A birth plan is a great tool for letting your doctor or midwife know about your wishes for labour and birth. Sometimes, things move very quickly during delivery, and it can be helpful to have a game plan laid out ahead of time for how you’d like things to go (and what you want to avoid). A birth plan lets you write out your wishes while you have time to weigh all your options. Here’s how to create a birth plan that clearly states your needs and desires.
A birth plan is a way for you to share your wishes with the midwives and doctors who will be caring for you in labour. It tells them about the type of labour and birth you hope to have, what you want to happen, and what you want to avoid (BC Women’s Hospital 2017) .
A birth plan isn't set in stone. Keep in mind that things may not go to plan (Sinai Health 2022) . For example, you may intend to have a water birth, but find there's no birth pool free on the day you go into labour (NHS 2018a) . Or you may want to avoid an induction or c-section, only to find that this is safest for you or your baby. It could even be that you were hoping for a home birth but that doctors advise against it due to a medical issue.
Try to think of your birth plan as more of a wish list. It lays down your hopes for the birth, and provides a useful guide for your midwife or doctor. Writing a birth plan is also a great way to learn more about what to expect on the big day. But, you and your birth partner should still be prepared to make some tweaks in the moment (BC Women’s Hospital 2017) .
When the time comes, your midwife or doctor will tell you what they think is the best and safest option for you and your baby (NHS 2018a) . You can also change your mind about your birth plan at any time (NHS 2018a) .
You don't have to write a birth plan, but if you want to, your midwife or doctor can help you (BC Women’s Hospital 2017) decide what to include in it. If you're not sure about something, or if you’d prefer to keep your options open, talk to your healthcare provider and then write it down.
Your birth plan should reflect your wishes (BC Women’s Hospital 2017) . You may want to add details about your medical history, but your doctor or midwife will have your care notes, so they should be well aware. It's worth taking into account what's on offer at your local hospital or birth centre (NHS 2018a) when you write your plan.
