Creating a Birth Plan
Below you will find a sample birth plan to copy and modify to suite your particular desires for your labor and birth.
We encourage you to explore the process of creating a birth plan, keeping in mind that some of your wishes and expectations may not come to fruition, as every birth is a wonderfully unique and unpredictable experience.
Your doula will support your birth plan, and will help the Labor and Delivery staff become acquainted with your plan during your labor.
A Sample Birth Plan
"We have prepared this list of goals to help everyone know our hopes during the labor and birth of our first child. Since we are new to this experience, please help us to understand all the changes taking place, as well as procedures and protocols. We understand that certain emergency or other medical circumstances may not allow for the accommodation of the goals listed below. We are flexible.
Labor - We would like:
- A labor and delivery that minimizes medication and other medical interventions
- To try natural induction techniques prior to medical augmentation
- To be up and out of bed as much as possible during labor, depending on her needs
- To request pain medication, not be offered
Birth - We would like:
- The lights kept dim, and noise kept to a minimum
- The father to help catch the baby and cut the cord
- Not to have an episiotomy, unless determined to be medically necessary
New Born Care - We would like:
- The baby placed on the mother’s chest with skin-to-skin contact for the first 1 to 2 hours
- To have the baby breast feed as soon as possible
Thank you for your help and support!"
