How to Write a Birth Plan (and Why Doulas Love Them)

If you've started researching what to expect during labor and birth, you've probably come across the term "birth plan" more than once. Maybe you've also heard mixed opinions about them; some people swear by them, others worry they're a waste of time since "birth never goes as planned anyway."

Here's the truth: a birth plan isn't a script. It's a communication tool. It’s a way to help advocate for your wants and needs when you can’t. Even if it’s not followed to the letter, it’s a starting point and reference to lean on during the throes of birth. As doulas, we love a birth plan. Here’s why! 

What a Birth Plan Actually Is

A birth plan is a short, clear document that outlines your preferences for labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. It's not a guarantee of how things will go, by any means. Instead, it's a way to tell your care team what matters most to you, so they can support your wishes whenever possible throughout your journey.

Think of it less as a rigid itinerary and more as a reference document. It helps your provider, nurses, and support team understand your priorities before you're in the middle of contractions and don't have the energy or ability to explain them. It also helps your doula, partner, and support people know when and how to advocate for you when you aren’t able.  

Why Doulas Love Birth Plans

Doulas aren't attached to birth plans because they think birth is predictable. Quite the opposite! We know it isn't, no matter how well you try and plan for it. But we love birth plans because of what the process of writing one does for you:

It gets you thinking early.

Writing a birth plan forces you to consider questions you might not have thought about yet: Do you want delayed cord clamping? Who do you want in the room? Do you have a preference about sensation management? These conversations are much easier to have weeks in advance than in the middle of active labor.

It opens communication with your partner.

Many couples find that writing a birth plan together surfaces things they hadn't discussed, like who announces the birth, or how a partner wants to be included if there's an unexpected C-section. These decisions are much easier to make when you’re not in active labor, and give everyone involved a chance to have their voices heard and their feelings and needs met.

It gives your care team a snapshot of you.

Nurses and providers meet a lot of patients. A birth plan gives them a fast, clear picture of your preferences without needing a long conversation while you're in labor. Again, we keep saying it’s a reference for a reason; it’s a lot easier to reference your birth plan and make changes in the moment if needed.

It helps your doula advocate for you.

If you're laboring and can't easily speak up, your doula can refer to your birth plan and help communicate your wishes to the medical team, especially in moments when you need someone else to be your voice. Advocacy is important in the birthing process, and it’s a part of our job as doulas that we do not take lightly. It makes things easier if we know how best to advocate for you from the beginning, and as long as what you’re asking for isn’t putting yourself or your baby at risk, we’ll do what we can to make it happen.

How to Write One: The Basics

A good birth plan is usually one page. Long, detailed documents tend to get skimmed rather than read closely, so keep it short and organized into clear sections.

1. Basic Information

Your name, due date, provider, hospital or birth location, and who will be present.

2. Labor Preferences

• Who you want in the room (and maybe who you don’t, if you need to set that clear boundary!) 

• Preferences around movement, positions, or use of a birth ball, tub, or shower

• Music, lighting, or other comfort measures

• Sensation management preferences (unmedicated, open to an epidural, want to discuss options as you go)

3. Birth Preferences

• Positions you'd like to try for pushing

• Whether you want a mirror, or want to be told when to push vs. following your body's cues

• Preferences around perineal support or tearing prevention

4. Immediately After Birth

• Delayed cord clamping

• Immediate skin-to-skin contact

• Who cuts the cord

• Preferences around the placenta

5. If Plans Change

This section matters more than people expect. Include your preferences if a C-section, induction, or other intervention becomes necessary, such as wanting skin-to-skin in the OR, or having your partner present throughout.

6. Newborn Procedures

• Delayed bathing

• Vitamin K, eye ointment, and vaccine preferences

• Breastfeeding, formula, or combination feeding preferences

• Circumcision, if applicable

(It may be difficult to talk about, but for those who need to feel ultra prepared for every circumstance, it may be best to discuss and plan for unforeseen outcomes (serious health conditions, stillbirth, birth complications, etc.) That way, again, even if you feel blindsided by the situation, you know you’ve already discussed what your wishes are and can start there.)

A Few Tips From Doulas

• Keep it to one page. Nurses and providers are busy. A concise plan gets read; a five-page document often doesn't.

• Prioritize your top preferences. Bold or highlight the things that matter most to you for quick reference. 

• Bring extra copies. Hand one to your nurse when you arrive, and keep one for your partner or doula. Make even more copies if you’d like! Laminate them! Whatever feels best for you - the only rule is that you feel comfortable. 

• Hold it loosely. The most important mindset shift is seeing your birth plan as a starting point for communication, not a fixed outcome. Birth can be unpredictable, and flexibility is part of feeling empowered rather than disappointed. 

The Real Value of a Birth Plan

At the end of the day, a birth plan isn't really about controlling every detail of your birth. It's about walking into labor informed, having thought through your options, and giving your voice a place at the table, even in moments when speaking up yourself might be hard.

If you're expecting and want help thinking through your birth plan, that's exactly the kind of conversation a doula is there for. Reach out to learn how we can support you every step of the way.