What is a birth plan? How do you create a birth plan as a first-time mom? How do you implement a birth plan with your healthcare team?
A birth plan is a great tool to create before going into labor so that you can easily and straightforwardly share your preferences and expectations during labor and delivery with everyone involved in your care. The birth plan may be shown to your partner or other labor partner, your doctor, midwife, nurses, caregivers, etc. A birth plan can help ensure that your wishes are respected, and your experience is as positive as possible.
When I had my son I created a mental birth plan regarding what I would like during labor and delivery. I never got around to writing my birth plan down so certain things got missed such as skin-to-skin with my husband and not getting a weight, length, etc immediately. For baby number 2, I will write down a specific birth plan so that everyone on my healthcare team knows my expectations beforehand.
Keep reading to find out what a birth plan may consist of, how you can create and implement your plan before giving birth, and download a FREE birth plan template PDF!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. In addition, I am not a doctor. Please notify your OBGYN/midwife of any concerns you may have. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
Table of Contents
Creating Your Birth Plan
Creating a birth plan is a collaborative process between you and your healthcare provider. It is essential to involve your partner or support person in the planning process as well. Begin by researching and understanding the various options available to you. Your provider may help guide you through the decision-making process, providing you with the information you need to make informed choices about your birth experience based on your choice of location for birth. You’ll want to either write down your wishes or type them up. To make this process easier, I created a birth plan guideline for you, read to the end to download the free printable PDF!
Components of a Birth Plan
Who Will Be Present:
Indicate who you would like to be present during labor and delivery. This may include your partner, family members, or a doula.
Preferred Pain Management:
Outline your preferences for pain management during labor. This may include natural pain relief methods, such as breathing techniques and movement, or medical pain relief options, such as epidural anesthesia. Also include whether you want your pain management immediately or if you will ask for it.
Some non-medication pain relief measures include acupressure, acupuncture, breathing techniques, cold therapy, distraction, hot therapy, massage, meditation, reflexology, TENS, birth ball, and birthing tub.
Labor and Delivery Positions:
Specify your preferences for labor and delivery positions. Some hospitals may have specific guidelines, so it’s important to discuss this with your provider. Include whether you want to be in a tub, using a chair, squatting, semi-reclined, hands and knees, standing, using people for leg support, birth bar, birthing stool, if you want to see your birth, move around, etc.
Labor Environment:
Detail your preferences for the labor environment, including lighting, music, clothing of choice, when to take pictures and of what, video recording, limiting hospital staff to just doctors and nurses (no medical students), having limited vaginal exams, and other comfort measures. Include whether you have a planned vaginal delivery, induction, C-Section, or water birth.
Induction and Augmentation Preferences:
If induction or augmentation of labor is being considered, discuss your preferences for these procedures with your provider.
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Considerations:
If you are considering a VBAC, discuss this with your provider and include your preferences in your birth plan.
Cesarean Birth Preferences:
If a cesarean birth becomes necessary, outline your preferences for this procedure, including who will be present and if you would like immediate skin-to-skin contact.
Newborn Care Preferences:
Specify your preferences for immediate newborn care, including delayed cord clamping, partner to cut umbilical cord, what to do with the placenta, immediate skin-to-skin contact, and feeding.
Postpartum Care Preferences:
Detail your preferences for postpartum care, including rooming-in, newborn feeding, circumcision, delayed bath, and discharge plans. Include medications you may want such as acetaminophen and stool softeners.
Emergency Situations:
In the event of an emergency, specify your preferences for medical interventions, including resuscitation and interventions for your baby. Include who you want to accompany your baby to the NICU, in the event you cannot. Include if you will breastfeed/pump milk.
Implementing Your Birth Plan
Once your birth plan is complete, it is essential to discuss it with your healthcare provider and make any necessary revisions. You should also provide copies of your birth plan to your support team and bring a copy with you to the hospital or birthing center. During labor and delivery, your provider and healthcare team will work with you to implement your birth plan and accommodate your preferences as much as possible.
5 Tips for Implementing a Birth Plan
- Plan All Scenarios Ahead of Time- Plan ahead what will happen if end up needing pain medicine, induction, emergency C-section, a NICU stay for your newborn, etc
- Include What You Really Want- Giving birth is a stressful time, and sometimes we might make choices at a moment’s notice without truly thinking of it. If there is something that you want to happen during your labor and delivery experience, make sure to highlight it in your birth plan. You don’t want to get home with your newborn and regret a decision that was made.
- Don’t Overcomplicate It- Include what you want, but don’t overthink things. This is meant to help the experience be as stress-free as possible. You don’t want to go in with unrealistic expectations.
- Involve Your Labor Partner- One mistake I made was not sharing all of my wishes with my husband ahead of time. Make sure that whoever is going to be your support person, you let them know of your birth plan so they can help implement things when you are preoccupied with actually giving birth.
- Place a Copy of Your Birth Plan in Your Hospital Bag- Be prepared weeks in advance by having your hospital bag ready and having a copy of your birth plan in your bag. You never know when the baby will want to make their grand entry, so having everything within a hand’s reach is imperative!
Conclusion
Creating a birth plan is an important step in preparing for the birth of your baby. It allows you to communicate your preferences and expectations with your healthcare team, ensuring that your experience is as positive as possible. By considering the components outlined in this blog post and collaborating with your provider, you can create a birth plan that reflects your desires and helps you achieve the birthing experience you envision.
BEFORE YOU GO, DON’T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD MY FREE PRINTABLE FILL-IN-THE-BLANK BIRTH PLAN!
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