How to Create a Birth Plan Plus Free Template and Checklist

As your due date gets closer, you may already be thinking about how you hope your baby’s birth will go. From pain management to who will be in the room, there are a lot of decisions to consider.

Creating a birth plan can help you talk through your preferences with your partner and care team before labor begins. Below, I’m sharing the questions I discuss with my doula clients, sample birth plans, and a free printable template and checklist you can use to put yours together.

What Is a Birth Plan?

A birth plan is a written summary of your preferences for labor, birth, newborn care, and recovery. It helps your maternity care team understand what matters most to you. In your birth plan, you can include things like:

• Managing labor pain
• Who will be allowed in the room during delivery
• How you would like to push
• Immediate skin-to-skin
• Delayed cord clamping or cord blood banking

The list goes on! Ultimately, your birth plan should be a one-page document (front and back, at most) that lists the things most important to you and your baby during labor and birth.

Your Birth Plan Is About Intentions, Not Perfection

You may hear some people say, “Creating a birth plan is a waste of time because nothing may go as planned.” However, the value of creating a birth plan is not in following it perfectly. It lies in the process of putting it together.

By researching and writing one, you learn about your options during labor, birth, and recovery. Thinking through these choices ahead of time helps you identify questions to ask your care team before labor. A prepared birth plan can help you explain your preferences and ask questions during labor.

So, instead of thinking of this document as a “plan,” think of it as your birthing intentions or birth goals. It’s good to remain flexible and open to changes in your plan.

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Benefits of Having a Birth Plan

Here are a few ways a birth plan can help you and the people supporting you:

1. Knowledge = Power and Confidence

As you approach your baby’s due date, you’re more than likely feeling anxious about it all. I want you to know that those feelings are normal. I’ve been to tons of births, and even I was a little scared about going into labor with my two kids. Birth is unpredictable, and the unknown can be scary.

But, as I tell all my doula clients, the best way to combat those anxious and uneasy feelings is to educate yourself. The more you know, the better choices you can make for yourself and the more confident and prepared you’ll feel entering your labor and birth experience. Research has linked confidence with a more positive birth experience.¹

2. You’re Better Able To Advocate for Yourself and Your Baby

Not only does knowledge about the labor and birth experience give you more confidence, but it also helps you speak up for the things that are important to you. You should be an active participant in your labor and your baby’s birth. This is your body and your baby. Your voice should be heard because you’re in charge, and you should be in the driver’s seat.

If you’re hoping to have an unmedicated birth, it can be a bit more challenging to speak up during labor. Labor takes all your energy to focus on getting through each contraction and helping move your baby down through your pelvis. Your plan is helpful because you can remind people to review it and let it speak for you. It can remind your birth team about your preferences so they can honor them.

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3. It’s a Helpful Guide for Your Partner

Maybe you’ve told your partner or support person helping you during labor and birth that they must remember all your desires. They’ll do their best to support you, but if they haven’t supported someone through labor before, they may be unsure what’s happening or when to speak up. This is why a birth plan can also be a helpful guide and reminder for your partner of what you both discussed.

Pro Tip: Fill out the birth plan checklist (see below) and birth plan template (see below) with your partner. The more involved they are in the prep work, the more helpful and involved they’ll be on the big day.

Also, having a professional in the room designated to remember all your choices, like a birth doula, is a great option. Even doulas like to have notes of what their clients’ preferences are. Some even require a birth plan from their clients so they can be the best advocate and support person during your baby’s birth. These are all great reasons to create the best birth plan for yourself.

Related: Tips for Partners During Labor and Delivery

4. Everyone Is on the Same Page, Literally

Sharing your plan gives your care team a written reminder of your preferences. Remember, your doctor might not be on call when you go into labor. You could have multiple nurses caring for you throughout your experience. This document helps the doctor or midwife and nurses caring for you understand what’s important to you.

How To Write a Birth Plan

I created a birth plan checklist and downloadable template to help expecting parents think through their choices. The checklist covers preferences for unmedicated births, births with pain medication, and planned cesareans. Use it to identify what matters to you and what you want to discuss with your care provider.

Free Birth Plan Checklist

This free checklist makes it easy to think through your preferences before finalizing your birth plan.

You can also download our free birth plan template (PDF) at the bottom of this article to help finalize your top priorities.

I would like to mention that not all options on my birth plan checklist above will be available to everyone. It depends on where you choose to give birth and the options available to your care provider. Also, some of these options might not be available if you have complications during your pregnancy or have a high-risk pregnancy. Talk about it with your care provider.

Note: Use the checklist to explore your options, rather than handing the full checklist to your birth team. Check the preferences that matter to you, discuss any questions with your doctor or midwife, and transfer your priorities to the shorter birth plan template below.

