How to create a thoughtful, effective birth plan that communicates your preferences clearly while remaining flexible for a positive birth experience.
Document requests for immediate skin-to-skin contact, delayed bathing, breastfeeding support, and preferences around routine newborn procedures like vitamin K, erythromycin eye ointment, and Hepatitis B vaccine.
Specify preferences for delayed cord clamping, who will cut the cord, and whether you wish to see or keep the placenta. Lotus birth (leaving placenta attached) should be discussed with your provider in advance.
Including C-section preferences covers the possibility of an unplanned cesarean. Requests can include a clear drape for viewing delivery, music, lower body drape for skin-to-skin, and partner staying throughout.
Indicating whether you prefer continuous electronic fetal monitoring or intermittent auscultation (checking heartbeat periodically) matters for mobility during labor. Check your hospital's monitoring protocols first.
Note preferences for lighting, music, number of people in the room, photography permissions, and aromatherapy. Creating a calm, supportive environment significantly impacts comfort and progress during labor.
Adding preferences for an unlikely but possible NICU admission — including breastmilk wishes, skin-to-skin in the NICU, and communication preferences — demonstrates thorough preparation and eases stress if needed.
Noting preferences around artificial rupture of membranes, Pitocin augmentation, and cervical ripening gives the team insight into your comfort with interventions if labor stalls or is medically indicated.
Reviewing the birth plan with your OB or midwife at 36 weeks ensures all requests are feasible and the care team is aligned. This visit also identifies any preferences that conflict with hospital protocol.
If your hospital or birth center offers water labor or water birth, explicitly stating interest in hydrotherapy ensures the tub is reserved and prepared for when you arrive in active labor.
Clearly communicating preferences around epidural, nitrous oxide, IV pain medication, or unmedicated birth allows the care team to prepare accordingly. Include openness to change as labor progresses.
The most effective birth plans are concise, typically a single page or two pages maximum. Busy nurses and doctors are more likely to fully read and respect a focused document than a lengthy multi-page list.
Requesting directed versus spontaneous pushing, preferred pushing positions, and perineal support preferences (warm compresses, massage, hands-on vs hands-off delivery) are important second-stage topics.
“Immediate Newborn Care Preferences”
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