This printable fill-in-the-blank birth plan template will help you communicate with the medical team what support you would like. It is a good idea to avoid misunderstanding by spelling out in advance your customized birth plan. Your doctor, midwife, nurse, doula birthing center or hospital will really appreciate it!
Creating a Birth Plan
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan allows you to make choices in advance and communicate them to your health care team at your chosen delivery destination. Of course, you can/may change your mind at any time — it just is a quick way to share what you’d prefer for your baby’s birth with your healthcare provider.
Printable Birth Plan Template
This printable worksheet is going to go over what is most frequently on birth plans and you might want to consider before you head into a delivery.
Grab my birth plan template here (I also have a video that shares why birth plans are important!
What to do if I have no clue what I want on my birth plan?
One of the most important things you can you can do for your labor is to think about what you want in advance. However, it can be difficult to figure out what you want for your birth preferences when it’s all so new!
That is why most people take a prenatal class. The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is to simplify things like this from your couch. I want all of my patients as comfortable as possible at the hospital, and now you don’t even have to fight traffic to do it!
Honestly, birth plans are something I encounter frequently as a nurse. Although, not as often as some people think. I would guess maybe 5% of our patients have a birth plan where I am now. I would think the number would be closer to 2% at my last hospital (different populations).
I think this free printable birth plan template will help you solidify plans for your birth — so it’s great for that!
Also, I have a video all about what a birth plan is:
🌠 Pro Tip: One of the BEST things you can do is to talk to your provider about your big day in advance! Don’t be afraid to show them your preferences for baby’s birth early in your prenatal care. Don’t wait for your due date to communicate with them, and share it first off with your delivery nurse.
Things Most Often on a Birth Plan
Make sure to talk with your whole support team (partners, moms, doulas etc.) as you make these choices so everyone understands what everyone wants.
Birth plan questions for labor:
Induction — if you want one, or would prefer none
Pitocin – both for your induction or afterward
What you plan to wear — our gown or your own clothes/gown
Are you OK with an IV? IV’s are the general standard of care at the hospital
How do you want to position yourself in labor — Sitting, standing, laying on the bed, etc?
Do you hope to eat in labor?
Are you OK with continuous fetal monitoring, or do you have specific preferences otherwise?
Are you hoping for a home birth (but keeping the hospital as a backup)?
Are you planning on an unmedicated birth?
What do you want for pain relief? Do you plan on an epidural, other pain management options or going natural?
Who do you prefer to be in your room at delivery
Birth plan questions for after delivery:
How long do you want for delayed cord clamping of the umbilical cord.
Do you want the baby medications for after delivery?
What types of newborn procedures do you want?
Do you want the baby skin to skin after delivery (this is standard of care as long as baby/mom are well)
Do you want the baby to have a bath (or when do you want it to have a bath?)
Are you planning to breast or bottle-feed?
Do you plan to use a pacifier?
**Clearly there are plenty of other items then this that could be on your birth plan, but these are the most frequent ones.
What do nurses think of birth plans?
**I have been a labor nurse since 2001, and this is just what I have experienced from those who have birth plans — you might find the insight helpful**
I have a whole post about what your nurse thinks of birth plans. Also, if you’re wondering if you should bring a gift to L&D — I have a whole post on gifts for labor and delivery nurses.
Keep in mind that due to policies and procedures we require certain things of our staff in the hospital. So, even if you prefer certain things, it might be good to review it with your doctor in advance to make sure that he/she is OK with all of it.
I constantly wish I could just deliver babies without policies or charting or worries. But, lawyers have made that a thing of the past.
Just remember that your nurse is on your team. She wants the same thing you do — a healthy mom and baby. It’s no good trying to fight it. 😉
In summary:
- Don’t forget to grab that free customizable birth plan template right here in my free beginning prenatal class.
- It is important to think about what you want for your birth, and share it with your healthcare team.
- Be sure to get educated about ALL the things surrounding your birth in a prenatal class.
The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is just WAITING to prepare you for your confident hospital birth. It only takes a few hours, and we would love to have you inside!
This post was originally written November 2012, but has been updated.
Samantha | Forming Family says
Due to Placenta Previa, I have found out I am going to need a c-section. Do you have any advice on writing a birth plan for a c-section? Do I actually have any options in this situation or is a birth plan not really needed?
Hilary Erickson says
You’re still welcome to write down what you’d prefer — but a LOT of it is dictated by policy. Have you taken a tour? Sometimes they give you an idea of what normally happens (we have a pamphlet just for c-section patients).
