Birth plan: what is it?
A birth plan states your preferences for how you would like your birth to proceed – for example, where you want to give birth, who you want there to support you, what pain relief you’re considering, whether you want a water birth, etc. It’s a useful document to include in your hospital bag, so that your healthcare team (and your birth partner) know your wishes, even when you’re not feeling lucid enough to share them yourself! If you’re not sure how to write a birth plan, read on – we have some ideas below, plus a useful birth plan template you can download.
What should I include in my birth plan?
You can put as much or as little information in your birth plan as you like. In our birthing plan template we’ve included the most common considerations so you can easily select your preferences, but you can also add to this with more personal details. Remember, your birth plan is as much for you and your partner as it is for your midwives and doctors, so it doesn’t have to be all medical. For example, if you have a very clear vision of what you’d like your birthing environment to be like, it’s a good idea to write that down. If you prefer (and your chosen hospital or birth centre can accommodate) low light put it in your birth plan. If you have made a playlist for the occasion, write down the name of it so your partner can easily find it. If you have built anything into your hypnobirthing practice, you can also write that down, in case you need cues to help you.
Birth plan checklist
Here’s a list of some basic things that should be included in your birth plan:
- Your name
- Who will be attending with you (your birthing partner or/and doula)
- Your preferred midwife, if applicable
- You preferred birthing position – e.g. a water birth, on a birthing ball, etc.
- Anything you really don’t want – e.g. an epidural, or an episiotomy
- If you want your partner to cut the umbilical cord and optimal cord clamping
- If you’re planning to breastfeed
- If you’d like to be told the sex of the baby (if you don’t already know( or if you want to see for yourself
- Any special requests/needs you have
Birth plan for C-Section
You don’t have to be planning a C-Section to write a birth plan for a caesarean. Perhaps your baby is breech and it’s a possibility, or perhaps you just like to be prepared for every eventuality. Having one in your hospital bag will ensure that even in the case of an emergency C-section, your wishes are still known.
Much of the information in your birth plan will be the same as for a vaginal birth. For example, who is attending, whether you want the doctor/midwife to tell you the baby’s sex or if you prefer to find out for yourself, and whether you would like skin-to-skin immediately or wait for the baby to be cleaned up first. Additional information you could provide for a C-section includes:
- Whether or not you’d like to see the baby being born – e.g. by lowering the screen or positioning a mirror
- Whether you want the theatre staff to tell you what they’re doing, or if you prefer quiet
- Whether you’d like optimal cord clamping
How to write a birth plan
A birth plan should be written clearly and concisely so that it’s easy for anyone to read, even if they’re in a hurry. You could write it as a list of bullet points, or use bold fonts or a highlighter to emphasize the most important points. Our birth plan template – which you can download here – is a simple checklist with tick boxes, which makes it very easy to fill out and clear for everyone to read.
Things to consider
Some parts of your birth plan will probably be instinctive to you. You might know, for example, what you feel comfortable with in terms of skin-to-skin contact. However, other parts of the birth plan might require a bit more thought and discussion with both your partner and your healthcare provider.
Your midwife will be able to talk you through the different pain relief options and explain the pros and cons of each. You and your partner could decide together whether they should cut the umbilical cord (or if the idea of it makes them squeamish!) and who gets to find out the sex of the baby first. You’ve got nine months to think about it while you’re preparing for birth, and you can keep mulling it over until the last minute, but if there’s anything you do feel strongly about, make sure you tell your birthing partner and write it down.
What happens after I have made my birth plan?
It’s a good idea to make at least one copy of your birth plan, so you can keep one with your hospital notes, and one in your hospital bag. You might like to also have a digital copy so your partner can access it at any time. Having made the birth plan, it’s really important it’s in the right hands on the big day. Be sure to give it to your assigned midwife on the big day as they may not automatically ask for it.
The best-laid plans…
While birth plans are good to have, it’s also important to acknowledge that things can change and there may need to be some flexibility. Many hospitals have limited birthing pools, for example, and it might be that they are already in use when your baby decides to make an appearance. Similarly, your preferred midwife might be unavailable. In circumstances like these, try to hold on to the good news: your baby is coming, and your long wait to meet them is over.
Sometimes, labour can be more difficult than you expected, and your plans might have to change. Perhaps you intended to go without pain relief, but the pain is more difficult to manage than you imagined. It’s okay to change your mind about what you want.
Try to talk through your options with your healthcare team and with your partner, so that everyone’s clear on where you stand. During the most intense points of labour, your partner or doula is your best advocate so it’s really important to have these kinds of conversations ahead of delivery day so that they can speak on your behalf if needed.
The other thing to remember is that your healthcare team are there to support and help you. They might advise procedures – like an episiotomy, for example – that you do not particularly want. As best you can, you should always try to listen to their advice and ask as many questions as you want. However, you do not have to consent if it doesn’t feel right to you and you can always ask if there are alternatives to interventions that are offered.
Frequently asked questions about birth plans
When should I write my birth plan?
You can start thinking about your birth plan as early as you like, and jot down notes or things you’ve read that appeal or are important to you. However, most people wait until they have completed their antenatal classes and feel better informed about labour and birth before writing their birth plan. This is because so much of the birth plan revolves around things like pain relief, birth position, interventions, and the immediate post-birth period, which is also the focus of antenatal classes.
If you feel ready to write your birth plan earlier, there’s no reason not to. But don’t forget the need to be flexible in case circumstances change.
When should I write my birth plan?
You can start thinking about your birth plan as early as you like, and jot down notes or things you’ve read that appeal or are important to you. However, most people wait until they have completed their antenatal classes and feel better informed about labour and birth before writing their birth plan. This is because so much of the birth plan revolves around things like pain relief, birth position, interventions, and the immediate post-birth period, which is also the focus of antenatal classes.
If you feel ready to write your birth plan earlier, there’s no reason not to. But don’t forget the need to be flexible in case circumstances change.
Why is a birth plan important?
Birth plans are important because they let everyone involved in the birth of your baby know your wishes. This is your baby and your body. Though no one can guarantee the birth will go completely according to plan, it is important that your preferences are voiced, heard and understood. Being clear about what you want gives you agency, and hopefully prevents you from feeling like your experience is totally outside your control.
Do I need to write a birth plan?
A birth plan is not compulsory. You may feel that you’re happy to go along with whatever the midwives advise and don’t have any preferences of your own. Or you may feel confident enough to verbally state your wishes throughout the labour and birth experience. You can express a desire for assistance – for example, by asking for help with breastfeeding. You can also use the birth plan to let the midwives know of any specific requirements relating to your culture, religion or personal needs.
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