The Ultimate Guide To Creating A Birth Plan
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a concise document created for your health care provider and everyone on your birth team. It helps your team (nurses, doctors, etc.) know exactly what’s important to you so they can support you best.
Good birth plans are easy to read, concise, and provide the reader with all of your preferences and goals for labor, birth, and postpartum.
A birth plan also provides a framework for things you need to educate yourself on. It can be helpful and empowering to think through your preferences for your birth and postpartum so you feel as prepared for parenthood as anyone possibly can be!
Why you should create a birth plan
You might create a birth plan for a few different reasons:
Communication - A birth plan keeps everyone on your birth team on the same page regarding your preferences
Education - Creating a birth plan helps you educate yourself regarding all of your birth plan options. Knowledge is power and will help you feel more in control of your labor and delivery preferences.
Bypassing “labor-brain fog” - It is much easier to make these decisions while you have a clear mind. Without a birth plan, you may have to make some tough decisions while you’re in a vulnerable mental place during labor and delivery.
How do you make a birth plan?
Some families write up a birth plan outline in a word document with all the options that are important to them (see our list here).
Other families follow a birth plan template given to them by their hospital, health care provider, or doula where they check the boxes that are most important to them.
Ideally, however, parents are choosing to make a Motherboard birth plan.
Why Motherboard birth plans are the best:
Education: Every option you select has information alongside it along with benefits, risks, and why you might make a particular choice.
Collaboration: Invite your birth team to collaborate! They can see all your preferences in real time, on any device.
Communication: Motherboard birth plans export in a single page of bright, easy-to-read icons that make nurses happy. Print them off and post them in your delivery room next to the big whiteboard!
Empowerment: With all this amazing information, be confident you’re making the best decisions you can for you and your baby.
How do you make a hospital birth plan?
First of all, you can sign up for our parent app! You can create both a vaginal and cesarean birth plan and share your visual birth plan (aka your “Board”) with your care team in real time, on any device.
When you birth at a hospital, you may just need to add more options than you would for a home birth or birthing center birth since hospitals have different tools and drugs at their disposal than other types of births.
Why you should make a hospital birth plan
Birth plans are especially important if you are having a hospital birth.
You may not have met your nurse and/or care provider prenatally.
If you have met them, they might not have been able to get to know what’s important to you, or they may not remember because they’re juggling many patients at once.
Shift changes and changes to hospital staffing mean that you might have multiple nurses and providers caring for you, and a birth plan helps bridge the gap between shifts.
Your hospital might employ “hospitalists”. A hospitalist is a doctor who works shifts at the hospital, but they do not work at the office where you go for your prenatal appointments. In these cases, it is rare that you will actually meet the hospitalist who will be on call for your birth.
It’s never a bad idea to ask how likely your midwife or doctor will be at your birth.
Depending on the hospital and care provider you choose, you may need to advocate more strongly for things that are important to you.
Midwives, for example, may be more open to going against the “norm” due to the education model they are taught in midwifery school. Also, they are typically more familiar with normal, physiologic birth (aka the healthy and normal processes your body has for birthing a baby without interventions).
If you prefer to have an obstetrician (OB), you are still able to advocate for what you want. This is where you will need to educate yourself so you feel confident when having discussions with your provider.
If you’re planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean): What is your hospital’s VBAC success rate? Is your provider comfortable with VBACs? How many successful VBACs has your provider attended?
If you’re looking at pain relief options other than an epidural: Does your hospital offer nitrous? Do they offer IV pain medications? Water therapy?
Planning for cesarean: Are you building a cesarean birth plan and want family-centered cesarean options?
Are you looking to avoid an induction: What is your hospital’s induction rate? What are your provider's thoughts surrounding induction and do they align with your own?
Motherboard can help you sort through all of these options so you can find the hospital that’s right for you!
Do I need a birth plan for a home birth or birth center birth?
The short answer is yes. You definitely should still create a birth plan if you are planning a home or birth center birth.
Usually if you’re birthing in these places, your birth plan options are refined by what’s offered in these locations, since they don’t offer epidurals, cesareans, etc.
Where birth plans can be of help is in case you need to transfer to the hospital for tools and medicines. Some midwives are able to go with you and care for you in the hospital setting, but most do not have hospital privileges. This means that if you were to be transferred to the hospital during labor, your care would be passed over to the hospital OB/midwives.
