Birth Plan

How to Write a Birth Plan

• Plans should be about one page in length.
• Do your research beforehand. Understand what you are requesting. Understand what an episiotomy is and what a narcotics shot can do for your and your baby.
• State items nicely, but strongly.
  • An good example would be, ‘Please do not offer me an epidural. If I decide I need one, I will inform the staff.’
  • A poor example would be, ‘I don’t want an epidural, unless the pain gets too bad, or there is a medical reason for an epidural’.
• Some birthing experts recommend making the plan personal by adding pictures of yourself and your birthing team.
• Do not put on things that you will get anyways.
  • Examples of these requests include wanting to play music, wanting the lights down low, or wanting to use your own personal pillows. The nurses know many women want those things and will not argue with you about them.
• Do not use a ‘check off the boxes birth plan’ you can find on the Internet. The plan needs to be tailored to you and your needs.

Communication Tips

A birth plan is primarily a communication tool. Write your plan a few weeks before your birth and take it to your care provider. Ask what your chances are of getting what you want. You may have written on your plan that you want a water birth, but your care provider may not do water births or your birthing facility may not have the equipment for a water birth. By taking your birth plan to your care provider before your labor, you can head off miscommunications.

Your Birthing Team

It is very important that you go over your birth plan with your birthing team. You may want a natural childbirth, but your mother may think you want an epidural. You may not want an IV, but your father may not understand why you wouldn’t want one. Going over your plan with your team will eliminate hurt feelings and potential arguments during childbirth.

In addition, you may be expecting each member of your birthing team to have a job or something you plan for them to do. But, the members of your team may have other ideas. Before you go into labor, take the time to discuss the birth plan as well as your expectations for your birthing team.

Your Birth

While you write your birth plan, you have dreams and hopes for your birth. You may be hoping for a completely natural childbirth, or you may be hoping not to be induced. But, birth is unpredictable and it cannot always be controlled. A medical condition may require an induction. Your baby’s health could be compromised, requiring a cesarean.

While you write your birth plan, remember to be flexible.