In early pregnancy, you're probably thinking of baby names and shopping for baby clothes. The reality of labor and birth may seem far off — but now's the time to start planning for your baby by creating a birth plan that details your wishes.
What's a Birth Plan?
The term birth plan can be misleading — it's less an exact plan than a list of preferences. In fact, the goal of a birth plan isn't for you and your partner to decide exactly how the birth of your child will happen — labor involves so many variables, you can't predict exactly what will happen. A birth plan does, though, help you to realize what's most important to you in the birth of your baby.
While completing a birth plan, you'll be learning about, exploring, and understanding your labor and birthing options well before the birth of your child. This can also improve your communication with the people who'll be helping during your delivery.
A birth plan isn't a binding agreement — it's just a guideline. Your doctor or health care provider may know, from having seen you throughout the pregnancy, what you do and don't want. But, if you go into labor when there's an on-call doctor who you don't know well, a well thought-out birth plan can help you communicate your goals and wishes to the people helping you with the labor and delivery.
What Questions Does a Birth Plan Answer?
A birth plan usually covers three major areas:
1. What are your wishes during a normal labor and delivery?
These range from how you hope to handle pain relief to fetal monitoring. Think about the environment in which you want to have your baby, who you want to have there, and what birthing positions you plan to use.
2. How are you hoping for your baby to be treated immediately after and for the first few days after birth?
Do you want the baby's cord to be cut by your partner? If possible, do you want your baby placed on your stomach immediately after birth? Do you want to feed the baby immediately? Will you breastfeed or bottle feed? Would you like the baby to sleep next to you or in the nursery (if the hospital has one)?
Hospitals have widely varying policies for the care of newborns — you'll want to know what these are and how they match what you're looking for.
3. What do you want to happen in the case of unexpected events?
No one wants to think about something going wrong. But if it does, it's better to have thought about your options in advance. Since some women need cesarean sections (C-sections), your birth plan should probably cover your wishes in the event that your labor takes an unexpected turn. You might also want to think about other possible complications, such as premature birth.
Things to Consider
Before you make decisions about each of your birthing options, you'll want to talk with your health care provider and tour the hospital or birthing center where you plan to have your baby.
You may find that your obstetrician, nurse-midwife, or the facility where they admit patients already has birth-plan forms that you can fill out. If so, use the form as a guideline for asking questions about how women in their care are routinely treated. If their responses are not what you're hoping for, you might want to look for a health provider or facility that better matches your goals.
And it's important to be flexible — if you know one aspect of your birthing plan won't be met, be sure to weigh that against your other wishes. If your options are limited because of medical needs, insurance, cost, or geography, focus on one or two areas that are really important to you. In the areas where your thinking doesn't agree with that of your doctor or nurse-midwife, ask why he or she usually does things a certain way and listen to the answers before you make up your mind. There may be important reasons why a doctor believes some birth options are better than others.
Finally, find out if there are things about your pregnancy that might prevent certain choices. For example, if your pregnancy is considered high-risk because of your age, health, or problems during pregnancy (current or previous), your health care provider may advise against some of your birthing wishes. You'll want to discuss, and consider, this information when thinking about your options.
What Are Your Birthing Options?
In creating your plan, you're likely to have choices in the following areas:
Where to have the baby. Most women give birth in the hospital. However, most are no longer confined to a cold, sterile maternity ward. Find out if your hospital practices family-centered care. This usually means the patient rooms will have a door, furnishings, a private bathroom, and enough space to accommodate a family.
Additionally, many hospitals now offer birthing rooms that allow a woman to stay in the same bed for labor, delivery, and sometimes, postpartum care (care after the birth). These rooms are fully equipped for uncomplicated deliveries. They're often attractive and have gentle lighting.
But some women believe that the most comfortable environment is their own home. Advocates of home birth believe that labor and delivery can and should happen at home, but they also stress that a certified nurse-midwife or doctor should attend the birth.
An important thing to remember about home birth is that if something goes wrong, you don't have the amenities and technology of a hospital. It can take a while to get to the hospital, and during a complicated birth those minutes can be invaluable.
For women with low-risk pregnancies who want something in between the hospital and home, birthing centers are another option. These provide a more homey, relaxed environment with some of the medical amenities of a hospital. Some birthing centers are associated with hospitals and can transfer patients if necessary. It's a good idea to find out what happens in case of a complication: How would you get to the hospital? How long would the transfer take?
