Birth Plan: Purpose, Benefits, What To Include and Other Tips

If you’re pregnant, you have certain choices to make about your labor and delivery.

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Are you open to getting an epidural? Who do you want to be with you? Is delaying your baby’s first bath important to you?

When you’re in the throes of labor, it can be hard to focus on decisions like these. That’s where a birth plan comes into play. It can help you make some choices ahead of time so you and your care team are on the same page.

Certified nurse midwife Claire Hamp, CNM, explains how to create a birth plan and why it’s important to keep it flexible.

What is a birth plan?

A birth plan is a written summary of your preferences for labor, delivery and postpartum care. You can think of it as guidelines for your care team — a way to make sure everyone is aligned and understands your wishes.

“When it comes to birth, you have options,” Hamp says. “It’s like a toolbox. We have different ways we can support your labor, but you don’t always want or need all of them.”

What a birth plan does

A birth plan allows you and your Ob/Gyn or midwife to work together as a team.

Writing a birth plan gives you an understanding of your options and allows you to communicate your goals with your care team. That can help you feel more prepared during labor and delivery and allows you to take an active role in decision-making.

But it’s not set in stone. Things may not go exactly as you planned, and that’s OK. Your care team will help you understand what’s happening and work with you to find alternatives to your plans if needed.

How to create a birth plan

This sample birth plan template can help you understand your options and make some choices. It’s a helpful way to get started on creating your birth plan. It lays out options for labor, delivery, pain relief and more — allowing you to note your preferences.

Key components of a birth plan

Hamp shares these key points to include in your birth plan.

Introductory information

Start with some basics:

Your name (including how you prefer to be addressed)
The name of your partner or labor support person, if applicable
Due date
Ob/Gyn or midwife name

Labor and delivery preferences

You may have certain preferences that can help your team make you feel more comfortable during labor. Your birth plan might include things like:

Whether you wish to move around during labor
If you’d like access to equipment, like a birthing ball or water therapy
Your preferred birthing positions
If you’d like to keep the lights dim or the sound to a minimum
Who you want to cut the umbilical cord

You can also detail what you would like to happen in case of a C-section birth. That includes things like who you want in the room, if circumstances allow, and if you’d like to do skin-to-skin care, if it’s safe.

Interventions

Your birth plan should also outline what interventions you’re comfortable with. That might include which pain management options you’re OK with.

You may be open to using medicated interventions, like an epidural or IV pain medications. Or your plan may call for an unmedicated delivery. Maybe you’d rather keep your options open.

There’s no right or wrong answer. But the more your team understands your wishes, the more supportive they can be.

Immediate postpartum care

Your birth plan can also specify certain desires for what happens after your baby is delivered. That includes things like:

Whether you intend to breastfeed or bottle feed (or both)
Who you want to give baby their first bath
If you want to have your baby circumcised at the hospital

Tips for creating your birth plan

The first step to creating a birth plan is knowing what your options are.

“It all starts with having an informed opinion,” Hamp says. “Reading books about pregnancy and birth, talking to loved ones about their experiences and taking a childbirth education class can be helpful to get started.”

From there, you can consider factors like:

Your support team: Who do you want by your side?
The environment: What makes you feel calm and safe? Think about things like music, scent and lighting.
Your pain tolerance: How confident are you in your coping skills? What resources are available to help?
Your goals: What’s most important to you about your birthing experience? Is it about minimizing interventions, reducing pain or perhaps something else?
Backup plans: If things need to change, what are your priorities, and who can speak on your behalf?

Talk about your birth plan with your provider

Your labor and delivery provider is your partner in this process. Bring your birth plan to prenatal visits so you can review it together. They can explain what’s routine at your hospital, what options are available and what may need further discussion.

“Those conversations really help with education and understanding on both sides,” Hamp reinforces. “They help your provider understand what matters most to you so they can meet your goals as much as possible.”

Bottom line: Stay flexible

Birth doesn’t always go exactly as planned, but your team should have your back. They can help balance your preferences with your medical needs.

“If things change, your provider will work with you to make the best decisions to keep you and your baby safe while also prioritizing your wishes,” Hamp reassures.

Think of your birth plan as a roadmap, not a script. You might take a detour, but the goal is still to help you reach your destination of bringing your baby into the world safely.