How to Create a Birth Plan That Works for You!

Written By Tice Ledbetter

Your birth is a unique experience, and crafting a birth plan can help you feel more empowered and prepared for what lies ahead.

Recently at a prenatal appointment I brought up the topic of birth plans with an event planner mom-to-be! I thought to myself, there are few women that can understand this better than she can: Your birth is an event, why shouldn’t we plan for it to be a beautiful one?

Plans aren’t synonymous with grasping at impractical levels of control. There are elements to this process that are outside of our control, and I would argue that so much of birth is about the process of surrender and trust. However, a sense of safety can come from knowing our options and setting informed intentions. As I write this I can hear the phrase that was repeated over and over by an incredible teacher I was honored to learn from, Gerri Ryan, the first DONA certified doula in San Diego,

“You don’t have options if you don’t know your options.”

So let’s talk options!

Key Elements to Include in Your Birth Plan:

There are three basic components to a birth plan. Your preferences for labor, your preferences for delivery, and your preferences for postpartum.

We’ll start with some of your options for Labor:

  • Positioning: Preferences for movement, standing, walking, or using a birthing ball.

  • Pain Management: Whether you’d like an unmedicated birth, are open to medication, or plan to use methods like hypnobirthing or water labor.

  • Support People: Who do you want present during the birth (partner, doula, family members).

  • Environment: Lighting, music, and any specific ambiance you envision for the room.

Next, we can consider delivery preferences:

  • Pushing Positions: Preferences for how you want to deliver (squatting, lying down, hands-and-knees).

  • Episiotomy: Whether you’d prefer to avoid it, or only under certain circumstances.

  • Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact: Whether you’d like the baby placed on their chest immediately after birth.

Finally, let’s look at postpartum options:

  • Delayed Cord Clamping: Whether you’d like to wait until the cord stops pulsating.

  • First Feeding: Preferences for breastfeeding or bottle feeding, and who should be present.

  • Newborn Procedures: Preferences for things like vitamin K shots, eye ointment, or circumcision (if medically safe and applicable).

Wow, there are so many choices! It can be very helpful to think and talk these ideas through in more detail with a doula (of course) or with a medical professional you trust. There are people ready to help you find the balance between the ideal and the practical.

Even though learning these things can feel like a lot of information up front, simplicity is key! Remember that this is designed to make sure your wishes are honored as much as possible!

Your birth plan is a tool to help you prepare, but the most important thing is to remain open and empowered, no matter how your birth unfolds.

Need more help! I’ve got you!

Let’s chat, schedule a 30 min zoom consultation with me free of charge until end of this month (April 2025).

Tice Ledbetter