Making a Birth Plan

A birth plan lets you write down your vision of an ideal birth and share it with your support person, the hospital or birth centre, and your doctor or midwife.

Your birth may not go as planned. But the process of making a plan can be a great way to get everyone on the same page about what you think you'd prefer.

Here are some ideas for making a birth plan.

• Choose where you want to have your baby. It could be a hospital, a birthing centre, or your home. The setting may depend on your level of risk for problems during delivery, and if you're working with a doctor or midwife.
• List the comfort measures you want to try. Think breathing techniques, labouring in water, or trying different positions.
• Include the medical treatments you prefer to have. Think about pain medicine you'd want, even if you don't think you'll need it. And think about your options if you end up needing a C-section.
• Say how you want your baby to be cared for after delivery.
  • You might want your baby to stay in the room with you rather than in the nursery.
  • You might want to delay some tests so you can hold your baby and start breastfeeding right away.

  As you think about your plan, give yourself permission to be flexible. It's hard to know what will happen. The most important thing is to make sure you and your baby are healthy and safe.

  Related Information

  • Labour and Delivery
  • My Birth Plan
  • Pregnancy: Choosing a Health Professional
  • Pregnancy: Deciding Where to Deliver

  Credits

  Current as of: November 9, 2022

  Author: Healthwise Staff
  Medical Review:
  Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
  Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
  Kirtly Jones MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

  Current as of: November 9, 2022

  Medical Review: Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology