It's highly recommended that you have a certified midwife or doctor accompany you for your home birth. Make plans to have the midwife or doctor come to your home well in advance - meet and discuss your birth with him or her before your labor is likely to begin, and keep his or her number on hand so you can call if your labor begins unexpectedly.  The Mayo Clinic also recommends making sure the doctor or midwife has easy access to the consultation of doctors at a nearby hospital, if possible.  You may also want to consider finding or hiring a doula - someone who provides continuous physical and emotional support throughout a mother's labor. Giving birth is an emotionally and physically draining experience, to put it lightly. The last thing you'll want to do during labor, when you may in intense distress, is to have to make quick, important decisions about the way the birth will proceed. It's far smarter to create and review an approximate plan for your birth well before you enter labor. Try to account for every step of your delivery, from beginning to end. Even if you're not able to follow your plan exactly, having the plan will give you peace of mind. In your plan, try to answer questions like the following ones:  Besides the doctor/midwife, which people, if any, do you want present for the birth? Where do you plan to deliver? Note that, for much of your labor, you will be able to move around for comfort. What supplies should you plan on having? Talk to your doctor - usually, you'll want lots of extra towels, sheets, pillows, and blankets, plus waterproof coverings for the bed and floor. How will you manage the pain? Will you use medical painkillers, the Lamaze technique or another form of pain management? The vast majority of home births are successful and free of complication. However, as with every birth, there is always a small chance that things can go wrong which threaten the health of the child and/or mother. Because of this, it's important to be prepared to rush the mother to a hospital in the event of an emergency. Keep a full tank of gas in your car, and keep your car well-stocked with cleaning supplies, blankets, and towels. Know the quickest route to the nearest hospital - you may even want to practice driving there. Though you'll be able to adjust your position and even walk around for most of your labor, it's a good idea to have a place in your home set aside as the final site of childbirth. Choose a safe, comfortable spot - many mothers prefer their own bed, but it's possible to give birth on sofas or even on a soft part of the floor. Regardless of the location you choose, make sure that, by the time labor begins, it's been recently-cleaned and it's well-stocked with towels, blankets, and pillows. You'll probably also want to use a water-tight plastic sheet or covering to prevent blood stains.   In a pinch, a clean, dry shower curtain will work as a water-tight barrier to prevent stains. Though your doctor or midwife will most likely have these things, you may also want to have sterile gauze pads and ties ready nearby for cutting the baby's cord. Once you've made all the necessary preparations, simply wait for your labor to begin. On average, most pregnancies usually last about 38 weeks, though healthy labor can begin within a week or two of the 38 week mark. If you enter labor before the 37th week of pregnancy or after the 41st week, proceed immediately to a hospital. Otherwise, be prepared for any of the following signs of your labor beginning:  Your water breaking Dilation of the cervix Bloody show (the discharge of a pinkish or brownish blood-tinged mucous) Contractions lasting 30 to 90 seconds

Summary: Make arrangements with a doctor or midwife. Decide on a plan for your childbirth experience. Arrange for transport to a hospital. Choose where you will deliver the baby. Wait for signs of labor.


The nosy neighbor across the street is your best friend when it comes to protecting your home. Criminals usually case a neighborhood before committing a crime, so they will know when you leave for work. Watchful neighbors who are home while you are at work make you much less likely to be robbed. A dog is a big responsibility, but they are very effective at deterring burglars. You want to keep burglars out, so bark matters more than bite. A small yappy dog is a more effective deterrent than a large quiet one. Don’t make it easy on thieves. An open door or window – even if it’s only while you are walking the dog – makes your home an easy target. Get in the habit of locking every door and window when leaving, after entering and before bedtime. And don’t forget to secure your dog or cat door. The only thing worse than leaving your door unlocked is letting a criminal have the keys.  Don’t keep a hidden key outside your house. Thieves know the most likely hiding places, so whether it is under a mat, in a flowerpot, or hidden in a fake rock, they will probably find it. Instead, give a spare key to your neighbor.  Don’t carry house keys on a key ring bearing your home address or leave house keys with your car in a commercial parking lot or with an attendant. Even if you don’t really have security or a dog, a sign can be an effective deterrent. Criminals case neighborhoods. If they can see valuables – or even if you just look much richer than your neighbors – they are more likely to target you.  Draw blinds and shut curtains to keep items out of view and prevent criminals from “window shopping.”  If you have a fancy car, keep it in the garage.  Don’t advertise new purchases by leaving boxes on the curb. Put them in your recycling bin. Or break the boxes down and fold them inside out, then put them out just before the pickup time. Plumbing or home improvement projects give workers ample time to case your home; information they might pass on to criminals. Be sure to ask potential contractors if their employees are subject to criminal background checks. Criminals want to get in and out of homes as quickly as possible. Make it difficult on them by hiding or securing valuables.  Consider buying a small safe that bolts to the floor.  Rent a safe-deposit box for extra-valuable items. Keep car keys and garage remotes hidden.  Stash jewelry or cash in places where thieves are unlikely to look: Use old, cleaned out shampoo, conditioner or moisturizer bottles. Use an old spice jar. Paint the inside with glue and add herbs so it looks full. Then put cash in a plastic bag, insert in the jar and keep with your other spices. Hide valuables in a full feminine napkin or tampon box. Make a slit in a tennis ball, squeeze to open, and hide valuables inside If they are stolen, this will make it much more likely that you can recover them.  Engrave jewelry with your name or a number and take a photo of it. This will make it more difficult to sell and aid in catching the thief. Make sure you record the serial numbers for your smart phones, computers, televisions, and other expensive electronics, as this will make them easier to track.  Register your bicycle by serial number in the National Bicycle Registry.
Summary: Get to know your neighbors. Get a dog. Always lock your doors and windows. Keep your keys safe. Post foreboding signs. Don’t show off expensive stuff. Be careful when having workers in your home. Make your valuables hard to access. Engrave and register valuables.