A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences regarding labor and delivery. An expectant mother usually writes a birth plan, but anyone involved in a birthing situation may create a birth plan.
What Is a Birth Plan?
A birth plan functions as a written checklist of what to consider before, during, and after giving birth. Your birth plan may include who you want present during labor, whether you want pain medication, medical interventions, or even if you wish to have music playing in the background.
You should give a copy of the birth plan to everyone on the birthing team, including your health care providers and anyone else who will be in the room during the birth experience.
There are numerous options available as birth plans can cover many birthing possibilities:
Natural Birth Plan
A natural birth plan consists of a vaginal delivery where your baby is born through the birth canal. There are no machines for continuous fetal monitoring. The birthing process is allowed to occur naturally, without pain medication or artificial medical intervention. The mother is usually guided through the birthing process by a trained midwife or a doula (labor assistant).
Vaginal Birth Plan
A vaginal birth plan consists of a vaginal delivery where your baby is born through the birth canal. The birthing process is allowed to progress naturally, with or without pain medication or artificial medical intervention, such as an epidural that is injected into your lower back near your spinal nerves to block labor contractions. The delivery typically takes place in a medical facility and the mother is usually guided through the birthing process by a licensed medical professional such as a doctor or nurse.
Induction Birth Plan
An induction birth involves planned procedures where your doctor or midwife helps start your labor contractions, typically because they aren’t starting on their own. Methods include applying topical prostaglandin to the cervix, membrane sweeping to help your water break, or administering labor-inducing Pitocin meds through an IV.
C-Section birth plan
A cesarean birth plan, or c-section, is the surgical delivery of a baby through a surgical cut or incision in a woman’s abdomen and uterus. After the baby is removed from the womb and handed to the pediatricians, the uterus and abdomen are closed with stitches that later dissolve.
Gentle C-Section Birth Plan
A gentle C-section is essentially a surgical birth incorporating aspects of vaginal birth, with similar treatment of the baby immediately after the surgery. In a gentle c-section, the medical professional gently pulls the baby’s head from the womb, then slowly, the rest of the baby’s body is delivered. The umbilical cord is not cut immediately. This procedure allows the baby to be placed on the mother’s chest for immediate skin-to-skin contact and initiate breastfeeding if that is the mother’s choice.
VBAC Birth Plan
VBAC stands for “vaginal birth after cesarean” delivery and refers to giving birth through the vaginal canal after a woman has already had a c-section. When you go into labor, you’ll follow the same process used for any natural vaginal delivery.
Home Birth Plan
A home birth takes place in a residence rather than a birthing center or hospital. A registered nurse-midwife, certified midwife, a trained doula with experience managing home births, a doctor, or an obstetrician usually attend home births. To be less intrusive, only periodic monitoring of your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and your baby’s heart rate takes place.
Home births plans are customarily followed more closely to meet the birth mother’s preferences while giving birth in a home setting.
How To Write a Birth Plan
When writing a birth plan, consider managing your numerous choices by using an editable birth plan template. Our free birth plan template is available to download in PDF format, where you can save the document and print it for immediate use. You can also use our step-by-step document builder to create a birth plan that meets all your needs.
What To Include in a Birth Plan
When deciding what to put on your birth plan, include the following information to help provide the birthing team with an outline of your preferred birthing experience:
- Primary Information: List your name, your partner’s name, your doctor’s name, and complete contact information. Name your selected birthing facility.
- Pain management: You can state early on that you want to have a birth plan epidural. Even if you may not plan to have one, you could change your mind during labor.
- Environment: Depending on where you choose to give birth, you can indicate your preferences regarding lighting, sounds, music, or even have photos/videos taken during and after labor.
- People present: While you can’t control the number of medical providers present, you can designate which family members or support people will attend the birth and who will be allowed visitation rights.
- Labor & Delivery preferences: You can indicate whether you’d prefer to labor in water, use a birthing chair, ball, or stool. Or you can specify that you want to use a mirror to see your baby crowning. You can also state what medical procedures are acceptable, like having an episiotomy, with or without local anesthesia.