Kristy says
I’m sure you didn’t mean this, but writing that women who ask for no C-sections on their birth plan are 3x more likely to get one sounds like you are forcing women into surgery out of spite. And while you may not want that for us, there are plenty of doctors out there who push for C-sections and even early elective deliveries when they shouldn’t, so women can’t take for granted that all medical personnel have their best interests in mind.
Hilary Erickson says
I’m 100% pushing the other way.
It just ends up happening. And believe me, if I think a C-section isn’t in your best interests, I’m out there arguing up a storm with the MD and calling in our chief.
Heather D says
Do you have any encouragement for someone who is writing a birth plan for a hospital delivery? I know that in the end a healthy baby is all that matters and the doctors and nurses will do what they must to make that happen, but whenever the topic of birth plans comes up around other people I always hear “Oh just don’t even bother, they’re going to do what they want and it won’t matter.” I know that my body and my baby will do whatever they are going to do, but I’d like to know that I can at least give the doctor and idea of what my mindset is going in to my birth and what my preferences are if everything is going well. I also plan on laboring at home as long as possible (provided my water doesn’t break first) to prevent as many interventions as I can. I’m mostly dreading that IV!
Hilary Erickson says
I am ALL for a birth plan — but you do need to be aware that things change. I have post coming up in a couple of weeks that might explain it better — stay tuned. 🙂
Ashley says
Yes nurses have to follow hospital policy and what the doctor says but if that patient says no do not touch me that means hands off. I see nurses and doctors violating patients rights because it’s “hospital policy” that we have to do this. No you cannot get a home birth experience at a hospital but I think a lot of providers forget that the people they are working on have rights and they can say no to any treatment and can stop treatment at any time after giving consent, Providers need to learn when a they say no it means no and gently educate them about the risks and benefits of not doing said treatment instead of I have to do this or we cannot take that IV out. Consent can be taken away at any time.
There are a few exceptions to this such as patient is not conscious or is on workman’s comp. As long as the patient is awake and able to make the decisions you have to follow patients rights.
Hilary Erickson says
I 100% agree, there is no point in which a patient says no to a procedure in which we continue. In fact, we just had a baby die due to a mom refusing care over and over again. I’m not sure when you’re seeing this — but it’s considered assault at that point.
However, I am certainly going to explain my reasoning and why we are doing it. I’m going to explain the risks to not doing it. Also, doctors may discharge people from their care (although, not while admitted) if they aren’t going to follow certain guidelines.
Bethany S says
As a L&D nurse, does is bother nurses/doctors when you have a mom who wants things done differently, or, against the normal, (delayed cord clamping, having the golden hour after birth) etc, as long as there are no complications. I am not a demanding or stern person but i know that i have a few different things that i want during labor&delivery but don’t want to come across as…. a “momzilla” any advice on this?
Hilary Erickson says
Well, both of those things that you mentioned are standard. I mean, it depends on how out of our “norm” it is — if it’s no fetal monitoring, that will be problematic. If it’s the types of things you mentioned, that’s fine! Hahah — I say discuss them with your OB in advance!
Savannah says
Thank you for sharing your perspective! I don’t want to be an awful patient, but I’m also pretty set in doing my best to have an unmedicated birth. I just want to be polite about it and know what’s possible and what’s not (in general). In what conditions do you find that pitocin is actually necessary? Most of the time I’ve heard it used is just to speed up labor in general, rather than because there was actual medical need. But then it generally also requires an epidural to follow. Why does the pitocin part worry you, as a L&D nurse? Also, what would you suggest for a mom who wants limited fetal konitoringt, while still staying within safe levels according to hospital staff, so that mom’s movement isn’t limited throughout labor? What goes over best as a compromise between hospital staff and moms who want free movement?
Hilary Erickson says
Pitocin is used to speed labor 100% up to you, makes sense to not use it if you’re going natural, in general. BUT it is also used for bleeding after birth, which IS important!
We are required to monitor for 20 minutes of each hour. Clearly, you can say no but then you will have to hear the risks and benefits to that several times. I would mostly recommend staying at home as long as you think is safe….
Ando says
I couldn’t find any way to actually get the birth plan download. I clicked on everything and nothing popped up.
Hilary Erickson says
Darn it — I am sorry about that. I need to re-word it in this article. It’s part of my free begining prenatal class that you can find here: https://www.pullingcurls.com/free-prenatal-class/