How to Create a Birth Plan that Actually Works
Preparing for labor doesn't have to feel overwhelming. It can be both exciting and empowering! Learn how to create a birth plan that reflects your unique preferences, explore decisions before you are in the delivery room, and download a free customizable Birth Preference Builder to help you communicate with your healthcare team with confidence.
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a document that allows you to clearly communicate to your providers what your ideal birth experiences looks like. Many providers will ask you questions about your preferences at prenatal appointments and make a note of them in your chart. But let's be honest, there is an abundance of information in your chart and your preferred provider is not always on call when you go into labor. Because of this, you want a clear and easy to read plan laid out for whoever happens to be attending your birth.
The beauty of creating a birth plan is that it gives you a chance to research many different options that you may have not even known existed until now. It also allows you to discuss your preferences with your partner or support person so that they can advocate on your behalf when the time comes.
That all being said, birth does not always go according to plan and it is a good idea to go into it with a flexible mindset. It is important to balance your preferences with your providers recommendations. Everyone has the same goal, to bring your baby safely into the world!
Is a birth plan really necessary?
Absolutely! In my opinion the single most important benefit of creating a birth plan is researching the various options available and communicating your preferences to your support person. Notice I did not say provider! I am sure the majority of providers are great and try their best to respect their patients preferences but let's get real. They are BUSY! There are several moms delivering at the same time as you and this may be the first day that you have been introduced and they need to review your chart. It is so unbelievably valuble to have your support person be able to advocate on your behalf when the time comes.
Another huge benefit of creating a birth plan is confidence. To be completely honest, my third birth was probably the most complex but I walked away from it feeling like it was the most empowering simply because I was confident in my decisions and I felt more educated than I ever had before. Trust me when I say that creating a personalized birth plan will make all the difference.
Why did I create the Birth Preference Builder?
When I sat down to write down my birth plan with my first child back in 2021, I honestly had no idea what I was supposed to include. In my mind the only thing that I thought about was getting an epidural versus declining one. I started doing some research and found out how many options there were during labor and delivery and I was immediately overwhelmed. I started looking at premade birth plans and watching vlogs but still had so much trouble when the time came to make my own. I ended up with a word document with several paragraphs that I can confidently say no one actually read.
Even though I had a great experience with my first birth, I did a good amount of additional prep prior to my second birth in 2023. I was much more clear about what I wanted but I still struggled to find a way to present it clearly. So once again I ended up with a laundry list word document. The difference this time was that I talked to my husband about it ahead of time and he was able to help communicate my preferences when the time came.
About a month ago I walked into the labor and delivery room once again to welcome our third child into the world and this time I had created a birth plan that was easy to reference at a glance using icons instead of text. I wanted something customizable because birth is not a one size fits all experience. What I used was an extremely rough version of the Birth Preference Builder that I have now polished for you to download but I can say that even the rough version made all the difference. I had my best birth experience of all!
Common Birth Plan Mistakes
- Making it too long
- Being completely inflexible
- Forgetting to discuss it with your provider and your support person
- Waiting until labor to think about your preferences
- Copying some else's birth plan
Download the Free Birth Preference Builder
Top 5 Considerations for Your Birth Preference Builder
Labor & Delivery
Interventions
As someone who has been induced three times, I am no stranger to interventions. Sometimes interventions are medically necessary for the safety of you or your baby BUT sometimes they are not. If they are not medically necessary, you have the power to decline them and proceed with labor in a way that feels more aligned to you.
Some common interventions include:
- Prostaglandins - to ripen the cervix
- Pitocin - to increase the frequency and strength of contractions
- AROM - to increase the strength and productivity of contractions
- Forceps or Vacuum - to assist in a delivery if baby is in distress and is not descending quickly enough
- Episiotomy - similar to forceps or vacuum, assists in a delivery of a baby in distress and is not descending quickly enough
Make sure that your provider discusses these interventions with you and you can make a decision together whether or not it is how you want to proceed.
Pain Management
I feel like this is the one that gets thrown into the spotlight more often than not. Do you want an epidural or don't you? People often forget that there are several other ways to manage pain before jumping to the epidural.