You may feel scared, exhausted, and worried about where your birth is headed in the event of a hospital transfer. Having a birth plan can put your mind more at ease; knowing you have your most important options down on paper to show the hospital staff.
It can also be incredibly helpful for your partner to have a cheat sheet of what you’ve discussed and are okay (or not okay) with so they can help you advocate for yourself at the hospital.
Birth can be an intimidating and unpredictable time, but a birth plan can help you feel more in control of your experience.
Do I need a birth plan if I have a doula?
Having a doula is a great idea regardless of the birth you are having.
A doula is a certified support person that helps to navigate through labor and delivery..
While there are many purposes of a doula, their main goal is to ensure you have a safe and healthy birth experience. They are also there to ensure you get the birth experience you want.
Although your doula will be aware of your labor and birth preferences prior to you going into labor, it’s still important for you to have a birth plan.
Not only does a birth plan ensure that everyone on your birth team is aware of your preferences, but it also gives your doula something to refer back to. They might be managing multiple clients as well and a birth plan is a good thing to reference when they join you in labor.
While you’re in labor, your doula will be helping you and/or your partner advocate for what’s important to you, even if they can’t directly advocate for you. A birth plan can be a good document that your doula can reference with staff.
Say, for instance, your nurse is offering you an epidural and you do not want an epidural and you don’t want an epidural offered to you. In a situation like this, your doula can easily show your nurse the part of your birth plan that states that you do not want an epidural and you do not want one offered to you.
Rather than having to bother you with questions/concerns during such a vulnerable time, your birth team can refer back to your birth plan as needed.
Your doula will also be aware of your “plan B” or your back-up preferences in case any unexpected events pop up. With the Motherboard Birth Plan App you can create multiple “Boards” to think through different scenarios. Definitely make a vaginal and cesarean Board, but what about an induction Board? A medicated or unmedicated Board? We will help you think through all of these scenarios!
Side note: Doulas are not only for labor and delivery. Doulas can also be used as support persons during difficult situations like miscarriage or stillbirth. Doulas can also accompany you during a cesarean birth. Some people also choose to hire a doula during the early postpartum period!
Postpartum doulas can help with things like:
Feeding/caring for your baby while you get some sleep
Preparing meals
Cleaning up the house
Assist you with emotional and physical healing
Breast/chest feeding support
Do I need a birth plan if I am having a planned cesarean birth?
If you are having a planned cesarean birth, your birth plan may be shorter, but you should definitely still have one.
There are still things from a physiologic vaginal birth that you can preserve with a cesarean with a little bit of knowledge, planning, and communication. You don’t have to be passive or give up all your dreams for a bonded, intimate birth because you end up in the operating room.
Although not exactly common in the United States, more families are opting and advocating for a “family-centered cesarean birth” in situations where there isn’t immediate emergency.
Talk to your doctor or midwife prenatally about the conditions surrounding cesarean at the hospital you would end up at.
Family-centered cesarean talking points:
Family-centered cesareans: Learn more here about what these mean and how you can advocate for them.
Sacred and intimate: We’ve got some life-hacks on how to make your baby’s birth seem less like a medical procedure and more like the creation of family, regardless of how religious or spiritual you are.
Waiting for labor to start before opting for cesarean: This might make your baby’s transition healthier than scheduling a cesarean well in advance. Learn more about the risks and benefits.
Remaining awake: Definitely talk to your doctor about the medications involved in your cesarean. Between general anesthesia, spinal anesthesias, and certain medications that can make you feel dizzy or impact memory there’s a lot to discuss.
Support people: How many people does your hospital typically allow in the operating room? (This usually decided by the anesthesiologist and you might have to advocate strongly for a doula or photographer or other support person to join you.
EKG Leads: These monitor your vitals when you’re exposed to medications and anesthesia. Learn more about how this can impact your birth.
Vaginal Prep: Some hospitals clean out your vagina with betadine disinfectant before a cesarean and they might not talk to you about it beforehand. Learn the benefits and risks here.
Keeping your hands free: Some operating rooms tie your hands down to a crossboard to keep them outside the sterile field. This can cause some people to feel claustrophobic and interfere with you touching and caressing your baby.
