For Parents: How to Write a Birth Plan

If you have been to a childbirth education class, more than likely you have heard talk of the importance of writing your birth plan.  You've probably learned the pros and cons of various interventions and spent time thinking about what's right for you.  The place where you sum it all up is your birth plan, or on a document more softly titled, Birth Wishes, which I prefer because it acknowledges that everything may not go according to plan.

It should be simple.  This is the document for the busy nursing staff and care providers that describes how you would like to be cared for during labor and birth, and subsequently how you would like your baby to be cared for after he or she is born. 

When helping my clients structure their birth preferences, I encourage them to think of it in three parts:

1.  Introduction
This part sets the tone of your birth preferences.  It is important to introduce yourself and state the general feel of how you would like your birth. For example, it could start something like this:

Hello, we are Jess and John Doe and are so happy to be giving birth today at XYZ Birth Place.  We understand that our birth wishes may not go according to plan, however, we appreciate your support to help us achieve a positive and happy birth experience.

2.  State your wishes
I suggest using bullet points because they are simple, clear and effective for communicating your desires.

• I would like to labor naturally.
• We would like to delay cord clamping.
• We wish to have immediate skin-to-skin with baby.

The list can go on and on!  Get to know your provider's and birth place's policies to that you aren't listing things they will already be doing, which will help your birth wish list be short and sweet.  It is important for the staff to know how you'd like to be cared for, but if the document is five pages long, you run the risk of the staff not remembering or not reading it.  I suggest keeping your wishes to one page for simplicity.

3.  Thank the staff for caring for you and your loved ones
An awesome birth team is an essential part of having a positive birth experience, so thank them in advance for supporting your wishes.   It also helps to remind them of the mood you'd like to have in your birthing room:

We hope to have a peaceful, quiet birth and are thankful for your kindness and support.

Ending with a thank you helps create a positive tone to your preferences so that they will be more willing to support you in having the birth that you desire.

Lastly, talk over you birth preferences with your provider to make sure he or she is on board!