make your free birth plan

a birth plan will usually cover the following information:

• your details.
• where you’re planning on giving birth.
• if you would like to be accompanied during labor and childbirth and, if so, by whom.
• how you would like to deliver your baby.
• equipment you will provide (if any).
• special facilities you would like to make use of (if any).
• positions for labor and delivery.
• special requests during labor and delivery.
• how you wish to manage your pain.
• how you would like any tears to be treated.
• how you feel about having an episiotomy.
• special requests related to the baby’s umbilical cord and your placenta.
• when you would like to hold your baby after delivery.
• when you would like your baby to be with you.
• how you plan on feeding your baby.
• any specific requests or requirements you have (eg dietary requirements or religious customs you’d like to observe).

while birth plans are not essential, they are a way to clearly communicate your wishes and preferences during labor and delivery. by clearly detailing what your birth preferences are, you can help your birthing experience to become the event you would like it to be, by effectively communicating your wishes to your doctors, midwife and birth partner(s). 

making a birth plan empowers you to take an active role in decision-making, ensuring that your voice is heard during labor and delivery. it also enables you to advocate for yourself or for your midwife or birth partner to advocate for you. 

ultimately, a birth plan provides clarity, enhances communication, helps create a more personalized and positive birthing experience and reduces stress by helping you make informed decisions before going into labor.

before making a birth plan, it is helpful to know your due date or induction date, and where you plan for the baby to be born. additionally, you should have some ideas of your preferences for what methods of pain management you'd be most comfortable with, whether you'd like the baby to stay with you, and if you want to breastfeed—though you are always able to change your mind later. it would also be good to check with the hospital or birthing center to verify that they can accommodate your preferences. if you are giving birth at home, talk to your midwife about your preferences. 

if you do not plan to have a scheduled c-section, you should also consider your preferences in case a cesarean delivery becomes necessary. a birth plan should help you cover your bases, so that your birth team will have a good idea of your preferences in a variety of possible situations.

birth plans are not legally binding. they simply state your preferences for labor and childbirth. you can even update and change your birth plan before you go into labor. similarly, nothing in your birth plan precludes you from changing your mind during labor – for instance, you may have initially planned on having a birth without pain relief, but may later choose to have an epidural.

while your birth plan isn’t binding, the wishes set out in it should be respected and taken into consideration during labor and childbirth, especially if you previously discussed them with your doctor or midwife. your birth plan may also be used as evidence in court outlining your wishes and the informed decisions you took when it was made.

a birth partner is someone who can support you during labor and delivery. having a birth partner to ‘lean on’ during labor and delivery can be helpful and has been shown to reduce the need for pain relief. your birth partner can be anyone you would like with you during childbirth, like a spouse or partner, a family member, a close friend or a professional birth partner (a doula). 

you can state in your birth plan whether or not you want to be accompanied by a birth partner at all. you may also choose to have more than one birth partner, although depending on where you are giving birth, you should check how many birth partners you can have with you. some hospitals may have policies in place allowing only one birth partner.

the short answer is yes. you can choose how you want to give birth. as with your preferred birth location, the type of birth you have will depend on your preferences, your and your baby’s health and where you plan on giving birth. generally speaking, you can have a:

• vaginal birth: also referred to as a ‘normal birth’, this involves the baby passing through the birth canal and being delivered through the vagina.
• c-section: this involves an operation during which the baby is delivered through an incision made in your abdomen and uterus.
• vaginal birth after a c-section (vbac): this is where you have a vaginal birth after previously having given birth via c-section.
• water birth: this involves a vaginal birth, however, during labour and delivery you are in a specially designed tub or pool of warm water.

among other options. you should speak to your midwife and/or doctor about your options for giving birth. they will be able to provide more information to you and outline the benefits and risks of different birth methods.

it is important to state, however, that these plans might change if there are any complications during the actual birth, even if they were in your birth plan.