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The Birth Plan

Is a Birth Plan Helpful or Troublesome?

By Marie Fellenstein Hale

Many people view writing a birth plan as an important step in preparing for childbirth. Your childbirth educator may guide you or you can find ideas in many books (see resources section for suggestions). Writing a birth plan can be a wonderful guide to self-discovery. The process may help you discover more about your wishes and feelings about birth, and if shared with your support people, you may all understand each other better and be able to work together during birth.

Begin working on your birth plan by finding out how birthing women are routinely cared for in your birth setting (hospital, birth center, or home). This will greatly influence what you write in your birth plan. For example, if women are routinely hooked up to an external fetal monitor throughout labor, and if no exceptions to this rule are allowed, then it may be pointless to ask for no monitoring during labor—it may even cause friction with the staff to ask for something that goes against the customary care given. If you discover that an issue is important to you, and the typical care in your birth setting does not allow it, then you may want to explore other places to give birth.

By exploring the typical care, you will also discover areas that you do not need to mention in your birth plan. Perhaps you have been reading a childbirth book that is 20 or 30 years old that says you should mention that you want no enemas and shaving for normal birth. When you talk to your caregiver or call your hospital, you will probably discover that enemas and shaving are no longer routinely done to all women in most hospitals, therefore, you don't need to waste space mentioning them in your birth plan.

Having a support team who has discussed your birth plan with you will be your best help—they will work with you toward a birth that is satisfying. In writing your birth plan, focus on your basic view of birth and your preferences.