Sterile/clear drapes: Do you want to be able to see your baby be born? You can request a clear drape rather than the typical blue one. With a clear drape you’ll be able to see exactly what’s going on and watch your baby be born.
Baby born slowly: Learn how to mimic the “slow squeeze” of a vaginal birth and why you might want to here.
Delayed cord clamping: Another really important part of physiologic birth! Learn about how delayed umbilical cord clamping protects baby’s short term and long term health here.
Skin-to-Skin: This is incredibly important for you and baby! As long as the baby is healthy and vigorous, this is definitely something you can add to your birth plan.
Avoiding separation: Some hospitals typically only give you a few moments with your baby. Advocate for what’s important to you here.
Although vaginal births and cesarean births may look different, your preferences can be similar. Regardless of how you give birth, you should always create a birth plan!
Visual birth plan templates
A visual birth plan may be more pleasing to the eye. Rather than having a bunch of words on a page, a visual birth plan uses colorful icons for the choices selected.
The colorful icons make your birth plan look clean, organized, and visually pleasing.
This makes it much easier for people on your birth team to quickly glance at your birth plan!
Birth Plans for first time moms / birthing folks
If this is your first baby, you can have a lot of anxiety surrounding how this process might go. There are many variables and pathways to bring your baby earthside, and some cause more fear than others.
By creating a birth plan, you’re not necessarily controlling those outcomes, but thinking through what you want and need if different situations arise.
Studies have shown that when you feel more in control and prepared, you’re not at as much risk for trauma than when you feel blindsided, powerless, and paralyzed.
Creating a birth plan can help expectant parents alleviate anxiety and prevent trauma
Birth plans for second, third, etc. babies
You may be wondering if you even need a birth plan as a second, third, or fourth time parent.
The answer is always: YES! Birth plans are not only for first time parents.
Labor and birth is so unpredictable. Every pregnancy, labor, and birth is unique. Even if each of your birth plans are similar, it’s important to have them created for yourself and your birth team.
The research is always changing, which means you may change your mind about your options between your first and subsequent births.
Also, you might have learned a few things from your first birth experience and might make different choices this time around. No judgments! It’s all about what’s right for you in this moment, for you and this baby.
Birth plan examples
Over at Motherboard birth, we use visual birth plans. Here are some examples of what our birth plans look like once they are completed.
Birth Plan Ideas
Planned induction birth plan
Planned cesarean birth plan
Unmedicated birth plan
Medicated birth plan
How long should my birth plan be?
Generally speaking, birth plans should fit on one page with no smaller than 11 point font. The more concise, the better. The idea is that a healthcare provider can read through your birth plan quickly without having to muddle through a ton of information.
How many options should I have on my birth plan?
Some studies also show that any more than 15 preferences on a birth plan makes your satisfaction in your birth LESS, while also making it harder for your birth team to read and understand.
On the Motherboard birth plan app, you can educate yourself and choose as many preferences as you’d like, but when you pin your options to your Board, you have to choose your “Sweet 15,” aka your 15 most important preferences. This way you can export and share your birth plan easily!
What options should I have on my birth plan outline?
As mentioned above, you should really try to keep your birth plan down to 15 of the most important preferences. You’ll have some preferences during labor, some during the baby’s birth and some during the immediate postpartum period.
Below is a list of what we think are the MOST important options to put in your birth plan outline. Many of these options will require more from you than just clicking a box. You will need to educate yourself on these topics prior to choosing the best option for you. Motherboard breaks every topic down into a risks/benefits analysis for each option.
Researching these topics on your own can be tough. Where do you find the best, most current information? How do you know the sources you’re reading are reliable? How do you interpret all of these numbers and statistics?
Motherboard has you covered! We are constantly keeping up with the new research to keep you up-to-date. Over on the Motherboard App, you will find all of the evidence-based information you need without having to muddle through tons of research articles full of medical jargon.
You can take as much time as you need to read through each topic before selecting your choice. All of the information is in one place, taking the stress out of the research!
Labor
Beginning labor / induction - It’s important to educate yourself on induction. Why is it done? When should it be done? What are the pros and cons?
Having an IV/IV fluids - Having an IV may or may not be necessary, depending on your specific situation.
Monitoring baby’s heartbeat - There are many different ways fetal monitoring can be done. Some types of monitoring can be inconvenient for you, while others can provide helpful info like showing you the baby’s heart rate as they’re coming down the birth canal. You can learn more about the different types of fetal monitoring and their pros and cons here.
