A birth plan is a one-page document that tells your maternity team how you'd like labour and delivery to go — your preferences for pain relief, who you want with you, your positions, who holds the baby first, what to do if everything changes. It is not a contract, it cannot guarantee anything, and it should never feel restrictive. Done right, it's the most useful piece of paper in your hospital bag.
This guide gives you a complete, doctor-aligned birth plan template you can copy, fill in and print. We cover every section that matters — including the things first-time parents usually forget — plus real examples of what to write and what to avoid.
The short version: aim for one page (two max). Write it between weeks 32–36. Discuss it with your midwife at the 36-week appointment. Include your preferences, your back-up plan if things change, and your wishes for the first hour with the baby. Bring three printed copies to the hospital.
Why a birth plan is worth writing (even though things might not go to plan)
Critics sometimes say "birth plans are pointless because labour rarely goes to plan." That misses the point. The value isn't in the document itself — it's in:
- Forcing you to research the decisions in advance — pain relief options, delivery positions, who will be present, what happens if x or y
- Aligning you and your partner on preferences, especially for moments when you can't speak for yourself
- Communicating quickly with shift-change staff — the midwife who's been with you for 8 hours might go home before you deliver
- Documenting consent preferences — interventions, episiotomy, induction methods
When to write your birth plan
Most women write their birth plan between weeks 32 and 36. Late enough that you've toured the hospital, attended antenatal classes and feel informed; early enough to discuss with your midwife at antenatal appointments and to have time for revisions. Bring a printed draft to your 36-week appointment to go over together — your midwife will flag anything that's not feasible at your hospital, and may add things you haven't thought of.
For more on third-trimester preparation, see our third trimester guide.
The birth plan template — section by section
Copy the structure below. Skip any section that doesn't apply to your circumstances or hospital.
Section 1 — About me
Open with the basics so a midwife meeting you for the first time can orient quickly.
- Your name, age and your partner's name
- Estimated due date and current gestational age
- This is my first / second / third pregnancy
- Any allergies (especially to latex, antibiotics, anaesthetics)
- Any pregnancy complications or relevant medical history (gestational diabetes, low platelets, previous c-section, etc.)
- Languages spoken — flag if you'd prefer an interpreter
Section 2 — Birth partners
State who you want with you and what their role is.
- "My birth partner is [name] — they will stay with me throughout labour and delivery."
- "I would also like [doula / mother / friend] present if possible."
- If you're attending alone: state any preferences for who you'd like to be present (e.g. female midwife if available)
- Whether you'd like your birth partner to cut the cord
- Whether you'd like photos taken / where in the room they're allowed
Section 3 — Environment
Small details that genuinely affect how labour feels.
- Lighting — dim if possible
- Music — yes / no, your own playlist
- Aromatherapy / essential oils (check hospital policy)
- TENS machine — bringing your own or borrowing
- I'd like as few people in the room as clinically necessary
- I'd prefer staff to introduce themselves and explain interventions before they happen
Section 4 — Mobility and labour positions
Tell them how you want to move.
- I'd like to stay mobile in the early stages — walking, birth ball, leaning over the bed
- Preferred positions: standing, kneeling, all-fours, side-lying, squat
- Avoid: flat on my back unless clinically necessary
- I'd like to use the birth pool / shower if available
- I'd like to be free to change position as labour progresses
Section 5 — Pain relief
State your preferences in order of preference. Hospitals like specifics.
Example: "I'd like to start with breathing techniques and the TENS machine. If I need more, I'd next try gas and air. I'd prefer to avoid pethidine but am open to an epidural if labour is long or intense. Please don't offer me pain relief unless I ask."
- Order of preference: breathing → TENS → gas and air → opioids → epidural
- Whether you want to be offered relief proactively or asked
- If epidural — preferences (mobile / standard, who explains)
- Anything you specifically want to avoid (e.g. "I'd prefer not to have pethidine")
Section 6 — Monitoring
How would you like the baby's heartbeat checked?
- Intermittent monitoring with a hand-held Doppler if low-risk
- Continuous monitoring (CTG) only if clinically necessary
- Wireless / mobile monitoring if available so I can stay upright
Section 7 — Delivery and pushing
Once you're ready to push.
- I'd prefer to push when I feel the urge ("mother-led" / spontaneous pushing) rather than directed pushing
- Preferred positions: upright, kneeling, side-lying, squatting
- I'd like a mirror to see baby crowning (or: "no mirror, please")
- Episiotomy only if medically necessary, after consent
- I'd like warm compresses / perineal massage to reduce tearing
Section 8 — Cord clamping and the placenta
- Delayed cord clamping (1–3 minutes minimum, ideally until pulsation stops)
- Who cuts the cord — birth partner / me / midwife
- Active or physiological third stage (placenta delivery) — note your choice
- I'd like to see the placenta / I don't want to see it / take home / donate
- Cord blood banking — yes / no, kit brought to hospital
Section 9 — Baby's first hour ("the golden hour")
This is the section first-time parents most often forget.
- Skin-to-skin immediately after delivery, uninterrupted for at least 1 hour
- Delay weighing, measuring and the newborn check until after the first feed
- I plan to breastfeed / mixed feed / formula feed
- I'd like support latching baby on within the first hour
- If c-section: skin-to-skin in theatre if both well; otherwise as soon as possible after
- Vitamin K — injection / oral / decline (with informed reasoning)
- Hepatitis B vaccine at birth — yes / no / per hospital protocol
- I'd like the baby to stay with me at all times unless medically separated
Section 10 — If things change (the back-up plan)
Be explicit about scenarios you can't predict. This is the most important section.
