Writing a Birth Plan

A birth plan is made to help you communicate with your birthing team how you would like things to happen during the birth of your baby. This can include specific things you want to include or that you want to avoid.

I believe you should be as informed as possible about what labour and birth may bring for you and your baby. How can you make the best choices possible if you don't know or don't understand your options?

Below are points you may consider before writing your birth plan.

Do you have any preferences for who you would like with you during labour?

- your partner/significant other
- your children
- your doula

Do you have any preferences for the onset of your labour?

- spontaneous (natural) onset
- inducement (by breaking of your waters, stretch and sweep of your membranes or administering gel or pitocin to ripen the cervix and bring on contractions)
- inducement using natural methods (such as acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion)

Do you have any preferences for the environment during your labour?

- lighting
- temperature
- noise
- privacy
- use of shower/bath
- comfort measures such as heat packs, massage, acupressure, aromatherapy and music

Do you have any preferences for your movement during labour?

- freedom of use of positions
- walking
- gentle exercises
- restriction of movement

Do you have any preferences for your nourishment during labour?

- eating
- drinking
- food provided by the hospital
- not allowing you to eat/drink

Do you have any preferences for monitoring or examinations during your labour?

- no monitoring
- Doppler (portable)
- Continuous Electronic Foetal Monitoring (usually the woman needs to lie down and be attached to the monitor)
- vaginal examinations to assess how far you are dilated (allow unlimited or only when you wish?)

Do you have any preferences for speeding up your labour (augmentation)?

- natural methods of augmentation (such as acupressure and nipple stimulation)
- breaking of your waters
- use of pitocin

Do you have any preferences for dealing with pain during your labour?

- the use of natural comfort measures to relieve pain
- the use of gas to reduce discomfort
- suggesting or administering pain relieving medication
- suggesting or administering an epidural

Do you have any preferences for when your baby's presenting body part is being born?

- natural comfort measures, such as heat packs or warm water on the perineum to relieve discomfort
- you or your partner/significant other catching the baby
- episiotomy (would you prefer to risk a tear or to be cut)
- assisted delivery by vacuum extraction or forceps

Do you have any preferences for cutting your baby's cord?

- you cutting the cord or your partner/significant other cutting the cord
- allow the cord to stop pulsating before being cut
- cut the cord immediately

Do you have any preferences for the delivery of the placenta?

- natural delivery with no timeframe
- assisted delivery by palpating your stomach and putting tension on the cord
- administering pitocin

Do you have any preferences for immediately after your baby is born?

- skin-to-skin contact to allow bonding
- breastfeeding support
- weighing/measuring
- giving needles/heel pricks
- bathing and dressing your baby

If the birthing team feel it would be beneficial to medically intervene, are there any special considerations you would like to include?

- discussing with you and your partner types of intervention
- allowing time, where possible, for you to consider the pros and cons
- c-section
- special needs baby

For a birth plan to be the most effective, it is best to provide your birthing team with a copy of the plan and to discuss each point with them prior to labour. This helps eliminate confusion on the day. If you are planning to have your baby at a hospital or birth centre, ask them to keep a copy in your file to refer back to whilst you are in labour.

By Jen Staniforth

Back to Planning Your Birth.