Share to Facebook
Enlarge photo


Preparing your birth plan: 5 easy tips
by Shelly Taft

When you are pregnant, a birth plan can be a great tool to help you formulate your goals and wishes for your birth by clearly stating your desires. Here are some tips for writing a birth plan:

1. Write your birth plan with your partner.
A birth plan is meant to convey your wishes and desires for your birth to your doctor and the hospital staff, but most importantly, it is a great way to ensure that you and your partner agree on all goals for your birth. By writing out the birth plan together, the two of you are guaranteed to have discussion on all interventions and how you each feel about them; this way, your partner is very clear on what interventions you want to avoid if possible.

2. Keep your birth plan short.
There are a lot of great websites that have “fill-in-the-blank” birth plans that you can fill out (see here for an example: and I strongly encourage you to fill one of these out with your partner. However, the final copy of your birth plan, the one your doctor and hospital staff receives, should be as short and sweet as possible. If your birth plan is longer than one page, it is too long. If it can fit on an index card, even better. Remember, the hospital staff sees birth plans every day. Instead of writing out every single intervention you wish to avoid, simply put a general statement such as “I wish to avoid all medical interventions as much as possible.” Also, many desires for your birth that you have do not need to be put on the birth plan. Do you want dim lights? Great, your partner can dim the lights when you settle in, no need to write it in the birth plan. Want to wear your own clothes? Great, simply politely decline the hospital gown when it is offered to you, no need to write it in your birth plan. Your birth plan should convey your general desires for your birth; remember that at this point, the birth plan's most important function of engaging discussion between your partner and yourself has already been fulfilled.

3. Keep your birth plan positive.
In addition to being as short as possible, your birth plan should be sweet and polite. Listing a bunch of wishes in a negative tone, such as writing “no epidural, no episiotomy, no pitocin,” etc. can be viewed as demanding. Instead, use positive language, such as “I wish to avoid pitocin”, etc. Remember to thank the hospital staff in the birth plan as well: they are all there to keep you and your baby healthy and you want them to work with you as a team.

4. Make your birth plan stand out.
The hospital staff read many birth plans every day. They've seen it all. So some couples like to make their birth plan stand out. Some couples bring in a basket of chocolates for the nurses and put the birth plan in the basket; while the nurses are helping themselves to the chocolate, your birth plan is right there for them to peruse rather than shoved away in a folder. Write your birth plan on a brightly covered piece of paper or index card. And remember, writing your birth plan in a polite and sweet tone can make it stand out as well.

5. Don't forget the newborn procedures.
Many couples focus on the birth in their birth plan and forget about the newborn procedures entirely. It's good to discuss these procedures beforehand with your partner and decide if you want to delay, decline, or accept them. Newborn procedures include: vitamin K injection, Hepatitis B vaccine, and Erythromycin eye drops. Research each one carefully and make your own informed decision.

Keep in mind that while a birth plan is a great tool of communication between you and the hospital staff, it is simply a plan. Birth is an unpredictable event, and you must have some flexibility when it comes time for your birth. By examining all the possibilities and all your options, you can create the perfect birth plan for you.

Shelly Taft is a birth and postpartum doula with Maternal Goddess Doula Services. She has served families in their childbirthing years for over three years and is currently studying Childbirth Education and Herbalism. Shelly believes in providing families with customized support and up-to-date, evidence-based information to help them achieve their goals and desires. She lives in Worcester, where she homeschools her three children (7, 5, and 1). She also has a passion for reading and knitting. Shelly can be reached at

© Halifax Media Group