- If induction is recommended — what method (membrane sweep / pessary / hormone drip), what discussion I want first
- If an instrumental delivery is needed (forceps or ventouse) — preferences if possible
- If a c-section is needed — partner present, screen lowered for skin-to-skin, music, photographs, immediate skin-to-skin with partner if I can't
- If baby needs special care (NICU/SCBU) — I'd like to see baby before they're taken; partner accompanies baby; I'd like to express colostrum within 6 hours
- If I can't speak for myself — my partner is my advocate; please discuss decisions with them
Section 11 — After delivery
- Single private room / shared ward — preference
- Visitor preferences — who and when
- How long I plan to stay — early discharge / standard / hospital stay if needed
- Feeding support — breastfeeding consultant / lactation specialist
- Who to contact in case of emergency
What NOT to put in your birth plan
Avoid these — they can backfire:
- Demands or absolutes ("I will not have a c-section under any circumstances") — they can be unsafe and create friction with staff
- Long lists of clinical instructions — your midwife is the expert; trust them to do their job
- Anything longer than two pages — won't be read
- Wedding-style decoration — keep it clean and scannable; bullet points beat paragraphs
- Decisions you haven't actually researched — write what you've thought through, not what you've copied from the internet
Real example — first-timer, low-risk pregnancy
📋 Sample birth plan — Sarah, 32, week 39
About me: First baby, due 28 May. Allergies: penicillin. Birth partner: my husband Tom.
Environment: Dim lighting, my own playlist on a Bluetooth speaker. As few people in the room as possible. Please introduce yourselves.
Mobility: I'd like to stay mobile and use the birth pool if available. Avoid lying flat on my back unless clinically necessary.
Pain relief: Start with breathing and TENS. Move to gas and air if needed. Open to an epidural if labour is very long. Please don't offer pain relief proactively — I'll ask.
Monitoring: Intermittent if low-risk; mobile/wireless CTG if continuous is needed.
Pushing: Spontaneous pushing in an upright or kneeling position. Warm compresses. Episiotomy only if medically necessary.
Cord: Delayed clamping. Tom to cut the cord. Active third stage.
First hour: Immediate skin-to-skin for at least 60 minutes. Delay weighing until after the first breastfeed. Vitamin K by injection. I'd like a lactation consultant within 12 hours.
If things change: If c-section, Tom present, screen lowered, immediate skin-to-skin with him if I can't. If baby needs SCBU, Tom goes with baby. Tom is my advocate if I can't speak.
Practical tips for the document itself
- One page, bullet points, large enough to read at a glance. Aim for 14pt+ font.
- Print three copies — one for your notes, one for the midwife, one for yourself / partner.
- Stick a copy on the front of your maternity notes in your bag.
- Discuss it at your 36-week appointment with your midwife.
- Show your birth partner — they should know it as well as you do.
- Have a digital copy on your phone in case the printed copy gets lost.
FAQ — Birth plan
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a one-page document that tells your maternity team your preferences for labour and delivery — pain relief, who you want with you, your preferred positions, what to do if things change, and how you'd like the first hour with your baby. It's a starting point for conversation, not a contract.
When should I write my birth plan?
Most women write their birth plan between weeks 32 and 36. Early enough to discuss it with your midwife at antenatal appointments, but late enough that you've researched options and toured the hospital. Bring a printed copy to your 36-week appointment to go over together.
Should my birth plan be flexible?
Yes — birth rarely goes exactly to plan. The best birth plans state preferences, then explicitly cover what you'd want if things change (instrumental birth, c-section, baby needs special care). Write it as 'preferences if everything is straightforward, then back-up preferences if not.'
What should you NOT include in a birth plan?
Avoid demands or absolute statements ("I will not have a c-section under any circumstances"). Avoid technical clinical instructions you can't enforce. Avoid making it longer than 1–2 pages — anything longer won't be read in a busy labour ward.
Do I have to follow my birth plan exactly?
No — and you shouldn't feel pressured to. A birth plan is your starting position. If your circumstances change during labour (baby in distress, slow progress, your own preferences shifting), you can change your mind at any time. The plan exists to help your team know you, not to lock you in.
Can I write a birth plan for a planned c-section?
Yes — and you should. A c-section birth plan covers things like music in theatre, screen lowered when baby is born, immediate skin-to-skin (with you or with your partner), delayed cord clamping in theatre (now offered in many hospitals), photography, and breastfeeding support immediately after.
What if the hospital can't accommodate something on my plan?
Discuss this in advance at your 36-week appointment. Common limitations: no birth pools available, no wireless CTG, no immediate skin-to-skin in theatre. Knowing in advance lets you adjust your preferences or, if it really matters, consider a different birth setting.
Birth plan — at a glance
A birth plan is a one-page summary of your preferences for labour and delivery. Write it between weeks 32 and 36, discuss it with your midwife, and bring three printed copies to the hospital. Cover the basics: your birth partner, environment, pain relief preferences, monitoring, delivery positions, cord clamping, the first hour with your baby. Critically — also cover what you'd want if things change (induction, instrumental delivery, c-section, NICU). Avoid demands and absolutes; keep it short, clear and scannable. The goal is communication, not control. The best birth plans help you feel prepared without locking you in.
Inside Baby Novum: use the in-app birth plan builder to fill in each section step by step. Save, share with your partner and export as a PDF for your hospital bag.