The day you welcome your sweet baby into the world should be one of the most joyful and memorable days of your life. And when you’re in labor, your focus should be on the work at hand — not writing a birth plan while you are having contractions! Or worse yet, learning about all your birth options during the hardest work of labor!
That’s what pregnancy is for. To learn what kind of birth feels right for you. What is really important to you? Do you want to have a natural water birth or give birth with the use of an epidural? Thinking ahead and…and thinking through the details of your hopes and desires for your birth, discussing your goals with your birth team and providers… can help to remove extra stress and anxiety on your big day.
By writing down your birth preferences in a ‘birth plan’, you’ll be providing the best resources possible to the people responsible for supporting and caring for you during your labor and birth.
That’s why creating a birth plan is one of the best ways you can prepare for birth. But you don’t want all your hard work to go to waste! Here’s how you put together a birth plan that your nurse will actually read!
What is a Birth Plan?
You may have heard about birth plans… But aren’t quite sure what they are, what they look like or what the benefits are. After being in the birth industry for over 15 years, we have seen it all and we want all parents-to-be to know what these birth plans are all about.
Your birth plan is a written outline of your preferences for labor, the pushing stage and newborn procedures after the birth. Medical providers do not have time to educate you and will encourage you to go through this process on your own – enter the importance of a comprehensive birth education to learn all your options. We go through ALL of you options and choices in Birth Date #3 in our couple-centered birth course!
Why Make a Birth Plan?
“Birth plans” are not guaranteed “plans” as we obviously cannot exactly control how the birth will go. But there are benefits to creating a birth plan even though there is a level of unknown to how your birth will unfold. There are 5 main reasons that birth plans are encouraged and beneficial to make.
1. The very first point of a birth plan is for you to even know what your birth choices are. “If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any” is so very true. So many times, couples think they have no say or choice in what happens in their birth. This could not be farther from the truth. You ALWAYS have a say. Your opinions always matter. But you first.. need to know about all your choices! So get educated on all your options!
2. After knowing your options, you and your partner get to know what is important to you. During this time, you both get clarity on the birth that you are most hoping for. The more you know about the birth you want, the more you can walk the path that gets you there.
3. Creating a birth plan opens up communication between you and your partner. It’s important to open up about your wishes, and communicate about your values, goals and possibilities if the plan needs to change. The more you and your partner are on the same page before birth, the better.
4. Your partner can be your best advocate ONLY when they know your wishes. Your birth plan is totally personal to you! It can include anything you think will make labor more positive and comfortable for you. Creating this communication in your birth team allows your hopes to become a reality and makes your birth team educated on what you want!
5. And most importantly, this step tells you if you have chosen the right fit provider for the birth you are wanting. Create a birth plan and then talk it over with your provider. In doing this, you will find out if your provider truly supports your birth vision. If you have created a birth plan that your provider doubts, critiques or laughs at….go find a new provider ASAP. You deserve to be believed in and supported 100%!
My #1 Birth Plan Tip for Success
As much as we’d like to control birth…it’s important to stay flexible! It’s impossible to predict exactly how your birth will unfold. Unexpected events may occur and your doctor/midwife may need to make changes to your original plan to accommodate what you and your baby need at the moment.
That’s why I like to encourage my clients to think of your “birth plan” as your “birth vision,” “birth hopes,” or “birth priorities.”
Focusing on this type of language — instead of a plan that you will carry out precisely from point A to point Z — will help you to embrace the fluidity of birth. Your birth plan will allow you to focus on your hopes, goals, vision, and priorities…while remaining flexible and open to change.
Embracing this mentality while you put together your birth plan will lead you to have a much smoother, positive birth experience!
Best Tips in Writing a Birth Plan
Now, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to put together a birth plan. Your birth plan will be as unique as you are! But there are 3 helpful tips I want to share — especially if you want your nurses, doctors, and healthcare providers to actually read what you put together!
- Keep it Simple
Stick to ONE page. This is very important because your nurses and providers are busy people and may only have a few minutes to go over your birth plan. Keep it short and sweet. Use bullet points, concise sentences, and simple headers to organize all the information.
- Make it Stand Out!
“It’s pink!” “And it’s scented!” (Quote from the classic movie Legally Blonde…) Scented paper may not be the best for a hospital setting — but colorful paper, different fonts ,or eye-catching infographics can help your birth plan to stand out from the rest! These extra touches will not only catch your providers’ attention, but may help them to remember your unique wishes and goals. For those right-brained parents, a visual/infographic style birth plan can be a great style…and super easy for the staff to quickly glance at! Download a free pdf here.
- Be positive.
Instead of saying what you DO NOT want, phrase it in what you DO WANT. This slight effort will sound much more positive and go a long way. For example. “I would like to hydrate naturally in replace of having an IV” versus “I don’t want an IV.” Hear the difference?!
- “Need to Know” Information ONLY!
I always recommend only including information that your healthcare providers need to know. This includes medical preferences, epidural request or decline, water birth tub, monitoring, supplies/tools you may need, etc. But for the non-medical details and preferences…just tell your partner and doula!