More natural methods include a birthing comb or counter pressure. You can also opt to go with a more medical route like nitrous oxide or IV pain medication.
Remember if you do get an epidural, you will not be able to move on your own. If you want to switch positions you will have to ask for assistance. It is truly one of the craziest feelings ever!
Immediately After Delivery
After your baby is born there will be lots of decisions to be made and you don't want to waste those precious moments trying to figure out your plan. The first decision you will made is if you want immediate skin to skin with your baby or if you want the team start with cleaning, measuring, and delivering medications to your baby. You will also have to decide which medical procedures you would like done at that time.
Vitamin K - to encourage blood to clot properly after birth, babies are born with low levels since vitamin K does not easily cross the placenta
Erythromycin eye drops - to prevent possible infection from bacteria in the birth canal
Hepatitis B vaccine - to prevent possible hep B infection
Do your research! You have the right decline any of these procedures based on your preferences.
You will also want to think about who will cut the cord and what you would like to do with cord blood and the placenta.
During Your Stay
Rooming
There are two options for where you baby will be after you get transferred to your room. The first option is called "Rooming In", meaning your baby stays with you in your room the entire time. They have a bassinet on wheels that can be rolled next to your bed for easy feedings. Rooming in promotes bonding and helps you start to recognize baby's hunger cues. The second option is using the nursery at the hospital. Nurses will care for your baby and bring them to you for feedings if you wish. Utilizing the nursery can help you get more sleep while you recover from birth. The choice is up to you!
Feeding
Are you planning on nursing? Pumping? Formula? A Combination of all of the above? It is good to have a general idea of how you would like to feed your baby before delivery. If you plan on nursing it is a good idea to learn a bit about different positions and how to latch your baby beforehand. There are tons of free resources on YouTube where they demonstrate with baby dolls! If you plan on pumping you will want to make sure you know how to use your particular pump and that you have the correct size flange set up. No matter what you choose, feeding a baby is A LOT of work and will take up a good chunk of your day. Educated yourself to help it go as smoothly as possible. Remember to take advantage of the nurses and lactation consultants while you are in the hospital. They are pros!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I write my birth plan?
It is a good idea to start thinking about your birth plan at the beginning of your third trimester. This will give you plenty of time to do some research and consult with your provider. Once you have an idea of your preferences, download my free Birth Preferences Builder to create a plan that is clear and concise. Aim to have this completed and printed by week 34 of your pregnancy. You can also email digital copies to your provider or partner if they prefer!
Can I use my birth plan if I am getting an induction?
Absolutely! I think it may be even more important to have a birth plan if you are getting induced. The induction process can take quite a while and there are many discussions starting labor and how to get you to progress. Remember that labor and delivery is not a race. As long as everyone is healthy and tolerating the induction well, you do not HAVE to agree to interventions to speed things along. Trust your body and your baby.
I have been induced for all THREE of my births so I am no stranger to the process. I felt much more at ease during my third induction because I was more prepared and confident in my choices. I allowed things to proceed at a more natural pace and my postpartum recovery has been the easiest one so far!
Can I change my birth plan during labor?
Yes! This may not be exactly what you want to hear but there are many unknowns when it comes to birth. Even if you have created the most comprehensive birth plan and packed the perfect bag, there will likely still be some surprises. It is so important to be flexible in case you need to change your plan halfway through.
Should I bring multiple copies of my birth plan to the hospital?
I would bring at least two copies. One to give to the providers and one to keep in your room for your support person to reference.
How long should a birth plan be?
Try to stick to two pages. You don't want a birth plan to include a ton of text to read because often times there is not time to sit down and review documents like this. You want to keep it short and clear so that anyone who walks in the room can get a sense of your birth preferences at a glance. This is why I created the Birth Preferences Builder the way I did. The icons are very easy to understand and can be rearranged easily based on your specific needs.
Birth is unpredictable, but feeling informed and prepared can make a world of difference. My free Birth Preference Builder is designed to help you explore your options, organize your thoughts, and communicate what matters most to your healthcare team. Download your free copy below and start creating a birth plan that reflects your unique preferences.
Have you packed your hospital bag yet? Check out my Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist here.