How to create a hygge birth space.

A moment of quiet in her peaceful birthspace, before she pushed her baby girl out.

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12 ideas for creating a beautiful birth space wherever you choose to give birth…

Hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-gah’) is a Danish concept that embodies coziness, comfort, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Bringing hygge into your birth space means creating a peaceful environment that helps you feel safe, supported, and at ease. Exactly what is needed to help you open up and birth your baby.

1: Lighting is everything

As a photographer, I live by that statement. But mood lighting is a thing and it’s wonderful for creating a serene space that feels inviting. I like to bring plug-in string lights to all my births and hang them up in the hospital room or the main room chosen for a birth at home. I also bring flameless candles. I love those string light curtains for a more intense light backdrop, but they can take some time to hang up. Open or close blinds and shades to fit the mood of the birthing person. I’ve also learned that hospital lighting can be tough to figure out, even the nurses are not always sure which switches do what. Don’t be shy, ask for the nurses to help with the lights in the room.

We moved her string lights into her bedroom after the baby was born so she could enjoy them during the middle of the night feeding sessions.

2: Essential oils

Having a diffuser with your favorite calming essential oil is another way to make the space feel inviting and peaceful. I usually use lavender in the diffuser because it’s a favorite for most people. I also have a happy labor spray that has lavender, camomile, and clary sage which go well all mixed together. I use this throughout the labor to freshen the room and bring happy labor vibes. Most of the time Logan Health Whitefish has a diffuser in each birthing suite. Logan Health Whitefish usually provides diffusers in each birthing suite, while Logan Health Kalispell does not, so I always bring one for clients there. Both locations offer essential oils that nurses can put on a cotton ball if you forget yours.

3: Add flowers

Adding flowers to the space is always a nice touch. I’ve brought fresh flowers from my garden in a tiny vase and dried flowers to add to the birthtub. I love bringing eucalyptus bouquets into the space too. Some people bring rose petals or flowers to add to the tub after the baby has arrived for water births. Even moving plants from around your home into the birth space can create a a spa-like atmosphere.

Photograph by Sarah Taylor edited by Kristen Fortier

4: Bring your pillow

Bring your own pillow, pillowcase, or throw blanket. The comforting things that will bring you the feeling of being at home but only if you’re okay with it potentially getting blood, baby poop, or vernix on it. Birth can be messy. I brought my pillow with an indigo-dyed pillow case that we made along with onesies and other baby items at my baby shower, and I love the softness that it brought to the space.

5: Decorate with birth affirmations

Decorate the space with birth affirmations that resonate with you. I like to make banners with birth affirmations. They give the mama something to look at during labor to remind them that they can do this hard work. Some people bring celebratory banners or balloons, too—whatever feels good!

6: Bring photographs

Bring photographs of your children or any people you wish could be there with you. Sometimes seeing the people you love can be uplifting during birth.

7. Focus images

Focus images are another option to decorate your space and have sometime to look at while working through labor. I liked images of opening flowers and full moons symbolizing opening up. And also liked images of waves and water. 

8. Decorative cloths or large scarves

Bring some cloths, tapestries, or thin scarves to cover up clocks, screens and anything else you’d rather not focus on during labor.

7. Birth playlist

Don’t underestimate the value of a great birth playlist. The sounds in your space can be a huge mood changer. A great guided meditation you’ve already been listening to can be wonderful. If that’s not your thing I recommend having a few different playlists with different vibes. A calm one that maybe doesn’t even have lyrics is nice for long hours of labor. A peaceful encouraging feminine one… if you are into that. Songs that make you feel happy and lovey-dovey perhaps from your wedding playlist. A fun energized list for the pushing phase if you need something upbeat. I recommend downloading your playlists so they don’t require wifi and having a small speaker to play it at a volume you like. Trust me, you don’t want your partner or doula playing DJ in the moment—been there, done that! 😂

8. Comforting drinks and food

Warm, nourishing foods and drinks add to the cozy vibe. Raspberry leaf tea, camomile, or peppermint tea can be nice. Bone broth is easy to digest and packed with nutrients. Some good warming food ideas: oatmeal, soup, warm pudding, rice bowls, or even a quesadilla. I love the broth recipes in The First Forty Days by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, and Marisa Belger.

9. Water and heat packs

A birth tub is often called the “midwife’s epidural”. The way hot water in a tub surrounds most of the body can feel so relieving during the surges. It feels amazing after any long day for me! Using a tub or a shower during labor is something everyone should try. When in the tub using a shower head to wash water over the back or belly can feel wonderful, even pouring a cup of water over the belly can be a nice sensation or a distraction to the surges. If you don’t want to be in the water or can’t, heat packs, hot water bottles, or a heating pad can be a nice alternative.

10. Choose your birth team

The people in the room set the tone for your birth. Make sure your team includes only those who make you feel safe and supported. If someone you love (like your mom or best friend) struggles with anxiety, they might not be the best person to have in the room. Decide in advance who can visit and when—maybe grandparents come two hours after birth, or maybe it’s two days. Having these conversations ahead of time prevents surprises.Need a doula to advocate for you and remind you of your wishes throughout labor? Hire one! Connect deeply with one of your medical providers but had a negative experience with another? This can be tricky as you may not have control here but you do have the option to try to work through that negative experience before going into labor. Let the provider you do connect with know that and say if there is any way you can be there you’d love that. You can always change providers too. I switched hospitals late in pregnancy to be in midwife care when I had my second. If a medical staff member is creating negativity during labor, you can always ask for someone else.

Sometimes our birth team includes the support of our children. 🤍

11. Take a tour

The unknown can make us feel fear. Taking a tour of your birth center and seeing the delivery rooms can put you more at ease. Check it out, know where to park, see if there is a mini fridge, ask any questions you might have about the space, and visit the guest cafeteria.

Check out the local birthing location options: 

 The Birth Center at Logan Health – Whitefish here.

Logan Health Kalispell Labor and Delivery here.

Fern Creek Birth Haus for a home birth but not at your home if you live super far out or don’t think your space works for a birth at home.

The Birth Center at Logan Health Whitefish

Logan Health Kalispell Labor and Delivery

Fern Creek Birth Haus

12. Cesarean births can be Hygge, too

Even if you have a planned or unplanned cesarean, you can still create a peaceful space. Creating birth preferences with a section for cesarean birth can make it feel more comforting even when it is not your plan. Having birth preferences that include a section for cesareans can help bring a sense of calm. Most cesareans aren’t true emergencies, meaning there’s often time to advocate for your preferences. What to bring into the OR? Your partner and your doula. You can ALWAYS advocate for both, but you need to be ready to do that. Bring your own music (a doctor may even let you connect to their speaker). Ask for a quiet OR with minimal unrelated conversation. You deserve a calm atmosphere while meeting your baby. If you don’t have a birth photographer, a nurse might be able to take photos for you. Bringing a single birth affirmation into the OR can also be grounding.

Your hospital recovery room deserves hygge, too! Since cesarean recovery is typically about five days, bring back your string lights, affirmations, and flowers to make the space feel comforting and cozy.

When hospital staff walks into my clients' rooms, they often comment on the calm vibes, lovely scents, and soft lighting. You deserve a hygge birth space that reflects your vibe—so make it happen! ✨

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