📝Birth Planning For You!

Why Birth Planning Matters

One of the first things I do with my doula clients is assist them in creating their birth plan based on their personal values and preferences—to help them envision the birth of their dreams.

This isn’t just a checklist or a rigid script. A birth plan is a thoughtful guide. It might not all go exactly as written (and that’s okay!), but it gives you a solid foundation to help you feel prepared, confident, and informed.

You’re allowed to change your mind during your birth. Birth is unpredictable—this is about giving you clarity as you walk into your birth space. To have the birth you want.

What a Birth Plan Really Is (And Isn’t)

Let’s clear something up: no matter what kind of birth you’re planning—hospital, birth center, or home—a birth plan can absolutely support you and your team.

This isn’t just a document you hand to your provider and forget about. It’s a tool that helps everyone involved understand your preferences and hopes.

And hear me when I say: it’s not “pointless” if things don’t go exactly to plan.

Your birth plan is a communication tool. It bridges the gap between you and your provider, partner, doula, or midwife. The people supporting you should care about your plan—because they should care about you.

You're not just another patient or client. You’re a whole person with unique needs and desires, and you deserve to be treated that way.

This is also your chance to reflect on your core values before birth. Don’t brush it off with “I just want a healthy baby.” Of course you do! But chances are, you also want a healthy and supported birth experience.

This is a day you’ll remember forever. You deserve to look back on it with peace and pride. Take the time to explore your options now—because you only get to birth this baby once.

What Should Be in Your Birth Plan

When you’re ready to start writing your plan, I recommend breaking it down into key phases:

• Pre-labor
  
  

• General preferences
  
  

• Active labor & transition
  
  

• Pushing
  
  

• Placenta delivery
  
  

• Immediate postpartum
  
  

• Newborn care
  
  

• Unexpected situations or “Plan B”
  
  

There are so many options and choices you can make in each of these categories. Start by asking:

• What do I want my environment to feel like?
  Think about the five senses—smell, sound, touch, sight, taste.
  
  

• What comfort measures might I want to try?
  Shower, tub, TENS unit, birth comb, massage, etc.
  
  

• How do I want to move through labor?
  Rocking, swaying, walking, bouncing on a ball, hands-and-knees, side-lying.
  
  

• What kind of monitoring do I want?
  Continuous or intermittent? Wireless?
  
  

• What are my preferences around pain relief?
  Medical options like the epidural, IV narcotics, or nitrous oxide? Or natural methods only?
  
  

• How do I feel about cervical checks, IV fluids, or vaginal exams?
  
  

These questions just scratch the surface of what we go over together. Whether I’m attending your birth or just supporting you virtually, my goal is to help you feel informed and empowered.

This is exactly why I offer workshops and 1:1 coaching calls—to walk you through it all step-by-step and make sure your birth plan truly reflects you.

How to Make It Truly Yours

This isn’t about creating a Pinterest-perfect plan—it’s about knowing what you want and making sure the people around you are on the same page.

Print a copy of your birth plan for:

• Your partner
  
  

• Your doula
  
  

• Your care provider
  
  

That way, you’re not scrambling last-minute to pack your bag or explain your wishes while in labor.

Your partner knows what to pack, what music you want, and what comfort measures you’d like.
Your doula knows your preferred tools and positions.
Your provider knows you don’t want to be coached to push or you want delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin, or to keep the sex of the baby a surprise.

Pro tip: Don’t just hand them the plan—go over it with them.

Your Birth, Your Vision, Your Voice

I said it before, and I’ll say it again:

No one cares about your birth experience as much as you do.

So don’t be afraid to ask questions.
To say what you need.
To change your mind.
To advocate for what matters to you.

Your birth plan isn’t there to impress anyone.
It’s there to protect your space, your body, and your peace of mind.

You are allowed to birth in a way that honors you.

Want Help Creating Your Birth Plan?

Not sure where to start? That’s exactly what I cover in my virtual 1:1 coaching calls. I’ll walk you through it step-by-step so you can build a plan that feels clear, aligned, and supportive for the kind of birth you want.

✨ Book your Virtual Doula call here