Eating and drinking during labor - Your labor may be very short or very long, which is why it’s important to consider this topic in your birth plan. Some providers may be hesitant about you eating and drinking during labor. Learn the benefits and risks here.
Comfort and pain management during labor - Nowadays, there are so many different ways to cope with the labor pain and birth pain; pharmacological and nonpharmacological. It’s important to educate yourself on the different pain relief options prior to labor.
If your labor stalls - When labor stalls, you may be offered medication or some type of intervention. There are pros and cons of each and, sometimes, no intervention is necessary despite being encouraged by a provider. This is why it is important for you to know your options.
Water Therapy/Birth - Depending on where you give birth and who your provider is will depend on the accessibility of water to labor and/or birth in. You may have access to a tub or a shower throughout your labor.
Breaking water - Your water may break on its own at some point during labor. You may be encouraged to have your water broken by your healthcare provider. There are some situations where it may be beneficial and others where it is not necessary, despite being encouraged. It is important for you to educate yourself on the pros and cons.
Birth
Pushing - Your pushing preference is good for your birth team to be aware of. Some people prefer to be coached while they push, others only want to push when they feel the need to.
Birth Position - Your birthing position should be discussed prior to labor. Some healthcare providers are adamant that you lie on your back. While this may be comfortable for you at the time, you may also want to explore other positions. Remember: Gravity is your friend! Understand why this option is important here.
Skin-to-skin - This might be the most important birth option you can advocate for. There are a TON of benefits to immediate skin to skin with your baby. Unless there is a medical emergency, it may be something you want to do!
Delayed cord clamping - Another incredibly important option that impacts your baby’s short-term and long-term health, delayed umbilical cord clamping is important to include on your birth plan. Some hospitals delay cord clamping as part of their protocol now, but others do not. Learn why delayed cord clamping is so important here.
Suctioning - Suctioning newborn babies has been a common practice for years, but it may not always be necessary.
Stretching / episiotomy - Tearing and episiotomy can be people’s #1 fear going into birth. Understand your options and the risks and benefits different tools and care here.
Catching baby - Do you want to catch your baby? Do you want your partner to catch your baby?
Birth of Placenta - Some providers might start medications (like pitocin) automatically (sometimes without asking) to help your placenta come out after baby is born and to minimize blood loss. This might be something you’re on board with, or maybe not. Understand your options regarding postpartum pitocin here.
Postpartum
Feeding your baby - Are you planning to breastfeed? Formula feed? A combination? Would you like to see a lactation consultant?
Keeping baby intact / Circumcision - While circumcision can be a controversial topic, we are learning more about it every day. Unless there is a medical issue, circumcision is not necessary for your baby boy. Learn about the physiology, procedure, and and ethical implications of circumcision here.
Pain Medication - You may have some discomfort after birth depending on whether you had a vaginal birth or cesarean and if you experienced any vaginal tears.
Rooming-In - This is where your baby stays with you in a bassinette instead of going to a newborn nursery. Learn why this matters here.
Where will your baby sleep? - Learn about the pros and cons of newborn sleeping scenarios.
The Takeaway
Some of us tend to prepare for a new baby by setting up a nursery, taking a hospital tour, and going to a birth and/or breast/chestfeeding class, but creating a birth plan should be at the top of that preparation list!
Creating a birth plan basically forces you to research all of the options you’ll have when it comes to labor, birth, and postpartum care.
Having all of your preferences in one concise document ensures that everyone on your birth team is on the same page so they are able to support you in the best way possible.
Whether you are planning for a hospital birth, birth center birth, or home birth. Whether you plan to have a doula, a midwife, or an obstetrician. Whether you’re having a cesarean birth or a vaginal birth…. Creating a birth plan is totally necessary!
If you aren’t sure where to start, head over to Motherboard Birth! Our app has all of the up-to-date evidence-based information you need to make informed decisions regarding your birth. Once you read through a topic, you’ll be able to make a selection. Your selection will be added to your clear, concise, visual birth plan.
Once you get through all of the topics and make your selections, you’ll be able to print as many copies as you’d like to ensure everyone on your birth team has one.
Happy Motherboard-ing!
🤍 The [M]otherboard Team
