A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor and delivery. While birth doesn't always go according to plan, having your preferences documented helps your healthcare team provide care that aligns with your values and desires.
Remember: Flexibility is Key
Birth plans are preferences, not demands. Medical situations may require changes to your plan, and that's completely normal. The goal is communication, not rigid adherence to a document.
Step 1: Research Your Options
Before creating your birth plan, it's important to understand the options available to you. Research different approaches and discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Research Areas
- • Pain management options
- • Labor positions and movement
- • Interventions and procedures
- • Immediate postpartum care
- • Newborn procedures
- • Breastfeeding support
Information Sources
- • Childbirth education classes
- • Healthcare provider discussions
- • Evidence-based pregnancy resources
- • Hospital or birth center tours
- • Trusted pregnancy websites and books
Step 2: Birth Plan Categories
Labor Environment
Atmosphere Preferences:
- □ Dimmed lighting
- □ Music or silence
- □ Aromatherapy
- □ Room temperature preferences
- □ Photography/video permissions
Support People:
- □ Partner present
- □ Doula support
- □ Family members
- □ Children present (if applicable)
- □ Religious/spiritual support
Pain Management
Natural Methods:
- □ Breathing techniques
- □ Movement and position changes
- □ Hydrotherapy (shower/tub)
- □ Massage and counter-pressure
- □ Heat/cold therapy
Medical Options:
- □ Epidural anesthesia
- □ Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
- □ IV pain medications
- □ Local anesthetics
- □ Open to all options
Labor Positions and Mobility
Movement:
- □ Freedom to walk
- □ Position changes
- □ Birthing ball use
- □ Squatting bar
Delivery Positions:
- □ Upright positions
- □ Side-lying
- □ Squatting
- □ Hands and knees
Equipment:
- □ Continuous fetal monitoring
- □ Intermittent monitoring
- □ Wireless monitoring
- □ IV fluids
Delivery Preferences
Pushing and Delivery:
- □ Directed vs. spontaneous pushing
- □ Mirror to see baby's head
- □ Touch baby's head while crowning
- □ Episiotomy preferences
- □ Vacuum/forceps preferences
Cord and Placenta:
- □ Delayed cord clamping
- □ Who cuts the cord
- □ Cord blood banking
- □ Placenta delivery preferences
- □ Placenta examination/keeping
Immediate Postpartum
Baby Care:
- □ Immediate skin-to-skin contact
- □ First feeding preferences
- □ Eye ointment timing
- □ Vitamin K shot
- □ Newborn procedures timing
Recovery:
- □ Rooming-in preferences
- □ Visitor policies
- □ Breastfeeding support
- □ Pain management postpartum
- □ Length of stay preferences
Step 3: Special Considerations
Multiple Birth Plans
Consider creating different versions of your birth plan for different scenarios:
- • Plan A: Ideal vaginal delivery
- • Plan B: Vaginal delivery with interventions
- • Plan C: Planned cesarean delivery
- • Plan D: Emergency cesarean delivery
Cultural and Religious Considerations
- • Religious ceremonies or prayers
- • Cultural practices around birth
- • Dietary restrictions
- • Modesty preferences
- • Language interpretation needs
Step 4: Writing Your Birth Plan
Keep your birth plan concise, positive, and flexible. Focus on your most important preferences and be open to medical recommendations.
Effective Birth Plan Tips
- • Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum
- • Use positive, collaborative language
- • Prioritize your most important preferences
- • Include "I prefer" rather than "I demand"
- • Leave room for medical recommendations
Things to Avoid
- • Overly detailed or lengthy documents
- • Demanding or inflexible language
- • Unrealistic expectations
- • Refusing all medical interventions
- • Not discussing with your provider first
Birth Plan Template
Basic Birth Plan Template
Mother's Name: _____________________ Due Date: _____________________
Partner's Name: _____________________ Healthcare Provider: _____________________
Hospital/Birth Center: _____________________ Pediatrician: _____________________
Labor Preferences
Environment:
- □ I would like the room to be quiet and calm
- □ I prefer dim lighting during labor
- □ I would like to play my own music
- □ I prefer minimal interruptions
Movement and Positioning:
- □ I would like to move freely during labor
- □ I prefer to avoid continuous fetal monitoring if possible
- □ I would like access to a birthing ball, squat bar, or other positioning aids
- □ I prefer to labor in upright positions
Pain Management:
- □ I plan to use natural pain management techniques first
- □ I am open to an epidural if needed
- □ Please offer pain relief options without my asking
- □ I prefer to request pain relief when I feel I need it
Delivery Preferences
Pushing and Birth:
- □ I prefer to push when I feel the urge
- □ I would like to see the birth with a mirror
- □ I prefer to avoid an episiotomy unless medically necessary
- □ I would like to touch my baby's head as it crowns
Immediately After Birth:
- □ I would like immediate skin-to-skin contact
- □ I prefer delayed cord clamping
- □ My partner would like to cut the cord
- □ I plan to breastfeed immediately
Newborn Care Preferences
Immediate Newborn Care:
- □ I prefer all newborn procedures be done in my presence
- □ I consent to Vitamin K injection
- □ I consent to eye ointment
- □ I prefer to delay non-essential procedures for bonding time
Feeding:
- □ I plan to breastfeed exclusively
- □ I am open to formula supplementation if medically necessary
- □ I would like lactation consultant support
- □ Please no bottles or pacifiers unless medically necessary
Step 5: Reviewing and Sharing
Once you've completed your birth plan, it's important to review it with your healthcare provider and birth support team.
Review with Healthcare Provider
- • Schedule a dedicated appointment to discuss your birth plan
- • Ask about hospital or birth center policies
- • Understand which preferences may not be possible
- • Get clarification on medical procedures
- • Make revisions based on professional input
Share with Your Team
- • Give copies to your partner and doula
- • Include in your hospital bag
- • Send to your healthcare provider's office
- • Keep a digital copy on your phone
- • Review with labor and delivery nurses upon arrival
Sample Birth Plan Language
Positive, Collaborative Phrasing
Instead of saying:
- • "I don't want..."
- • "No interventions"
- • "I refuse..."
- • "I demand..."
Try saying:
- • "I would prefer to avoid... unless medically necessary"
- • "I hope to have a natural birth with minimal interventions"
- • "I would like to discuss alternatives to..."
- • "It's important to me that..."
Remember: Plans Can Change
The most important thing to remember about birth plans is that they're flexible documents. Medical situations, labor progression, and your own feelings may require adjustments to your original plan.
Staying Flexible
- • Trust your healthcare team's expertise
- • Be open to recommendations during labor
- • Remember that a healthy baby and mother are the top priorities
- • Don't feel like you've "failed" if your plan changes
- • Focus on the experience, not just the plan
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