Who will assist at the birth. Most women choose an obstetrician (OB/GYN), a specialist who's trained to handle pregnancies (including those with complications), labor, and delivery. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, you may be referred to an obstetrician who subspecializes in maternal-fetal medicine. These doctors have specialized training to care for pregnant women with medical conditions or complications, as well as their fetuses.
Another medical choice is a family practitioner who has had training and has maintained expertise in managing non-high-risk pregnancies and deliveries. In some areas of the United States, especially rural areas where obstetricians are less available, family practitioners handle most of the deliveries. As your family doctor, a family practitioner can continue to treat both you and your baby after birth.
And doctors aren't the only health care providers a pregnant woman can choose to deliver her baby. You might decide that you want your delivery to be performed by a certified nurse-midwife, a health professional who's medically trained and licensed to handle low-risk births and whose philosophy emphasizes educating expectant parents about the natural aspects of childbirth.
More women are choosing to have a doula, or birth assistant, present in addition to the medical personnel. A doula is someone who's trained in childbirth and provides support to the mother. The doula can meet with the mother before the birth and can help communicate her wishes to the medical staff, should it be necessary.
Your birth plan can also indicate who else you'd like to have with you before, during, and immediately after the birth. In a routine birth, this may be your partner, your other children, a friend, or other family member. You also can make it clear at what points you want no one to be there but your partner.
More Birthing Options
Atmosphere during labor and delivery.
Procedures during labor. Hospitals used to perform the same procedures on all women in labor, but many now show increased flexibility in how they handle their patients. Some examples include:
• enemas. Used to clean out the bowels, enemas used to be routine when women were admitted. Now, you may choose to give yourself an enema or to skip it entirely.
• induction of labor. At times, labor may need to be induced or sped up for medical reasons. But sometimes, practitioners will give women the option of getting some help to move things along, or giving labor a little more time to progress on its own.
• shaving the pubic area.
Other procedures that you can include in your birth plan are preferences about fetal monitoring, extra birthing equipment you'd like in the room, and how often you have internal exams during labor.
Pain management. This is important for most women and is something you have a lot of control over. It's also something you'll want to discuss carefully with your health care provider. Some women change their minds about pain relief during labor only to discover that they're too far along in their labor to use some methods, such as an epidural. Also ask about other forms of pain relief, including massage, relaxation, breathing, and bathing. Know your options and make your wishes known to your care provider.
Position during delivery. You can try a variety of positions during labor, including the classic semi-recline with the feet in stirrups that you've seen in the movies. Other choices include lying on your side, squatting, standing, or simply using whatever stance feels right at the time.
Episiotomies. When necessary, doctors do episiotomies (when the perineum — the area of skin between the vagina and the anus — is partially cut to ease the delivery). You may have one if you risk tearing or in the case of a medical emergency. But if there is an option, you can discuss your preference with your provider.
Assisted birth. If the baby becomes stuck in the birth canal, an assisted birth (i.e., using forceps or vacuum extraction) may be necessary.
Cesarean section (C-section). If you need to have a C-section, you'll have to consider a few things. Do you want your partner to be present, if possible? What about viewing the birth — do you want to see the baby coming out?
After the birth. Decisions to be made about the time immediately after birth include:
• Would your partner like to cut the umbilical cord?
• Does your partner want to hold the baby when the baby emerges?
• Do you want immediate contact with the baby, or would you like the baby to be cleaned off first?
• How would you like to handle the delivery of the placenta? Would you like to keep the placenta?
• Do you want to feed the baby right away?
Communicating Your Wishes
Give your health care provider your reasons for creating a birth plan — not because you don't trust him or her, but to help ensure cooperation and to cover the possibilities if something should go wrong. If your caregiver seems offended or is resistant to the idea of a birth plan, you might want to reconsider whether this is the right caregiver for you.
Also, think about the language of your plan. You can use many online resources to create one or you can make one yourself.
Here are some tips:
• Think about the other personnel who'll be using it — hospital staffers might feel more comfortable if you call it your "birth preferences" rather than your "birth plan," which could seem as though you're trying to tell them how to do their jobs.
• Try to be positive ("we hope to") as opposed to negative ("under no circumstances").
When you've made your birth plan, schedule a time to go over it with your doctor or nurse-midwife. Find out and discuss where you agree or disagree. During your pregnancy, review the birth plan with your partner periodically.
Try to keep the plan as simple as possible and put your wishes in order of importance. Focusing on your priorities will help ensure that the most important of your wishes are met.
