Creating Your Birth Plan:
A Guide to Your Birth Preferences
A birth plan—sometimes called birth preferences—is a simple yet powerful tool that helps you communicate your wishes for labor, birth, and postpartum care. While birth is unpredictable, having a plan in place ensures that your voice is heard, your needs are considered, and everyone on your birth team understands how to best support you.
Why do I need a birth plan?
Birth plans aren’t about controlling every aspect of labor—they’re about making informed choices and ensuring that your birth experience aligns as closely as possible with your values, preferences, and comfort. Here’s why having a birth plan is important:
- It Encourages Informed Decision-Making
Creating a birth plan encourages you to learn about your options, from pain relief methods to newborn procedures, so you can make decisions that feel right for you. - It Helps Your Birth Team Support You
Whether you’re giving birth at a hospital, birth center, or at home, your birth plan helps doctors, nurses, midwives, and doulas understand what matters most to you. - It Reduces Stress During Labor
When you’re in the middle of labor, it can be difficult to process new information or make big decisions. A birth plan helps minimize last-minute confusion by outlining your preferences ahead of time. - It Involves Your Birth Partner
A well-thought-out birth plan also gives your partner or support person clear guidance on how to advocate for you and offer meaningful support.
What to Include in Your Birth Plan
Your birth plan should be flexible and concise, covering your key preferences while acknowledging that birth can take unexpected turns. Here are some important areas to consider:
Labor & Birth Preferences
- Preferred birth environment (dim lighting, music, aromatherapy, etc.)
- Movement and positioning options during labor
- Pain management preferences (breathing techniques, epidural, nitrous oxide, IV pain meds, etc.)
- Use of water for labor and/or birth (shower, tub, birth pool)
- Preferences for fetal monitoring (intermittent vs. continuous)
- Use of medical interventions (membrane sweeping, labor augmentation, breaking waters, etc.)
- Pushing positions (side-lying, hands-and-knees, squat, etc.)
- Episiotomy preferences
Support & Advocacy
- Who will be present during labor and birth (partner, doula, family, etc.)
- Level of medical staff involvement (minimal interruptions vs. hands-on guidance)
- Requests for informed consent before any interventions
- Cultural or religious considerations
After Birth & Newborn Care
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact preferences
- Delayed cord clamping
- Who will announce the baby’s sex (if unknown)
- Feeding preferences (breastfeeding, formula, combination)
- Delayed newborn procedures (bathing, weighing, etc.)
- Vitamin K shot, erythromycin eye ointment, and Hepatitis B vaccine preferences
Cesarean Birth Preferences (If Needed)
- Presence of partner or doula in the operating room
- Gentle cesarean options (clear drape, immediate skin-to-skin)
- Music or calming environment requests
- Delayed cord clamping, if possible
Keeping Your Birth Plan Simple & Effective
A birth plan doesn’t have to be long or complicated. A one-page, easy-to-read document is ideal so your care team can quickly understand your priorities. It’s also helpful to discuss your plan with your provider in advance, so you’re aware of hospital or birth center policies and any necessary adjustments.
To whom it may concern…
You might be wondering who will ever see your birth plan. Make sure to create your birth plan way ahead of your due date/induction/birth so you have ample time to share and discuss your preferences and wishes with your care provider. Especially if you give birth in a hospital setting, there might be “policies” in place that contradict your wishes. It’s always better to be aware before you go. Once you check into your place of birth, make sure to hand your birth plan to your nurses and caregivers.
Birth is Unpredictable—
Your Voice Still Matters
While labor can unfold in unexpected ways, a birth plan gives you a foundation for making empowered choices and feeling more in control of your experience. Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, having a clear understanding of your options allows you to navigate changes with confidence.
By preparing ahead and creating a birth plan that reflects your wishes, you set yourself up for a birth experience that feels supported, informed, and empowering—no matter how your journey unfolds.
Contact me with any questions or if you need help with your birth plan! I’ll be happy to help.
Best wishes,
Your doula, Sabine
Your Coach
Sabine Hankiewicz, Birth Doula CD (DONA)
Lamaze Childbirth Educator LCCE
Meet Sabine Hankiewicz, your trusted guide through the journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. Sabine is not just any coach; she's a certified birth doula through DONA International and a certified Lamaze childbirth educator. With her extensive knowledge, unwavering support, and nurturing presence, Sabine empowers expectant parents with the information and techniques they need for a positive birth experience. Whether you're seeking a doula's comforting touch or comprehensive childbirth education, Sabine's expertise ensures you're in capable hands as you embark on this incredible adventure into parenthood.
