How to Create a Birth Plan

A birth plan is simply a way to communicate your preferences for labor and birth with your care team. While birth is naturally unpredictable, having a plan can help you think through your options and feel more prepared for the experience.

Start with What Matters Most

Begin by considering your priorities for birth. For some families, this might include staying mobile during labor, avoiding unnecessary interventions, or creating a calm environment with dim lighting and music.

Your birth plan can also include preferences about who will be present during labor, how you would like to receive information and decision-making support, and how you hope your partner will be involved.

Consider Comfort and Pain Management

Many parents include their hopes for pain management in their birth plan.

Some prefer to use natural comfort techniques like movement, hydrotherapy, and breathing exercises. Others plan to remain open to medical pain relief if needed.

Clearly communicating your preferences helps your care team support you while still allowing flexibility if labor unfolds differently than expected.

Think About the First Moments After Birth

The moments immediately after birth are often very meaningful for families.

Many birth plans include preferences such as:

• Immediate skin-to-skin contact

• Delayed cord clamping

• Early breastfeeding support

• Keeping baby in the room whenever possible

If special circumstances arise, such as a cesarean birth or NICU care, you can also include preferences for how you would like those moments handled if possible.

Keep It Simple

Birth plans work best when they are clear, concise, and flexible. A one-page summary of your most important preferences is usually ideal for busy hospital staff.

Remember that a birth plan is not a rigid script—it is a conversation starter that helps your care team understand what matters most to you.

Preparing for birth thoughtfully can help you feel more confident, calm, and supported as you welcome your baby.