Tips for Writing a Birth Plan

A birth plan is meant to convey your wishes and desires for your birth to your doctor and the hospital staff. When writing your birth plan, you should keep to the SSS rule: short, sweet, and skinny. You should keep your birth plan to a maximum of two pages, and be sure to use polite, positive, and respectful wording (ex: "We desire..." rather than "We don't want...") Also, 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.

Here is a list of questions you might want to consider when writing your birth plan:

Labor:

What positioning and activity do you want to partake in during your labor? Do you wish to walk around freely and try different positions?

What tools do you wish to use during your labor? Do you wish to have access to a birthing ball, a birthing bar, a shower or hot tub, etc?

What types of pain relief do you desire? Do you wish to have an epidural or other form of medical pain relief, or do you wish to utilize non-medical comfort measures?

Do you find artificial augmentation of labor acceptable (pitocin, cervadil etc.) or would you prefer to use natural methods of augmentation?

Who do you want to be present through your entire labor?

Do you wish you have food and water during labor?

What type of fetal monitoring would you prefer (internal, EFM, intermittent, feta scope, none, etc.)

How often do you want vaginal exams?

What atmosphere would you like to labor in (lighting, sounds, language, etc.)?

Birth:

What positions do you wish to utilize for pushing?

Would you prefer perineal support/massage to prevent tearing or episiotomy?

Who do you want to catch the baby?

Who do you want to announce the sex of the baby?

Who do you want to cut the chord, and when?

Do you want your baby placed immediately on your after the birth?

What steps to you want to take to initiate breastfeeding?

How do you wish to deliver the placenta? Would you like to view/keep the placenta?

What atmosphere would you like for bonding with your baby?

Do you wish for your baby to receive the Hep B vaccine and/or the Vitamin K and eye drops?

Post Partum:

Do you wish to room in with your baby or use the nursery?

Do you wish your baby to have a bath, if so by whom?

Do you wish to have at least one parent present with baby during all routine exams and tests?

Do you wish to use no artificial nipples whatsoever with baby?

Who do you wish to stay with mother and baby?

If the baby is a boy, do you wish to have him circumcised? If so, when? Do you wish to have a parent present?

When do you wish the baby to receive the heel prick test?

In the Event of a Cesarean:

Do you wish to begin labor naturally before deciding on a cesarean?

Do you wish only to have the incision area and a small area on your back to be shaved?

Do you wish for at least one hand to be left free during the surgery?

Do you wish to have a low transverse uterine and abdominal incision?

Do you wish for double layer suturing after the surgery?

What steps do you want to take to view the baby as he or she is born?

What actions do you want to take when greeting your baby?

Do you wish to have nursery care for baby only if medically necessary?

Do you wish for at least one parent to stay with the baby at all times?

When do you wish for your catheter and IV to be removed after the surgery? When do you wish to receive food and drink?

What steps do you want to take to ensure the initiation of breastfeeding?

By examing all the possibilities and all your options, you can create the perfect birth plan for you.