Birth Plans

A birth plan is simply a written form of communication that is used to inform health care professionals of the parent's wishes prior to, during and after the delivery of their baby. Your birth plan should be simple and easy to read and understand.

Remember that no matter how well you try to plan your delivery, no birth will go exactly as planned.

Try to leave space in your birth plan for flexibility so that the health and safety of both the mother and the baby is not compromised.

Birth plans are not contracts though. Most doctors and nurses will try to make every effort to accomodate the desires of their patients.

Create your birth plan early on and discuss it with your doctor, spouse and anyone else that will be a source of support during the delivery.

Try to be understanding of routine procedures that doctors must follow, even if there is a slight conflict with your birth plan.


Before Birth

1) Do you wish to have visitors in the room?
2) Do you want children to be able to visit?
3) At what point do you want visitation to end?
4) What would you like the environment to be like? Dim lights? Soft music?
5) Do you wish to have an enema?
6) Is external monitoring okay?
7) Is internal monitoring okay?
8) Do you want to walk during labor?
9) Do you wish to use a birthing ball?
10) Do you wish to use a shower or bath if available?
11) Are you comfortable with student doctors and nurses being in the room or doing procedures?
12) Is an amniotomy (breaking of the amniotic fluids) okay?
13) Do you want to wear your own clothes (remember childbirth is messy)?
14) Do you wish to be induced if contractions are not steady or strong enough?
15) Do you want to avoid an IV for hydration by drinking lots of fluids?



During Birth

1) Who do you want to be with you during the delivery?
2) Is external monitoring okay?
3) Is internal monitoring okay?
4) Do you wish to wait for the urge to push rather than being directed to do so, even if you are fully dilated?
5) Do you wish to use a mirror so you can view the process and progress of delivery?
6) Are there any positions that you are more comfortable with to deliver your baby?
7) Do you want pain medications? If so, what kind and at what point?
8) Do you wish to tear or have an episiotomy?
9) Does the father or labor coach wish to cut the umbilical cord?
10) Are you comfortable with student doctors and nurses being in the room or doing procedures?
11) Do you want to wear your own clothing, no clothing or hospital clothing?
12) Do you want to touch your baby's head as it is crowning?
13) If possible, who would you like to "catch" the baby?
14) If a cesarean is needed, do you wish to have the baby held up immediately for viewing?
15) Are photographs or video recording wanted?


After Birth

1) Do you prefer to breastfeed immediately after birth?
2) Do you want the baby placed directly on your chest after birth, given to labor coach or cleaned up?
3) Do you want to be present for baby's first bath, shots, weight check, etc. if allowed?
4) At what point can visitors come to see you and the baby?
5) Do you want children to visit?
6) Do you want to wear your own clothing?
7) Do you wish to room in with the baby? How much?
8) Do you want to breastfeed only, bottle feed only or both?
9) Do you want your baby to have a pacifier?
10) Do you want your baby boy to be circumcised?
11) Do you wish to have pain medications?
12) Do you wish to have a stool softener?