Whether you’re planning a natural birth, epidural, home delivery, or aren’t quite sure yet, having a birth plan can help you feel more prepared—and heard—during one of the most important days of your life.
A birth plan is a simple way to communicate your preferences for labor, delivery, and postpartum care with your healthcare providers. It doesn’t have to be complicated or overly detailed. In fact, the best birth plans are short, clear, and flexible—because labor doesn’t always follow the script.
This post will guide you through what to include in your plan, how to personalize it, and provide a birth plan template that you can fill in or adapt based on your needs.
What Is a Birth Plan?
A birth plan is a written document that outlines your wishes for how you’d like your labor and delivery experience to go. It’s not a guarantee or a contract—but rather a helpful guide that lets your medical team know what’s important to you.
It usually includes:
- Preferences for pain relief
- Who you want in the room
- Medical interventions you’d like to avoid
- Post-birth care for baby and mom
- Cultural or personal needs
Why Use a Birth Plan?
Here’s how a birth plan can support you:
- It gives you time to think through your options before labor begins.
- It encourages conversations with your provider about what’s realistic and safe.
- It helps your birth team understand your values and preferences, especially if you’re not able to speak for yourself in the moment.
- It brings peace of mind—because being informed is empowering.
What to Include in a Birth Plan
Your birth plan should be tailored to you. Here are the most common sections you can include:
1. Basic Information
Start with:
- Your name
- Your due date
- Healthcare provider or hospital name
- Support person(s) and their roles (partner, doula, etc.)
2. Labor Environment Preferences
- Do you want dim lighting or quiet music?
- Are you planning to wear your own clothes or hospital gown?
- Do you want a mirror to see the birth or a camera to record it?
- Would you like to use a birthing ball, tub, or shower?
3. Pain Management Preferences
- Open to epidural, IV medication, or prefer unmedicated labor?
- Want to try breathing techniques, massage, or hypnobirthing?
- Okay with your provider suggesting pain options or prefer to be asked first?
4. Monitoring Preferences
- Continuous fetal monitoring vs. intermittent?
- Okay with internal monitors if needed?
5. Mobility and Positioning
- Do you want freedom to walk and change positions?
- Would you like to use a birthing stool, squatting bar, or side-lying positions?
6. Medical Interventions
- Views on induction methods (Pitocin, breaking water)
- Thoughts on episiotomy vs. natural tearing
- Preferences about vacuum or forceps if needed
- How you feel about cesarean section if necessary (scheduled or emergency)
7. Delivery Preferences
- Would you like to push in a specific position?
- Do you want your partner to catch the baby or cut the cord?
- Delay cord clamping?
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact?
8. After Birth (Postpartum) Care
- Skin-to-skin time before weighing or procedures?
- Breastfeeding immediately or later?
- Do you want help from a lactation consultant?
- Will your baby stay in the room or go to a nursery?
- Vitamin K shot, eye ointment, or hepatitis B vaccine preferences?
9. Baby’s Care (Optional)
- Do you have a pediatrician already chosen?
- Feeding plan: breast, bottle, combination
- Circumcision (if applicable)
10. Special or Cultural Considerations
- Religious practices or family traditions to honor?
- Specific language to use or avoid?
- Privacy preferences?
Sample Birth Plan Template (Fill-in-the-Blanks Style)
You can copy and paste this into a Word or Google Doc to fill in your answers.
Birth Plan for:
Due Date:
Doctor/Midwife:
Hospital/Birth Center:
Partner/Support Person(s):
Labor Preferences
I would like:
[ ] A quiet room
[ ] My own music
[ ] Low lighting
[ ] To wear my own clothes
[ ] To labor in the shower/tub
[ ] Other: _______________________
Pain Management
I prefer:
[ ] Natural coping techniques
[ ] Epidural
[ ] IV pain medication
[ ] Open to suggestions
[ ] Other: _______________________
Monitoring Preferences
[ ] Intermittent monitoring
[ ] Continuous monitoring
[ ] Open to what’s necessary
Mobility During Labor
[ ] I’d like to move freely
[ ] I’m open to position changes
[ ] I’d like to walk if possible
Interventions
[ ] Avoid induction unless medically necessary
[ ] Okay with membrane sweep
[ ] Prefer to avoid episiotomy
[ ] Okay with assisted delivery if needed
[ ] Open to emergency c-section if required
During Delivery
[ ] I want to push in the position that feels best
[ ] Delay cord clamping
[ ] My partner to cut the cord
[ ] Immediate skin-to-skin
Post-Birth Preferences
[ ] Breastfeed as soon as possible
[ ] Help from a lactation consultant
[ ] Baby stays in my room
[ ] Delay baby bath
[ ] Vitamin K shot and eye ointment
[ ] Other: _______________________
Notes or Special Requests:
Tips for Making Your Birth Plan Work
- Keep it short: One page is ideal. Use bullet points for easy reading.
- Bring printed copies: Give one to your provider in advance and pack a few in your hospital bag.
- Discuss it early: Review your plan with your OB, midwife, or doula around 32–36 weeks.
- Stay flexible: Birth is unpredictable. Let your plan guide you, but be ready to adapt if needed.
Final Thoughts on Creating Your Birth Plan
A birth plan isn’t about controlling the entire experience—it’s about feeling prepared, supported, and understood. By thinking through your preferences now, you’ll be better equipped to advocate for your needs when the big day arrives.
Use this birth plan template to start the conversation with your provider and support team, and remember: the ultimate goal is a safe delivery and a healthy, happy baby (and mom).