For example…if you want Adele played during your pushing stage….tell your partner or doula to do that for you. No need to inform the nurse or doctor that you will be having Bob Marley played while pushing. Your OBGYN won’t care and they don’t need to read about it. Their job is to monitor the health of you and your baby, not keep the lights dimmed. Your doula and partner are there to make sure all the details are being followed that you want.
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Birth Plan Template
With these four tips in mind, you can start looking at all your choices you have for your birth plan!
You may be so excited to check this item off your “to-do” list, but please don’t rush through this process! Take your time putting your birth plan together — envision your birth day, start collecting information and doing research, talk to a birth educator, and have conversations with your birth partner to make sure you’re on the same page.
If you need help understanding your options and this seems overwhelming, remember, Knowledge is power. We offer a full 2.5 hour class JUST on learning your birth options in our Birth Dates course so you feel fully empowered to create a birth plan and navigate if there are medical reasons to intervene. So grab your partner and dive into all your choices and we can help you make a birth plan you feel good about!
Feel free to draw inspiration from the birth plan template below…but make it your own!
Basic information
- My support person’s name: ______________
- Name: ______________
- Doula’s name (if chosen): _______________
- Provider’s name: ______________
During labor:
- Eat and drink during labor
- Be out of bed (walking around or sitting up) during labor
- Labor in water, in-room shower or birthing tub
- Labor with an exercise ball or peanut ball
- Use specific birthing positions
- Other:__________
Medical interventions:
- I would prefer (circle all that apply, or make a note next to any you’d like to avoid):
- Artificial rupture of the membranes (breaking my bag of waters)
- Leave membranes intact for as long as possible
- Constant electronic fetal monitoring
- Intermittent fetal monitoring
- The use of an IV
- The use of Pitocin to induce or augment labor contractions
- Episiotomy
- Natural tearing only
- Vacuum extraction or forceps to assist in the birth
- Other:______________
Pain relief:
- I would prefer (circle all that apply, or make a note next to any you’d like to avoid):
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Breathing techniques
- Water tub or shower
- Heat or ice
- Aromatherapy
- Hypnotherapy or positive affirmations
- Massage
- Meditation
- Reflexology
- Epidural
- Nitrous Oxide
- Other:______________
Pushing Stage:
- I would like to (circle all that apply):
- Use mirror to see baby crown
- Have partner help catch baby
- Push with my own urge
- Freedom of movement in this stage
- Announce the sex of the baby
- I would like an episiotomy or to tear naturally
- Would like warm compress and oil
- Immediate skin to skin with baby
- Delayed cord clamping and cutting
- Allow partner to cut umbilical cord
In case of a C-section:
- If medically possible, I would prefer (circle all that apply, or make a note next to any you’d like to avoid):
- To be awake and medicated with a spinal or epidural
- Clear drapes be set up so I can watch as my baby emerges
- Pictures or video of the birth
- One arm free of restriction, monitors and IVs so I can touch the baby
- For my partner to be given the baby as soon as it’s safe
- To chest/breastfeed as soon as possible
Newborn care:
- I would like to (circle all that apply, or make a note next to any you’d like to avoid):
- Hold the baby immediately after birth, allow baby time to move from belly to chest/breast
- Chest/breastfeed immediately
- Have a lactation consultant help me chest/breastfeed
- Bank the cord blood
- Keep the placenta for placenta encapsulation
- Give my baby formula
- Give my baby chest/breast milk only
- Offer my baby a pacifier
- Have circumcision performed if baby is a boy
- Give my baby vitamin K
- Give my baby antibiotic eye treatment
- Give my baby routine vaccinations
- Other:______________
Discuss Your Birth Plan with Your Midwife or OBGYN
Bring your birth plan to your next prenatal appointment and discuss your preferences with your healthcare provider. If you feel that your voice is not being heard and your provider isn’t supportive of your vision and values…it is worth finding a different provider.
The biggest indicator on how your birth plan is supported is who your provider is, and if they believe in your vision for birth. This can save you from much stress and disappointment down the line if your provider isn’t willing to support the type of birth you desire. Even if you’re 39 weeks along, it’s never too late to change providers to someone who believes in your birth vision.
Want Help Putting Together Your Birth Plan?
If this is your first birth or you’re simply swamped doing all the things… It may feel too overwhelming to research every little decision you need to make for a birth plan. You may be unsure of where to begin or which things to focus on…
That’s where taking a birth class can help you to feel empowered and educated about the birth process and what you’d like for your unique birth. I love seeing my clients gain the knowledge and tools they need to have the birth of their dreams.
That’s why I created Birth Dates! I’ll give you all the tools you need to put together your birth plan — and I’ll even review it for you if you want a second set of eyes!
My intention in creating Birth Dates is to give a space for pregnant couples to learn about birth in a fun, engaging way, reduce their fears and to ultimately experience birth as a true team. I’ve taught over 1,800 couples and I truly believe that even though you can’t control your birth, how you feel in your birth matters.
If you’re ready to feel supported, FULLY EDUCATED and ready as a COUPLE to bring your bundle of joy home…get started here on your Birth Dates!
Read a real-life birth story about how a couple had to be induced and STILL had the birth they were dreaming of!
