Pregnancy
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Birth plan template: A customizable checklist for labor and delivery (with downloadable template)
Medically Reviewed Juliana Parker, RN, Founder, Nurse Core Triage, Inc
Written by Cradlewise Staff
Labor and delivery come with a lot of unknowns, and that can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to prepare for your child birth. A birth plan won’t answer every question, but it helps you to think through your preferences ahead of time and share them clearly with the people supporting you.
Birth plan is a way to let your care team know what matters to you, while staying open to how the day actually unfolds.
As you read on, you will find precious insights from Juliana Parker, RN, Founder, Nurse Core Triage, Inc with 21 years of experience as Labor & Delivery nurse.
Also, to make this easier, we’ve put together a free, downloadable birth plan template and checklist you can fill in, print, and bring with you to the hospital or birth center.
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a written summary of what you’d like to happen during labor, delivery, and shortly after your baby is born. It can include your preferences around pain relief, who you want in the room, and how you’d like your newborn’s first moments to go, along with anything you’d prefer to avoid.
There’s no universal format. Some parents write a few bullet points, while others prefer a fuller checklist.
A good birth plan should reflect your choices and make it easy for your care team to read quickly, especially in the middle of labor.
Do I need to make a birth plan?
Not necessarily. A birth plan is entirely optional, and plenty of parents go into labor without one. But many find the process useful. It’s a way to learn about your options, talk things through with your partner, and walk in the labor & delivery room feeling more prepared.
If you’re not sure where to start, your OB-GYN or midwife can walk you through what’s typically available at your hospital or birth center, and help you think through what matters most to you.
Free birth plan template checklist
We’ve created a free, one-page birth plan template you can download, fill in, and print. It’s organized into simple sections so you can check off your preferences quickly, with space for personal notes.
Cradlewise Tip: Print 2-3 copies of your finished birth plan: one for you, one for your birth partner, and one to hand to your nurse or midwife.
How to make a birth plan?
Your birth plan can be as simple or detailed as you like.
“ The most useful birth plans are clear, brief, and flexible. I encourage parents to identify the two or three things that matter most to them and discuss those priorities with their provider, partner, and labor team. They help the care team understand what’s important to the patient while allowing everyone to respond appropriately if the clinical situation changes.”
Here’s what most parents choose to include:
- Details regarding your health, your blood group or in case you have gestational diabetes or any allergies
- Who you want as your birth partner, and anyone else you’d like present
- Where you’d like to give birth (labor and delivery room, birth center, or at home, if applicable)
- Positions or movement you’d like to try during labor, including in bed, standing, using a birth ball or birth stool, squatting or on all fours
- Your preferences around pain relief, from an epidural to unmedicated approaches
- Whether you’d like music, dim lighting, or a calm atmosphere in the room
- Your preference for delayed cord clamping, which allows blood from the placenta to keep flowing to your baby for a minute or more after birth
- Whether you’d like your placenta to be delivered manually or if you want to save the placenta
- Whether you’d like skin-to-skin contact right after delivery
- Your feeding plan, including whether you’re hoping to breastfeed
- Your preference for the newborn vitamin K shot, which helps prevent a rare bleeding disorder in babies
- How you feel about interventions like an episiotomy, forceps, or vacuum-assisted delivery, if they become necessary
- Whether you’re planning to use a doula or hypnobirthing techniques
- Who you’d like to receive as visitors after birth, and when you’ll be ready for them
- Any cultural, religious, or personal practices you’d like your care team to know about
Discussing these preferences with your partner before labor can prevent you from having to make those decisions when you are tired, emotional, or adjusting to life with a newborn.
Do I mention about visitors in the birth plan?
Yes. It helps to decide ahead of time who you would like in the room, when you are comfortable receiving visitors, and whether you are comfortable breastfeeding in front of others.
Did you know?
Delayed cord clamping is recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for most healthy births. While many hospitals already do this by default, it’s still worth mentioning it in your birth plan if it matters to you.
