Birth plans

Your birth plan is the plan that you make to express how you want things to happen during your labor. This helps you to become an active participant in your baby’s birth, rather than feeling left out of the decisions that might be taken.

Your birth plan allows you to state your expectations and hopes for their labor experience – and it’s helpful for your caregivers to know how you’d like things to go so they can support you in that direction. 

Do your research
Go to all your childbirth education classes so you know exactly what’s involved with each stage of birth, and the pain relief options available. And quiz other moms you know so you can make your mind up about the kind of birth you want. Here are some questions to ask yourself when writing your plan:? ?

Support
-Who do you want with you at the birth? Does your partner want to be with you, or would your prefer your mom or a close friend?

Induction
- Are you prepared for the fact you might have to have an induction or go overdue?

Positions you want to labor in
- Would you prefer to have an active labor, where you move from position to position, or do you want to lie down?

Pain relief
- Do you want to avoid medical pain relief unless it becomes too much, or would you like an epidural?
- Are you taking a TENS machine with you?
- Do you want to use essential oils? See our feature on pain relief in labor.

Assisted delivery
- Most women want to avoid an episiotomy unless it’s absolutely necessary, so put this in your birth plan.
- How would you feel about forceps or vacuum extraction, particularly if they might help you avoid a cesarean section?

Cesarean section
- Do you want to try everything you can before a cesarean is considered? - If you do have one, does your partner want to be in the OR with you?

Your baby
- Do you want your baby monitored with a fetal heart monitor, or would you prefer not to unless necessary? (Bear in mind that continuous monitoring may be hospital policy.)
- Would you like your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife to tell you if your baby is a boy or girl or would you and your partner like to find out for yourself?
- Would you like your baby delivered onto your abdomen?
- Will your partner cut the cord or would you prefer one of the medical team do it?
- Would you prefer your baby to be cleaned before being given to you or not?
- Do you want to try to breastfeed straightaway?

Stage three
- Do you want to deliver the placenta naturally or use drugs to speed up the delivery?
- Do you wish to bank or donate your baby’s cord blood?

Keep in mind that some women will get the kind of birth they want, and others will have unexpected twists and turns on the way. Don’t feel upset if your baby’s birth isn’t exactly what you wrote in your plan. Most babies are completely unpredictable and what’s most important is that you and your baby are safe and healthy.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.