A birth plan is a one to two page list of preferences a woman has for giving birth. A pregnant woman may compose a birth plan to make her labor and delivery requests clear to her obstetrician (OB) or nurse-midwife, and the labor and delivery staff at the facility where she plans to give birth.

Birth plans should focus on three major areas, including:

• Wishes during a normal labor and delivery
• Preferences in the case of unexpected events
• Requests as to how the baby should be treated after delivery

A birth plan enables expectant mothers to have a role in the decisions that are made about their bodies and their babies. It also allows the mother’s partner to participate in the decision making for the baby. Although there is no guarantee that all the preferences listed in a birth plan will be met, having a simple list available makes it more likely.

Women choosing to develop a birth plan are encouraged to first research their labor and delivery options. They can then determine which factors are most important to them and include those requests in their plans. Women can learn about their labor and delivery options by talking to their OB or nurse-midwife, touring and speaking with the staff at the birthing facility and attending birth preparation classes. They also may gain some insight by talking to other mothers about their experiences. Birth plans should be reviewed by an OB or nurse-midwife about four to six months before a woman’s due date and again after the woman has attended birth preparation classes.

In addition to preparing a birth plan, pregnant women must make a number of additional preparations for labor and delivery. These range from making transportation plans to the birthing facility to arranging for childcare for any existing children. Women will also need to pack suitcases for their hospital stay. Items will need to be packed for the mother, the baby and the partner or birthing coach.