Vaginal birth plan
If you’re hoping for an unmedicated birth, your plan might focus on comfort measures like movement, water birth, hypnobirthing, breathing techniques, or support from a doula. It’s still worth including a brief note on your preferences if pain relief becomes necessary after all, so your team knows how you’d like to proceed.
Labor and delivery nurses often ask at admission whether you are planning to use an epidural. Many parents who initially say no or aren’t sure end up choosing one once labor is underway. Contractions are often more intense than expected, even for parents who’ve read and practised extensively.
A birth plan if you are having a caesarean section
A birth plan isn’t just for vaginal deliveries. You can make one for a planned C-section too. You might note preferences like having the surgical screen lowered so you can watch your baby being born, playing music in the operating room, or having skin-to-skin contact as soon as it’s medically possible.
Labor doesn’t always go as expected. Hence, it’s also worth adding a note for the reverse scenario, what you’d want if a planned vaginal birth becomes an unplanned C-section, or if your baby needs extra support after delivery.
What happens after I make my birth plan?
Once your birth plan is ready, share it with your birth partner and your care team.
“ I encourage patients to discuss their birth plans during prenatal visits rather than waiting until they are in labor. This gives them an opportunity to understand how their provider practices and whether certain requests are available. The last thing you want is to arrive at the hospital expecting something that your provider or hospital does not offer.”
Can I change my birth plan once I am in labor?
Yes, always. You’re allowed to change your mind at any point, including in the middle of labor.
Birth plans are meant to be flexible. If you decide you want an epidural after all, or your circumstances change and a C-section becomes necessary, your birth plan can flex with you. Speak up, and your care team will help adjust course.
“ I often remind parents that the baby ultimately has the final say. If the baby tolerates labor well, the team may be able to honor most or all of the patient’s preferences. If the baby shows signs that they are not tolerating labor, certain parts of the plan may need to be adjusted to protect the baby’s well-being.”
A helpful example: Many parents ask for immediate skin-to-skin contact after delivery, and care teams will support that whenever it’s safe. But if a baby needs a moment of extra help breathing right after birth, they may be moved briefly to a warmer for assessment first, with skin-to-skin often starting again shortly after.
Conclusion
A birth plan helps you to walk in with informed choices and make sure the people supporting you understand what matters most to you.
As Juliana Parker says, “A birth plan can be a wonderful communication tool, but it should not create additional pressure for the parent. Labor is not a test, and there is no prize for following every part of the plan exactly.”
Fill in your free template, talk it through with your birth partner and care team, and give yourself permission to adjust it as your day unfolds.
FAQs
Q: What is a birth plan and why is it important?
A: A birth plan is a written summary of your preferences for labor, delivery, and your baby’s first moments. It helps you think through your choices ahead of time and communicate them clearly to your care team.
Q: Do hospitals actually follow birth plans?
A: Yes, they do. Care teams generally review your birth plan on arrival and try to accommodate as many preferences as possible, while prioritizing the health and safety of you and your baby.
Q: Can I change my birth plan during labor?
A: Yes. You can change your mind about any part of your birth plan at any time, including once you’re in labor. Your care team will adjust as per your preferences, keeping in mind the health and safety of you and your baby.
Q: How far in advance should I write my birth plan?
A: Many parents write their birth plan sometime in the third trimester, once they’ve had a chance to discuss options with their OB-GYN or midwife. It is recommended that you review your birth plan at a prenatal visit with your provider.
Q: What should I do with my birth plan once it's finished?
A: Print a few copies: one for your hospital bag, one for your birth partner, and one to give to your nurse or midwife when you arrive. It’s also worth reviewing it with your provider at a prenatal visit.
You may also like:
- The science of baby sleep: Your essential sleep safety checklist.
- What are the 3 types of breast milk? A guide for curious parents.
- 15 Weird signs labor is near.
Sources:
- Delayed cord clamping. ACOG. 2020. Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth.
- Vitamin K shot. CDC. 2025. About Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding.
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