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With each of my three pregnancies, I made a birth plan — but they looked very different. My first two were short and simple: I didn’t want to be touched a lot, I didn’t want a crowded room, and I wanted skin-to-skin as soon as possible.

By the time I was expecting my third, I wanted a more detailed plan. I thought carefully about pain management, baby care preferences, and even included a section for C-section and what should happen in an emergency. I honestly didn’t expect to use that part… but after ending up with an emergency C-section, I was incredibly grateful I had taken the time to write it down.

A birth plan isn’t about rigid expectations or controlling every moment. It’s simply a way to communicate what matters most to you so your team — and especially your partner — can support you, even if your birth takes an unexpected turn.

What is a Birth Plan?

A birth plan is a short document that outlines your preferences during labor and delivery. It helps your medical team understand your wishes around monitoring, pain management, movement, newborn care, feeding, and postpartum support.

It isn’t a contract—it’s a communication tool.

Why Make a Birth Plan?

Because labor is unpredictable, and even a simple outline can reduce stress and decision fatigue. A birth plan clarifies:

• What helps you feel calm and supported
• Who you want in the room
• How you prefer to manage pain
• Your newborn care preferences
• Any cultural, religious, or personal considerations

When your partner or support person has this information, they can advocate for you while you stay focused on labor.

What to Include in Your Birth Plan

Labor Preferences

Environment: dim lights, minimal noise, music if allowed

Mobility: walking, position changes, birthing ball, shower or tub

Monitoring: intermittent vs continuous fetal monitoring

IV access: saline lock vs continuous fluids Pain management: breathing, movement, nitrous oxide, epidural timing

Support team: who is present and who communicates with providers If mom is unavailable: partner provides immediate skin-to-skin

(Many parents don’t know this is allowed — but as long as baby is stable, most hospitals fully support partner skin-to-skin if mom is recovering, asleep, or in surgery.)

Delivery Preferences

Positions for pushing: squatting, side-lying, hands-and-knees, semi-reclined

Guided vs spontaneous pushing

Warm compresses or perineal support Delayed or immediate cord clamping

Who cuts the cord

Placenta handling: routine or for encapsulation

Baby Care

This is where Vitamin K matters — especially for boys.

The Vitamin K injection is especially important if you plan to circumcise a boy. Newborns naturally have very low levels of Vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting. Many hospitals will not perform a circumcision without the Vitamin K injection because the risk of excessive bleeding is significantly higher without it. If circumcision is planned, hospitals generally require the injection for safety.

Most providers strongly recommend the injection in this situation.

Erythromycin eye ointment (accept, delay, or decline)

Hepatitis B vaccine (at birth or during first pediatric visit)

Immediate skin-to-skin with mom or partner

Feeding intentions: breastfeeding, formula, or combination

Bath timing: delayed bath or standard timing. Many Hospitals skip the bath altogether now.

Rooming-in vs nursery care

Visitor preferences

Postpartum Preferences

Partner staying overnight

Lactation consultant support

Pain management plan

Limit interruptions when possible

Mental health or trauma considerations you want your team aware of

Emergency Preferences

Whether it’s planned or unexpected, a C-section section is one of the most helpful parts of a birth plan.

Clear vs standard drape

Partner present Skin-to-skin in the OR if possible

Partner skin-to-skin if mom cannot immediately hold baby

Breastfeeding support after surgery

NICU preferences in case of separation

Even if you don’t expect to use this — as I didn’t — it brings tremendous peace of mind to have it included and makes sure you are aware of your options ahead of time.

A Note on Flexibility

Writing a birth plan is an act of intention — but birth itself often asks for grace.

I didn’t want to be flexible; I wanted another natural birth like my first two. When that changed, it took time to accept the ways I needed to adapt — and that’s okay.

If you have time, take time. Ask the questions that feel important. If things move fast, trust that you will be able to process later and still find peace with how your story unfolded.

My Last Birth Plan

With my first two babies, my plan was short and simple. It focused on the things that mattered to me in the moment: quiet, privacy, no unnecessary touching, soft lights, and access to the shower. I also made it clear I didn’t want an episiotomy but was comfortable with perineal massage, and that I wanted my husband to cut the cord.

I didn’t think much about things like delayed cord clamping back then. But by the time I was pregnant with my third, I had learned more and wanted a plan that was much more detailed. I included newborn care choices, postpartum preferences, and even a section for C-section and emergencies.

And then the unexpected happened: I ended up needing an emergency C-section. To my surprise, many of my preferences were still honored. We delayed cord clamping. I had immediate skin-to-skin in the operating room. My son latched right away, just like my other babies born naturally — and he never left me. He stayed on my chest through the entire surgery and even laid on me all the way back to our room.

That experience completely changed how I see the value of birth plans. It went from a simple tool that showcased my preferences to a powerful tool that made sure my wants were delivered regardless of what was happening in the moment. It showed me that even when things don’t go according to plan, the details you write down can still shape your experience in meaningful ways.

Free Birth Plan Template

To save you the hours of research I went through, I created a simple, printable birth plan template. It includes:

Labor preferences (including IV access notes)

Delivery preferences (cord cutting, perineal care, delayed clamping) Baby care choices (feeding, newborn medications, circumcision)

Postpartum care requests

A section for C-section/emergency

And some basic housekeeping essentials like medications currently taken and known allergy information

👉 Download it here → Customizable Birth Plan. Print it, check off your preferences, and bring it to the hospital.

📎Related Posts

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Baby’s Hospital Bag Checklist

The Postpartum 5-5-5 Rest Rule

Every birth is different, and no plan can predict exactly what will happen. But taking the time to think through your preferences — and write them down — is worth it.

For me, a birth plan wasn’t about control; it was about communication and peace of mind. Whether your labor goes smoothly or takes an unexpected turn, having your wishes in writing gives you clarity and helps your support team advocate for you.

If you have questions about specific policies — like IV access, epidural timing, or cord clamping — ask your hospital’s L&D nurse or provider for clarification.