- Post-delivery preferences: In this section, you can decide if you would like your partner to cut the umbilical cord and whether the baby should be placed on your abdomen right after the delivery or c-section.
- Feeding and care in the hospital: You may choose to request uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with your newborn or include instructions for the baby’s first bath, where the baby will sleep, and if the newborn is a boy, whether a circumcision should be performed.
By including this information in your plan, you will avoid having to explain your preferences at an inconvenient time, such as during labor. However, keep in mind that in the event of an emergency, the medical team may override your preferences if they believe your health or the health of your unborn child is at risk.
Sample Birth Plan
Below you will find a sample natural birth plan template which you can download in PDF or Word format.
BASIC INFORMATION Name: ________________________ Due date of delivery: ___________, 20___ Doctor/main caregiver’s name: ________________________ Location to give birth (Check one) Who I want with me during labor: LABOR ATMOSPHERE (Check all applicable) ☐ I would like it to be as quiet as possible ☐ I would like music playing in the background ☐ I would like the light dimmed ☐ I would like limited staff (no students, interns, etc.) ☐ Other: ____________________________________________. MONITORING THE BABY (Check one) ☐ I would like continuous monitoring ☐ I would like monitoring only if the baby is in distress ☐ I would like intermittent monitoring ☐ I would like wireless monitoring POSITION (Check one) ☐ I would like to be in the shower or bath ☐ I would like to walk / move around PAIN MANAGEMENT (Check One) ☐ I am uncertain about what my preferences would be ☐ Acupressure ☐ Acupuncture ☐ Breathing techniques ☐ Cold therapy ☐ Demerol ☐ Hot therapy ☐ Hypnosis ☐ Massage ☐ Meditation ☐ Reflexology ☐ Walking epidural ☐ Other: ______________. LABOR AUGMENTATION (Check all applicable) ☐ Performed only if baby is in distress ☐ Performed by natural methods such as nipple stimulation ☐ Performed by membrane stripping ☐ Performed with prostaglandin gel ☐ Performed with Pitocin ☐ Performed by rupture of the membrane ☐ Performed by stripping of the membrane ☐ Never to include an artificial rupture of the membrane ☐ Other: ____________________________________________. DURING DELIVERY POSITION (Check one) METHODS The delivery method I prefer is (Check one): (Check all applicable) ☐ I would like to be coached on when to push ☐ I would like to push on my own as much as possible ☐ I would like my support person to catch the baby ☐ I would like to see my baby crown ☐ I would like my support person to suction ☐ Unless necessary, I do not want to use forceps ☐ Unless necessary, I do not want to use vacuum extraction EPISIOTOMY (Check one) ☐ I would like an episiotomy than risk tearing ☐ I would like an episiotomy only if necessary EPISIOTOMY ANESTHESIA (Check if applicable) ☐ I would like local anesthesia ☐ I do NOT want any anesthesia for the episiotomy In case of a C-SECTION (Check all applicable) ☐ I would like a second opinion ☐ I would like to make sure other options have been exhausted ☐ I would like to breastfeed in the recovery room AFTER DELIVERY I would like to hold my baby (Check one) ☐ Skin-to-skin contact right after delivery ☐ After suctioning ☐ After weighing PITOCIN OR OXYTOCIN (Check one) ☐ I want to be given Pitocin or Oxytocin after birth ☐ I do NOT want to be given Pitocin or Oxytocin after birth UMBILICAL CORD (Check all applicable) ☐ I would like the umbilical cord to be cut only after it stops pulsating ☐ I would like to bank the cord blood ☐ I would like to donate the cord blood ☐ Other: ____________________________________________. PLACENTA (Check all applicable) ☐ I would like to see the placenta before anything is done to it ☐ I would like the placenta discarded ☐ I would like the placenta encapsulated ☐ I would like to deliver the placenta myself BREASTFEEDING (Check one) ☐ I plan to breastfeed ☐ I do NOT plan to breastfeed (Check all applicable) ☐ I will breastfeed later ☐ I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible BABY’S TREATMENT I would like my baby to stay in my room (Check one) ☐ All the time ☐ During the day ☐ Only when I am awake ☐ Only for feeding I would like my baby’s medical exam (Check all applicable) ☐ Given in my presence ☐ Given only after we’ve bonded I would like baby’s medical exam