Birth Plan Checklist: How to Write a Plan Doctors Listen To

Welcome to motherhood! Or, . . . welcome back! Preparing for the birth of your child is a momentous and joyous occasion, and creating a birth plan is an essential part of the process (even if you aren’t Type-A). A birth plan communicates your preferences, desires, and expectations to your healthcare team, ensuring you have a more personalized and empowering birthing experience. Think of it less as a "plan" and more as a "preference list" or a map.

Why a Birth Plan Matters

A birth plan is a written document that can be referenced by your team, and outlines your preferences during labor, delivery, and postpartum care. (And it does matter, even when people tell you their plan "went out the window.") It serves as a communication tool between you and your healthcare providers, minimizing confusion and ensuring that your voice is heard, and that your wishes are respected. When things are moving fast and you're in pain, you don't want to be trying to explain your feelings on intermittent monitoring for the first time. This document speaks for you when you can't (or maybe just don't want to).

Moreover, birth plans help foster an open dialogue between you, your healthcare provider, and the nursing team. Why is that important? It’s not uncommon for the doctor you’ve seen throughout your pregnancy to not be the doctor to actually deliver your baby. Your OB goes on vacation. They aren't on call. They get stuck in another delivery. You get the hospitalist. Having a birth plan enables you to articulate your preferences, regardless of how unfamiliar your delivering doctor may be with your desired birthing experience. Your L&D nurse will likely be your biggest advocate, and this list is their cheat sheet to helping you.

Educate Yourself About Your Birthing Options

You can't list preferences if you don't know what the options are. To create a birth plan that truly represents what you’d like for your labor and delivery, take some time to educate yourself about your available options.

• Location. Would you prefer to give birth at a hospital, birthing center, or at home? This choice dictates almost everything else. Research your hospital and birthing options, and plan to take a tour—learn about their practices and procedures, and what they are willing (and unwilling) to accommodate. Ask hard questions on that tour. What is their C-section rate? Do they require continuous fetal monitoring, or do they allow intermittent monitoring (like using the Doppler periodically) so you can walk around? Do they have tubs for laboring? Are you interested in a midwife or OB-GYN? Dig in and settle on which option feels better for you.
• Delivery options. While the most well-known delivery methods are Vaginal and Cesarean, hospitals offer additional options such as Assisted Vaginal Delivery (using tools like forceps or vacuum) and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). But if you plan to give birth at a birthing center or home, your available delivery options might be more restricted. (Which is why a solid hospital transfer plan is non-negotiable for out-of-hospital births).

Birth Plan Checklist: What Should Be Included in a Birth Plan?

Every woman’s birth plan is unique, so don’t stress about creating the “perfect” one for your labor and delivery. Seriously. A three-page laminated document often gets ignored faster than a few clear bullet points. There’s no need to adhere to a rigid template or make it overly formal. Keep it to one page, front and back at most. And if it’s less stressful, begin by simply jotting down any concerns that matter most to you and discussing them with your practitioner during your next visit.

Once you’ve had a conversation about your childbirth preferences, be sure to consider your practitioner’s insights on labor options (take advantage of their expertise!). This is the meeting where you find out if your OB is really on board. If they dismiss your preferences out of hand with a "we'll just see when we get there," that tells you a lot. If any adjustments are necessary, update your birth plan accordingly.

Here are some considerations you may want to include in your birth plan:

• A brief introduction. Include any pertinent medical info your healthcare team should know. While any medical conditions will be in your chart, you may arrive at the hospital, and the doctor on call may be completely unfamiliar to you. Is this your first, second, or third (etc.) pregnancy? Which support people do you want in the room with you? (And who do you explicitly NOT want in the room, like waiting room visitors?) Do you have any pregnancy related medical issues, like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia your team should know about immediately?
• Birth environment. Think about preferences for your birthing room. Do you have any preferences for the ambiance, lighting, or music? Do you want the lights dimmed? Do you want to wear your own clothing? (A soft robe from home beats a stiff hospital gown any day.) Do you want to be able to use a bathtub or shower? How do you feel about members of the medical team touching you? (It's perfectly fine to request that exams be kept to a minimum or that they ask permission before every check.)
• Support team. Who would you like there during labor and delivery? Are you using a doula? (If yes, make sure she has credentials the hospital accepts.) Will there be any children or siblings present?
• Labor and delivery positions. Would you like to be mobile? What activities or positions would you like to use (walking, squatting, standing, etc.)? Do you want to avoid lying flat on your back, which can slow labor? Most hospital beds have squat bars; ask to use them.
• Pain management. Are you planning for a medicated or unmedicated delivery? Do you want to take pain medications (epidural, spinal block, or nitrous oxide)? If you want the epidural, when? Do you want to wait until you are 4cm dilated, or do you want it offered immediately? What non-medicated options are you interested in (breathing techniques, massage, movement, meditation, birthing tools like squat bars and birthing or peanut balls)? Hypnobirthing techniques? Counter-pressure from your partner?
• Interventions. Clearly state your stance on medical interventions. Are you willing to have an episiotomy? (Most standard procedures now avoid routine episiotomies, favoring natural tearing, but it's good to state your preference.) Are there measures you’d take to avoid one? (Like perineal massage during pushing.) Would you like your membranes swept or kept intact? Do you want a routine IV? (Or would you prefer a saline or heparin lock—which keeps the port ready but doesn't tie you to a pole?) How do you feel about the use of oxytocin (brand name Pitocin) to induce labor or augment contractions? What’s your position on fetal monitoring? (Again, continuous vs. intermittent.) If you’re having a home birth, what’s the plan for hospital transport in the event of the unexpected?
• C-section preferences. Even if you plan a vaginal birth, having a C-section backup plan is smart. Things happen. What kind of draping do you prefer—full, partial, or clear? (A clear drape lets you see the baby being born.) This is often called a "gentle C-section." Do you agree with vaginal seeding? (This is where gauze from the mother's vagina is wiped on the baby's mouth and face. Talk to your doc; opinions vary widely on its proven benefit versus risk.)
• Immediate postpartum care. Do you want to delay cord clamping? (Most guidelines now recommend waiting at least 30-60 seconds, or until the cord stops pulsing, for improved iron stores.) Do you or your partner want to do immediate skin-to-skin contact? (This is often called the "Golden Hour.") Do you want to keep your placenta? (For encapsulation or other reasons? If so, you usually need to arrange transport yourself.)
• Neonatal care. Do you want your newborn to receive a Vitamin K shot, a Hepatitis B shot, and erythromycin eye ointment? These are standard medical procedures; if you plan to refuse any, you need to discuss it with your provider before delivery. What are your feeding plans—do you want to breastfeed or use formula? If breastfeeding, do you want the baby offered formula or a pacifier at all? (Ask for lactation support immediately.) Do you want to delay your baby’s first bath? Do you want to circumcise? Would you like your baby to room-in or be cared for in the nursery?

And lastly, make sure to include other basic details like your baby’s pediatrician contact info (the name of both the practice and your specific clinician, phone number, and address). Once your birth plan is complete, print a few copies and stash them in your hospital bag—then take a moment to appreciate what an A+ job you’ve done prepping for labor and delivery. Seriously, put 3-4 copies in the bag. One for your chart, one for the L&D nurse, and one for the nursery team.

Once completed, discuss your birth plan at one of your appointments with your healthcare provider. It gives them a clear understanding of your wishes and preferences for the birth. This is the most important step. A birth plan you never discuss is just a piece of paper.

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].