Resources For Writing Birth Plans

If you want to know how to write a birth plan, you’ve come to the right place. Whether complex or simple, birth plans can help expectant parents retain some control in a highly institutionalized birthing environment. Even if you are planning a home birthing using natural childbirth, you will want a birth plan to specify exactly which techniques (such as hypnobirth or water birth) that you plan to use. Birth plans can address most types of birth complication so that when the unexpected occurs, there are pre-determined actions to take. 

A birth plan is a written record of your preferences for childbirth. It serves as a notice to healthcare professionals who may not be personally acquainted with you and your family. You can include everything from medication desires to who will attend you during labor. Birth plans can help healthcare providers understand your wishes. In addition, the act of writing down a plan can be a useful exercise for considering the many situations that arise during childbirth.

Create a Better Birth Plan, Advice from a Professional Doula

This article includes advice from a working doula and childbirth educator about what a birth plan can and cannot do for expectant parents. Links are given to birth plans of actual clients.

Childbirth Movies

Watching television programs or childbirth DVDs provides a lot of information about how you may want to approach your own childbirth experience.

Childbirth Live

Childbirth movies are great, but if you have the opportunity to attend the live childbirth of a friend or family member, you will really gain powerful insights. If this is not an option, find out if any good friends or family have childbirth video they are willing to share.

Birth Plan Template

This is a wonderful resource for birth plans. Just copy and paste and start filling in your preferences. It takes you through all kinds of options such as using a birthing ball or birthing pool.

What to take to the hospital

No plan is complete without The List. Use this handy checklist as a starting off point and personalize it to meet your needs. This is not something to hand the doctors, but keep it with your copy of the birth plan.

Safety in Childbirth

This paper, published by the Citizens for Midwifery, addresses common safety concerns about childbirth, whether home birth or in a traditional hospital setting. The information can be valuable in learning about why birth plans are so important, as well as a discussion tool with your doctor or midwife.

Image Credit: hryck., Flickr