to include (Check all applicable) ☐ Heel stick procedure ☐ Hearing screening test ☐ Hepatitis B vaccine Please do NOT give my baby (Check all applicable) ☐ Vitamin K ☐ Antibiotic eye treatment ☐ Sugar water ☐ Formula ☐ A pacifier ☐ Other: ________________________. CIRCUMCISION (Check one) ☐ I would NOT like my baby to be circumcised ☐ I would like my baby to be circumcised as soon as possible ☐ I would like my baby to be circumcised at a later time ☐ This does not apply to us (Check all applicable) ☐ I would like him to be circumcised with anesthesia ☐ I would like to be present for the circumcision ☐ I would like my partner to be present for the circumcision VISITORS (Check one) ☐ I would like visitors immediately after delivery ☐ No visitors until my baby gets his or her first feeding ☐ Other: ____________________________________________. Visitor names: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Other information I would like to include about my birth plan: ☐ I am bringing my own birthing ball ☐ I am bringing my own birthing tub ☐ I am bringing my own birthing chair or stool ☐ Other: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Birth Plan
☐ At home ☐ Hospital: ________________________
☐ Birth center: ________________________
Name: ________________________ Relationship: ______________
Name: ________________________ Relationship: ______________
Name: ________________________ Relationship: ______________
☐ I would like to sit ☐ I would like to stand ☐ I would like to lie down
☐ I would like an epidural
☐ Offer me pain medication if I appear to be in pain
☐ Offer me pain medication only if I ask for it specifically
☐ I would like to use alternative pain management measures (Check all applicable)
☐ I would like to squat ☐ I would like to stand ☐ I would like to lie down ☐ I would like to be on my hands and knees ☐ Other: ____________________________________________.
☐ Vaginal ☐ C-section ☐ Water birth ☐ VBAC ☐ Other: ______________.
☐ I would not like an episiotomy
☐ I would like to stay conscious ☐ I would like my partner to remain with me the entire time
☐ I would like the screen lowered so I can watch baby come out
☐ I would like my hands left free so I can touch the baby
☐ I would like the surgery explained as it happens ☐ I would like an epidural for anesthesia
☐ I would like my partner to hold the baby as soon as possible
☐ After being swaddled
☐ I would like my partner to cut the umbilical cord
☐ Other: ____________________________________________.
☐ I would like to breastfeed before eye drops are given
☐ I will feed on a schedule ☐ I will feed on demand
☐ Only when I request it ☐ Other: ____________________________________________.
☐ Given in my support person or partner’s presence
Tips for Writing a Birth Plan
Include a contingency plan
The labor and delivery process will go exactly as described in your birth plan in an ideal situation. But sometimes, complications can occur, and preferences such as having a home birth may no longer be safe for you or your unborn child. You should consider creating a contingency plan with backup options in case the unexpected happens. For example, you may need to have an emergency caesarian. In which case, you can specify you’d prefer a gentle c-section or for the medical team to perform a vaginal seeding procedure.
Educate yourself about your choices
Consider completing a childbirth preparation program before attempting to write your birth plan. When it comes to pain management, medical interventions, and c-sections, doctors want to know that you understand what you are requesting them to do.
If you are running out of time before delivery, try reading a book on childbirth preparation or watching a video course to enhance what you already know and present you with more possible choices. To learn about options for pain control, birthing positions, delivery methods, and newborn care, take a tour of your birthing facility before you deliver and discover what’s available.
FAQs/Related questions
You should write a birth plan as early as possible. In general, the second trimester is a good time to start thinking about creating one. As some babies arrive early, it may be a good idea to write a birth plan between weeks 32 through 36. When should I write a birth plan?
No, you do not have to have a birth plan in place. However, consider that creating a birth plan allows you to design an ideal labor situation and may positively affect your overall labor experience. Do you have to have a birth plan?