How to Prepare a Birth Plan

A birth plan is a document summarizing your preferences throughout the birth process. Its purpose is to ensure the healthcare team knows your wishes. A birth plan is not a "contract" but a "guide" — medical necessities always take priority, and these are decisions made together with you.

Things you can include in your plan: Birth environment preference (regular room, water birth), who you want with you, pain management preferences, delivery position preferences, music or lighting preferences, and your views on episiotomy.

Postpartum preferences: You can also include skin-to-skin contact duration, cord clamping timing (delayed clamping — waiting 1-3 minutes is widely supported), first breastfeeding, baby staying in your room, and cord blood banking.

Preparation tips: Creating your plan between weeks 32-36 is a good idea. Keeping it short and concise (1 page) makes it easy to read. Sharing with your doctor and midwife and getting their feedback is valuable. Most importantly: Stay flexible. Birth is unpredictable and plan changes are completely normal.