Make copies of the plan: one for you, one for your chart, one for your doctor or nurse-midwife, and one for your birthing coach or partner. And bring extra copies in your labor bag, in case your doctor is not on call when your baby is born.
You can't control everything that happens during your baby's birth. But you do play a role in the decisions made about your body and your baby. A well thought-out birth plan can help you to do that.
Date reviewed: June 2022
Fertility & Conception
Your physician can offer treatments and methods to help with fertility and trouble conceiving including:
• Infertility Evaluation and Initial Treatment
• Miscarriage Management
• Ectopic Pregnancy Management
• Repeated Pregnancy Loss Evaluation & Management
Rountine & Genetic Testing
Non-Stress Test
Monitors your baby's heartbeat and movement.
Serum Marker Screening
Tests several blood markers in the mother for risk of certain genetic diseases and birth defects.
Chorionic Villi Sampling
Uses a sampling of placenta cells to detect birth defects, genetic diseases and other problems.
Amniocentesis
Uses a sampling of amniotic fluid to screen for:
• Genetic Abnormalities
• Chromosomal Abnormalities
• Infection
• Fetal Lung Maturity
• Isoimmunization
Nuchal Translucency
An ultrasound that measures the fluid buildup at the back of the baby's neck. This test checks for:
Licensed medical professionals who provide care for women before and after pregnancy.
Common Pregnancy Complications
Gestational Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and 2
If you are suffering from gestational diabetes, your doctor will monitor your blood sugar throughout your pregnancy and you may need to take insulin.
Cervical Cerclage
Your physician might recommend cervical cerclage if your cervix is opening or at risk of opening before your baby is ready to be born.
Management of Premature Labor with or without Home Monitoring
Premature labor occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Your physician will work with you to monitor preterm labor, both at the hospital and at home.
Delivery at Lexington Medical Center
Welcome your baby in a large, private labor and delivery suite with modern amenities.
Trained professionals who offer physical and emotional support during and after delivery.
Natural Childbirth
Tools include birthing stools, balls and bars.
Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section
Your physician will help you determine whether you are a candidate for vaginal birth.
Postpartum Sterilization
Can be performed within a few hours or days following delivery.
Lactation Consulting
A board-certified lactation consultant will visit you in the hospital after delivery, free of charge.
Circumcision
Circumcision services are offered soon after birth.
Trained professionals who can offer help with newborn care and household duties after your family goes home.
4D Ultrasound
See your baby moving in real time and get a DVD recording to take home.
What is it?
• Shows your baby moving, maybe even smiling or yawning!
• Recorded in-house onto a DVD.
Here are ten tips for writing an effective birth plan, plus an example birth plan based on my own.
1. Write your own birth plan, don’t use a pre-printed form.
Pre-written check-off-the-boxes birth plans that are available on many web sites are good to use as worksheets while you are thinking about your birth plan. But a personally written birth plan shows your health care providers that you are educated and serious about your wishes. They are also far easier for your health care providers to use. Your birth plan should be short and readable, preferably 1-2 pages. I prefer bullet point format. Be personal and polite in your writing, using “I” statements and the word “please.” Tell short personal stories that explain your choices. I’ve included an example birth plan below.
2. Be very educated about your choices, especially regarding pain management and c-sections.
Be sure to complete a child-birth preparation program before attempting to write your birth plan. If you are running out of time before delivery, consider reading a book on child birth preparation or watching a video course. Take a tour of your birthing facility before you deliver and learn about options they offer for pain control, birthing positions and newborn care.
3. Begin your birth plan with the names and phone numbers for all the key people involved in your delivery.
Include your name, your baby’s name (if you know it!), your obstetrician or midwife, your pediatrician/baby’s doctor, the names of all those expected to be present at your delivery, and the names of anyone you don’t want at your delivery.
4. Continue with a section about your own medical and obstetric history.
In this section, include your home medications, allergies, chronic medical conditions, and information about each of your prior pregnancies and deliveries. Please see example below. State whether you are positive or negative for Group B Strep and gestational diabetes. If you have ever had herpes, HIV, hepatitis, or other sexually transmitted diseases, it is essential to include this.
5. Discuss your wishes for labor, especially regarding pain control and labor augmentation.
If you are planning natural labor without epidural, explain how you have prepared for this and what your pain-management plan will be. If your labor is augmented (sped-up) with Pitocin you will likely require an epidural for pain control. If you have had past poor experiences with pain control during delivery, discuss what happened and how you would like to avoid these complications.
