How to create a birth plan for labor & delivery

Going into labor and giving birth can be a high-stress experience, especially for a first-time mother. To help ease any anxiety, it’s a great idea to have a birth plan in place before going into labor. Learn what a birth plan is and how to create a birth plan to prepare for childbirth.

What is a birth plan?

A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor and delivery as well as your postpartum experience. It also gives you the chance to be an active participant in your health care and offers you some control of your childbirth experience.

Birth plans are often provided by mothers wishing to have an unmedicated birth (without any pain medication), but they’re a great option for any expectant mother. Birth plans are best suited for women with low-risk pregnancies who go into labor spontaneously as they’re much less likely to require interventions that may differ from their birthing preferences.

Creating a birth plan: Birth plan checklist

Some things to consider if you’re interested in creating a birth plan are your preferences when it comes to your labor, such as:

• Who you would like present in the room
• Pain management (e.g., no medication, IV pain medication, epidural)
• Fetal monitoring (which may or may not be optional depending on doctor/hospital policy)
• Pushing and delivery (e.g., coaching from physician/nurse, pushing with urges, watching pushing with a mirror)
• Immediately after delivery (e.g., delayed cord clamping, cord blood donation)
• Care of baby (e.g., immediate skin to skin, breast vs. bottle feeding, rooming-in)
• Visitation (do you want family in the room right away or do you want time alone with just your partner/support person and baby?)

How to make a birth plan

Writing out a birth plan with your partner can be a great way to get them involved and remind them of the importance of their role as your primary support person during labor. If you’re planning on having a doula during labor, you may want to review your birth plan with them as well.

Birth plan examples

When it comes to writing a birth plan, being concise is best. Ideally, limit your birth plan to a one-page document in an easy-to-read format, using key headings with bullet points underneath (e.g., pain management, fetal monitoring, IV vs. oral intake, feeding baby, etc.). Some hospitals may provide a birth plan template that you can fill out. If not, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provides a sample birth plan template.

Alternative birthing preferences to include in birth plan

Childbirth and creating a birth plan can be overwhelming. Many women feel the need to be fully prepared for all possibilities. Consider these items that don’t need to be included in a birth plan or worried about:

• An episiotomy: This procedure is no longer a routine practice in most hospitals, and episiotomies are only performed in special situations
• An enema: Again, this practice is no longer routine
• Shaving: Clipping pubic hair is usually only done if a C-section is needed

Sharing your birth plan with your doctor

Writing out your birth plan well ahead of time gives you time to share with your doctor during one of your routine appointments. Consider reviewing it with your doctor in the early to mid-third trimester. An open conversation about expectations between you, your partner and your doctor can go a long way in making your delivery experience an enjoyable one.

While sharing your birth plan, your doctor will also inform you of any hospital policies that may affect some of your delivery preferences. For example, some hospitals limit how many people may be present in the delivery room and some may not allow video of the delivery. It’s possible you may need to change your birth plan after talking about it with your doctor. It’s always a good idea to bring a copy with you to the hospital when you go into labor.

In addition to having a birth plan, childbirth classes and a tour of your birthing center can go a long way in preparing you for your childbirth experience. We also provide advice on what to include when packing your hospital bag.

Flexibility is the most important aspect of your birth plan

In labor and delivery, things don’t always go according to plan, and situations can change quickly. Keep in mind that flexibility is key when it comes to birth plans. Think about your choices as “birth preferences” — what you’d like to happen in the ideal scenario. Your birth plan may be limited by your doctor’s philosophy as well as hospital policy, so it’s important to discuss your wishes early on to ensure you and your provider are on the same page.

It’s a good idea to have back-up plans in mind should the unexpected occur. What would you want to do for pain control if your breathing techniques aren’t enough? If an induction of labor is required, do you have preferences for methods of induction? What preferences do you have if a C-section delivery becomes necessary? Thinking about all these things in advance is a chance to prepare yourself for unexpected changes in your birth plan and to feel empowered about the choices you’ve made should things not go as planned.

Birthing and labor and delivery resources

Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women has everything you need for your birthing experience. See all our downloadable resources, including a sample birth plan template.