If you prefer to see this step-by-step, watch me walk through it here:

For more help preparing for labor and birth, you can explore our SOAR birth prep course.

What Should Go on Your Birth Plan?

Use these questions to decide what belongs on your birth plan.

1. Your Contact Details and Important Health Information

At the top of your birth plan, list your general information and the most important information your healthcare team needs to know about you. This is where you include details like:

• Your name
• Your partner’s name
• Your due date / how many weeks and days you’re pregnant
• Your doula’s name (if you have one)
• Your baby’s pediatrician

Regarding important information, write down any medical history they need to know. Some examples include:

• If you’re GBS positive
• Have gestational diabetes
• Have preeclampsia
• High blood pressure
• Have an STI
• Placenta previa
• Experienced trauma in the past
• If this is your first, second, third, etc., child

2. What You Prefer During Labor

A main point your labor and delivery team wants to know is what you prefer for pain relief. If you’re hoping for a vaginal birth, do you want to go unmedicated, or do you want medication for pain relief? If you’re unsure what you want, I recommend looking at this Pain Management Preference Scale written by Penny Simkin, a physical therapist. It can help you better understand where you stand if you’re on the fence about this decision.

Some things to consider when writing your plan:

• Who do you want in your labor and delivery room? (Are residents allowed?)
• How would you like to move during labor, and how might your pain relief options affect that?²
• Will you need IV fluids, or could an IV catheter be left in place without continuous fluids?
• Would you like to use a birthing ball or a peanut ball?
• Would you like to labor in a tub or shower?
• Do you want to play a birth playlist?
• Do you want to wear your own clothing?
• What can you eat or drink during labor, given your health needs and your birth setting’s policies?
• Pain relief medications you’d like to discuss:
  • Epidural
  • Nitrous oxide
  • IV pain medication
• Comfort measures without medication:
  • Hot and cold compresses
  • Counterpressure and massage
  • Acupressure
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Aromatherapy

It also helps to discuss what could happen if labor slows or your care needs change. Ask your doctor or midwife when they might recommend Pitocin or breaking your water, what the benefits and risks would be, and what alternatives might be appropriate. You can include how you’d like your team to explain recommendations and involve you in decisions.

Related: What to Do in Early Labor: 6 Tips to Stay Calm and Prepared

3. Pushing Preferences

The pushing stage begins when your cervix is fully dilated to 10 centimeters.^3,4 Your care team will help you understand when to start pushing. Which positions or approaches would you like to discuss? Options include:

• Push upright
• Squat (use a squat bar?)
• Push on your side
• Spontaneously push
• Be coached while pushing
• Push while kneeling
• Push on all fours
• Use stirrups
• Have a mirror to help you see when you’re pushing effectively

Not all of these options may be available to you, depending on where you’re choosing to give birth and if you choose certain pain medications. Go over them with your doctor or midwife, and see which ones you’re interested in.

Related: How to Push During Childbirth: Positions and Tips That Help

4. Preferences if You Need an Assisted Birth or C-Section

As I mentioned before, birth is an unpredictable event. Sometimes, things come up, and we have to change the plan to have a healthy mom and baby. If you or your baby experiences an emergency scenario, it’s good to have an understanding of what could happen. If you’re pushing and your baby needs to be quickly delivered, are you familiar and comfortable with second-stage interventions like a vacuum birth, forceps, or getting an episiotomy? Do you know how these are performed and the benefits and risks of each?

You can also discuss your preferences for a C-section before labor begins. Some requests may not be possible in an emergency. Questions to ask include:

• If it’s safe, could you keep one arm free and receive help holding your baby during skin-to-skin?
• Do you want a gentle cesarean?
• Would you like your doctor to talk you through the surgery so you know how things are going?
• Would you like a clear drape?
• Do you want music so your baby is born with a particular song playing? (Your partner can play it on their phone.)
• Do you want your partner to announce the gender? (If you were keeping it a surprise!)
• What anesthesia options might be appropriate for you if you need a C-section?

If you know in advance that you need or want a C-section, it’s still a good idea to have a plan for a C-section. We want you to be informed and have the best experience possible.

Related: C-Section Birth Plan: What To Include and How To Prepare

5. Immediate Postpartum and Newborn Procedures

Once your baby is born (congratulations!), there are still some options you should think about and know. For example:

• Do you want to do delayed cord clamping?
• If you want to keep your placenta, what arrangements does your birth facility require?
• Do you want immediate skin-to-skin and have the golden hour?
• What questions do you have for your baby’s healthcare provider about vitamin K, hepatitis B vaccination, and antibiotic eye ointment?
• What should you know about newborn screening, including blood spot testing for conditions such as PKU, hearing screening, and pulse oximetry screening?⁵
• Do you plan to breastfeed or formula feed?
• If your baby needs supplemental feeding, how would you like the care team to discuss the reason and available options with you?
• Do you want baby to stay with you, or do you prefer they go to the nursery to get some sleep? (If you plan to breastfeed, you can ask the nurses to bring your baby to you when they’re hungry.)
• Would you like to see a lactation consultant?
• Are you going to delay baby’s first bath?
• Can your nurses group overnight checks and care when medically appropriate to give you longer stretches of rest?

