Giving Birth “In Place” - A Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Childbirth

Sep 27, 2026

Practical emergency preparedness guidance for families facing childbirth when travel to a hospital or birth center may be impossible. Provides a call-for-help approach, instructions to keep labor safe at home, and helper roles focused on comfort, hydration, calm communication, hygiene, and managing family members. Includes bedside preparation to protect the mattress, guidance for common head-first delivery, and a detailed supply list with items and approximate costs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Editor’s Note

Call for Help

Prepare the Bed

When the Baby’s Head Is Coming First

The Urge to Push

Table 1: Supplies for Giving Birth “In Place”

FROM THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NURSE-MIDWIVES Giving Birth “In Place”: A Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Childbirth Deanne Williams, CNM, MSN EDITOR’S NOTE What can midwives do to help women who are at risk of giving birth without a trained attendant? The following document from the American College of Nurse-Midwives is available on the ACNM web site at [http://www.midwife.org/focus/inplace.cfm](http://www.midwife.org/focus/inplace.cfm), and although written for families in developed countries, the content can be adapted to any setting. This document can be used as a patient handout or it can be used by health care providers who are not experienced in attending births. Although most women do not go into labor during emergencies and most of those who do can get to a hospital or birth center, recent events have raised concerns about what to do if travel is not possible. Being prepared can help. The information here includes a list of supplies (Table 1) and directions for managing a normal labor and delivery while taking shelter in place. This is not a “do-it-yourself”guide for a planned home birth, nor is it all the information you need for every emergency. It is not meant to replace the knowledge and skills of a doctor or midwife. The information is a basic guide for parents-to-be who want to be ready in case they have to give birth before they can get to a hospital or birth center. CALL FOR HELP If you think you are in labor, try to get to a hospital, birth center, or clinic. If you are alone or travel seems unwise, call the emergency number in your community and ask for help. After you have called for help, keep your front door unlocked so that rescue workers can get in if you are unable to come to the door. Call a neighbor to come and help the family. If the phones are working, keep talking to emergency services or your health care provider who can “talk you through” a labor and birth. If your labor is going fast and birth seems near, stay at home and have your baby in a safe place rather than in the back seat of the car. Fast labors are usually very normal, and the mothers and babies can both do well. Slow labors will give you time to get to a hospital or birth center, or for a health care provider to get to you. Get out your supply kit and put the supplies where you can easily reach them. As the helper, your job is to Keep mom comfortable. It is good for her to walk, take a shower, get a massage, and move even if she is in bed. Be sure she drinks lots of ﬂuids. Water, tea, and juice are the best. Be sure she goes to the bathroom every hour. Say and do things that create a calm feeling, even if you are very nervous. Wear gloves if you are going to be touching blood. Wash your hands or gloves often. Do not let pets into the labor and birth room. Talk to mom about the sounds of childbirth. Making groaning or crying noise during labor is ok and can help the mom-to-be. It can scare the helpers. So mom has to try to not scream and lose control, and the helpers have to let mom make the noise that helps her cope. Decide how to help other members of the family. Will they be present for the birth? What do they need to feel safe? PREPARE THE BED To keep the mattress from getting wet, cover it and the sheets with a shower curtain and then cover the shower curtain with another clean sheet, plastic-backed under padsand lots of pillows for comfort. The mother may want to spend a lot of time in bed, or she may prefer to be on her feet or in a chair. Whatever feels best is okay. WHEN THE BABY’S HEAD IS COMING FIRST If you know your baby has been head down during the last weeks of pregnancy, chances are good that the baby will behead ﬁrst at birth. This is the most common position for a baby. First labors can last for 12 hours or more, whereas the next babies can come much faster. Address correspondence to Deanne Williams, CNM, MSN, Executive Director, ACNM, 8403 Colesville Rd., Suite 15

FAQs

If labor starts and you cannot travel, what should you do first?

Try to get to a hospital, birth center, or clinic. If travel seems unwise or you are alone, call the community emergency number, keep your front door unlocked for rescue workers, and contact a neighbor for help if needed.

How should a helper support the mother during labor when sheltering in place?

Focus on keeping mom comfortable, encouraging walking, showering, massage, and movement, ensuring she drinks plenty of fluids, and prompting bathroom use every hour. Maintain a calm environment, use gloves when touching blood, manage hygiene, and keep pets out of the labor area.

What supplies are recommended for giving birth “in place”?

A waterproof supply kit is advised, including items such as a baby bulb syringe, under pads, isopropyl alcohol, cotton balls, disposable gloves, scissors, sanitary pads, cold pack, hot water bottle, diapers, pain pills, and antibacterial soap or sanitizer, plus additional items like a shower curtain, towels, blankets, pillows, trash bags, and adult/baby CPR instructions.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Taylor Morgan