your provider matters more than anything. I didn’t want to “hope” a hospital would honor my choices — I hired a midwife who aligned with my values and trusted birth as a natural, physiological process that we were made innately by God to do. Whether you plan to use a midwife or OBGYN, these are important questions to ask in order to see if your birth values align:

If you're not sure where to start, ask questions like:

-What’s your approach to natural birth?

-What percentage of your births end in interventions?

-What are your views on induction and what warrants an induction for you?

Unfortunately, many birth providers can be bullies- it’s their way or the highway. It’s important for you to remember that they work for YOU. If a provider is not listening to you or is trying to push what they want onto you- it may be time to find a new provider. If you’re a first time mom, I highly encourage you to hire a doula. They’re great at educating you, preparing you and advocating for you!

2. I Took a Natural Childbirth Class

For my first birth, I signed up for a natural home birthing class that was meant to prepare Erik and myself. Shockingly, a lot of what I learned in that virtual class, I had learned just from listening to podcasts, but it did teach Erik some things he definitely did not know.

Knowledge = power. I took a course that walked me through stages of labor, natural pain relief, and partner support.

(Bonus: My husband (Erik) felt way more confident, too.)

3. I Focused on Nutrition and Movement

A strong, well-nourished body births better. I focused on:
• Eating whole, mineral-rich foods
• Daily walking + chiropractic care + pelvic floor physical therapy
• Drinking red raspberry leaf tea

I treated my pregnancy like training for birth — because it kind of is. Having gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy, nutrition was extremely important for me to properly manage my blood sugar with just food- no medication. This is how I learned to eat a blood sugar balanced diet. It changed my life and health forever [read my post about balancing blood sugar here].

4. I Practiced Mindset Work + Affirmations

Natural birth is just as much a mental game. I worked on reframing fear, using affirmations, and visualizing birth going right.

I repeated things like:
“My body was made for this.”
“Each wave brings me closer to my baby.”

For my first birth, I was not as mentally prepared as I was for my second birth and it showed. I think my mindset being not as great during my first birth altered that experience greatly and inevitably led to our emergency transfer to hospital. For my second birth, I really focused on everything I learned from this book: Hypnobirthing. Anyone that is wanting to achieve a natural birth should read this book. It helped me so much with my homebirth!

5. I Planned for Comfort Measures (Not Pain Management)

Instead of drugs, I relied on:
• Water (shower or birth tub)
• Breathing techniques- this literally made ALL the difference in my second birth! I learned them in the Hypnobirthing book I mentioned above!
• Counter-pressure and hip squeezes- Erik was so helpful with this! Our doula taught him everything prior to labor.
• Essential oils and calming music- I made a birth playlist that I listened to in the early stages of labor that was upbeat and positive.

6. I Avoided Negative Birth Stories

One thing I cannot stand during pregnancy is everyone feeling the need to spew their horrifying birth stories at me. I didn’t let fear in. I stopped listening to traumatic birth stories (unless they had a redemptive takeaway). I filled my mind with positive natural birth stories, podcasts, and books. [Here’s a list of my favorite books!]

7. I Wrote a Clear Birth Plan

This was really important for my first birth- especially since I ended up in the hospital. Not just for the team — but for me. Writing it out helped me clarify what I wanted and how to communicate that calmly. It also ensured that we were all on the same page. When we got to the hospital, it enabled Erik to feel confident in advocating for me and our wishes, too! [You can view and my birth plan template here!]

8. I Did a Lot of Inner Work

After my first birthing experience, I learned I had to let go of control. I had to trust my body. And I had to unlearn the cultural fear around birth. That internal prep made all the difference when labor got intense in my second birth. Check out my list of books to prepare for a natural birth.

9. I Created a Peaceful Birth Environment

Dimming the lights, using calming scents, and keeping noise low helped my body feel safe — which allowed labor to progress naturally. I highly recommend having a prepared birthing space that aligns with what you find comfortable and peaceful! I definitely didn’t focus on this with my first birth and I regretted it later!

10. I Fully Committed to the Process

Birth is unpredictable. But I went in trusting that I had done everything I could. I surrendered to the process while staying rooted in what I believed was best for me and my baby and that is what truly got me through my homebirth successfully the second time around.

Final Thoughts:

If you're dreaming of a natural birth — you can absolutely do this. It’s not about being a “hero” or proving anything. It’s about feeling empowered, safe, and informed in one of the most sacred moments of your life.

Preparation matters. Support matters. But above all, belief in yourself matters.

You’ve got this, mama!

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