There is a lot to think about. Including this helps your care team understand your wishes, not only for labor but even after your baby is born.

6. Your Top Three Priorities

I like to ask my clients, “What are the top three things that are most important to you during your labor and birth?” It’s nice to be able to see your biggest priorities at the top of your document. Our birth plan template (which you can download for free below) has a highlighted “Top Three” section. This ensures your team quickly understands what’s most important to you if other things don’t work out. Some ideas here could be:

• A vaginal birth
• A VBAC
• Not getting an episiotomy
• To labor freely
• To get an epidural as soon as possible
• To have your partner announce the baby’s gender

Birth Plan Examples & Sample Templates

These sample birth plans show a variety of approaches, from unmedicated births to planned cesareans.

Before using these examples: Use these sample plans to see how preferences can be organized. Some include requests to decline medications or newborn preventive care; those requests are not Baby Chick’s medical recommendations. Discuss these decisions with your doctor or midwife and your baby’s healthcare provider before adding them to your own plan. The options available to you will depend on your health, your baby’s needs, and your birth setting.

Example 1: Unmedicated Birth #1

This example highlights preferences for an unmedicated labor with minimal medical interventions.

Example 2: Unmedicated Birth #2

This sample groups preferences for an unmedicated birth, support people, and newborn care.

Medical context: This image includes requests that should not be copied without discussion with your healthcare team. CDC advises against consuming placenta capsules because encapsulation does not reliably eliminate infectious pathogens.⁶

Pitocin (oxytocin) is used after birth to help prevent excessive bleeding; its purpose is not simply to make the placenta detach.⁷ Erythromycin eye ointment is recommended to help prevent gonococcal eye infection in newborns.⁸

Example 3: VBAC With Epidural

This sample lists preferences for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), epidural pain relief, support people, and newborn care. Review the newborn-care requests with your baby’s healthcare provider rather than copying them directly.

Example 4: Unmedicated Birth #3

This example includes preferences for movement, lighting, and support people. It also lists a preferred sequence of interventions if labor slows; discuss appropriate next steps with your care team rather than treating that sequence as a standard approach.

Example 5: Cesarean Birth

This sample includes preferences for a planned cesarean birth and time with baby afterward. Ask which requests are possible, including skin-to-skin and the timing of routine newborn care.

Tips for Writing Your Birth Plan

Here are some tips for when you’re creating your birth plan:

1. Keep It Simple

I suggest keeping your birth plan to one page, or front and back at most. Put your top priorities first and use short bullet points so your care team can review them quickly.

2. Be Flexible

I want every woman to feel heard and supported during labor and birth. Because birth can be unpredictable, I encourage my doula clients to discuss how their preferences might change if they or their baby needs different care.

You can ask your team to explain recommendations and involve you in decisions along the way. A change in your birth plan does not mean you did anything wrong.

3. Go Over It With Your Medical Provider Before Labor

When working on your birth plan, I recommend talking about your choices with your care provider during your prenatal visits. This gives you a chance to discuss what’s available, ask questions, and understand where your preferences may need to change. Bring a final copy with you at the end of your pregnancy to review and go over with them once more.

Because doctors and midwives care for many patients, bringing your birth plan to the birth as a reminder about these details will help remind them of your discussions and what’s most important to you. I don’t recommend relying on them to remember your conversations.

4. Bring Multiple Copies With You

Because every person’s birth preferences are different, be sure to bring multiple copies of your birth plan with you. This way, you can give a copy to your doula, your doctor or midwife, and each nurse who walks into your room.

Note: Nurses usually work in 12-hour shifts and typically change at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. You may have more than one nurse supporting you during labor, so have a few copies just in case. (Yes, for some mothers, labor can last longer than 12 hours!)

Free Printable Birth Plan Template

Now that you’ve gone through our Birth Plan Checklist and decided on your labor, birth, and recovery preferences, you’re ready to put them into your plan. By transferring the things that are most important to you onto a one-page document, you’ll identify your top priorities. And it will help you remember these details on the big day.

Below, I’m sharing the birth plan template I use with my doula clients. You can print it and fill in your preferences, with your top three priorities at the top.

Feel free to print it out or download it and use it as a guide:

Once you’ve filled out your plan, review it with your doctor or midwife and share it with your support person. Keep a few copies in your hospital bag. I hope it helps you start conversations, ask questions, and feel heard as you prepare to meet your baby.