If you would like to use specific birthing positions or props, such as a birthing stool or bar, be clear about these choices in your birth plan and also tell your health care providers as soon as you arrive. Be sure you are educated about how to use these positions/props and that your facility will support these options. Most women who have epidural anesthesia don’t have the leg control or strength to use a sitting or squatting position, so be sure to include a contingency plan for your birthing position if you choose to have an epidural.
6. Express your wishes for delivery, and include contingency planning in case you need a c-section.
Very few women want a C-section, but you need to be prepared for one anyway. Every birth plan should include your wishes for c-section, such as choosing not to have your hands tied down, and avoiding medications that alter your level of consciousness.
No one wants an episiotomy, but sometimes they are better than a severe tear. If you are declining episiotomy, discuss with your health care provider beforehand how you plan to avoid a severe tear and include this in your birth plan.
Include your choices for cord blood donation or private cord banking.
7. Include a section with your choices about newborn care.
Do you want to hold your baby skin-to-skin right after delivery, even if you have a c-section? You need to be clear about this. Also specify your plans regarding breastfeeding, antibiotic eye ointment, vitamin K, baby’s first bath, and the hepatitis vaccine.
8. End with a section about your own post-partum care
What pain medications work or don’t work for you? What laxatives/stool softeners do you prefer? Do narcotics make you nauseated? Tell your health care providers about it.
9. Discuss your birth plan with your obstetrician or midwife during a routine appointment.
A birth plan is useless if your health care provider doesn’t support your choices. Discuss your choices before you go into labor.
10. Know that no birth goes exactly as planned.
Remember your ultimate goal—a healthy mom and baby. Be flexible. Every labor is different and no one can predict how it will go.
Here’s my birth plan for my 5th child:
Birth plan for: Kathleen Berchelmann
Husband: [name and phone]
Baby: [name and gender, if known]
Obstetrician: [name and phone]
Pediatrician: [name and phone]
Patient History:
• Prenatal labs may be obtained from [Obstetrician’s name and phone] . I am a X year-old mother who has been pregnant 5 times and delivered 4 prior children. I am otherwise healthy and have no history of STDs or blood born diseases.
• My four other children are living and healthy:
• Baby #1: Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery of [insert weight] healthy male.
• Baby #2: C-section for breech at 38 weeks and 1 day. We had attempted version and induced labor, but after 12 hours of augmented labor baby flipped over to breech again. [insert weight] healthy female.
• Baby #3: VBAC delivery with minor shoulder dystocia at 39 weeks 6 days, [insert weight] healthy male.
• Baby #4: C-section at 39 weeks 4 days for unstable lie. [insert weight] healthy female.
• I have had a healthy 5th pregnancy without gestational diabetes, hypertension or other complications. Prenatal testing was all normal.
• Medications: [insert list]
• Allergies: none
• I am planning a VBAC delivery. I will transition to c-section as necessary.
• My husband, Greg, will be present during delivery. I have no restrictions on visitors.
• Please use IV fluids only if medically necessary. I am fine with a saline-locked IV.
• Please do not augment labor with Pitocin. I have had two prior c-sections and Pitocin increases risk for uterine rupture during VBAC.
• Please do not strip or artificially rupture membranes.
• For pain I would like a walking epidural (ie: a true epidural and not a spinal) after labor pain becomes too intense. Lidocaine or local anesthetic for episiotomy if needed. Prior to epidural I like to walk, use an exercise/birthing ball, and hold onto the handrail on the wall. I presented in precipitous delivery with my 3rd child and I almost delivered him while hanging on the handrail in the triage bathroom. A better plan would be to use a birthing bar with the head of the bed up and the foot of the bed down.
• We are planning private cord blood and cord tissue banking. Please see the kit that I will provide.
• Please no methergine without my consent. I had breast feeding failure with my 3rd child after 2 doses of IM methergine.
If I have a C-section:
• Please don’t forget to invite my husband into the OR. This happened with our second child.
• Please don’t tie down my hands.
• For the anesthesiologist:
• Please do not give me any medications without my consent. Please no drugs that alter my level of consciousness unless I need general anesthesia for a medical emergency.
• We are planning private cord blood and cord tissue banking. Please see the kit that I will provide.
• Please do a pulse-ox congenital heart disease screen.
• Our baby will stay in our room with us at night. Please do her nursing assessment in our room.
• Please give me a copy of results of baby’s hearing screen, blood work, and any other tests/studies.
Information obtained from websites:
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