4 min read · A simple guide to writing down your birth preferences
A birth plan is not a script for exactly how your baby will arrive.
It is a way to think through your preferences before labour begins and communicate them to the people caring for you.
That distinction matters.
Birth can change quickly. A useful plan leaves room for flexibility while still making your priorities clear.
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a written outline of what you would prefer during labour, birth and the first moments afterwards.
It can help your midwife, nurses and doctors understand what matters to you without expecting you to explain every preference while you are in labour.
You do not have to create one.
But even if you never use the final document, thinking through the questions can help you understand your options before the day arrives.
1. Where would you like to give birth?
Depending on your pregnancy and local healthcare system, options may include hospital, a midwifery-led unit or home birth.
Discuss what is appropriate and available for you with your maternity care team.
2. Who do you want with you?
Write down who you would like to support you during labour and birth.
Also think about what you want that person to do.
Should they:
- speak up for your preferences if you are focused on labour;
- help you move and change position;
- take photographs;
- help create a calm environment;
- remind you of options you discussed beforehand?
A birth partner who understands your plan can be extremely useful.
3. How would you like to move during labour?
You can note preferences around movement and positions.
You may want to walk, kneel, use a birth ball, change positions or use a birthing pool if one is available and appropriate.
You do not need to choose one position now.
Simply write that you would like freedom to move and try different positions if possible.
4. Think about pain relief before you need it
Ask your maternity care team what pain-relief options are available where you plan to give birth.
You might write something like:
“I would like to begin with movement, breathing and non-medical comfort measures, but I am open to discussing additional pain relief if I need it.”
Your preference is allowed to change during labour.
5. What matters to you immediately after birth?
Consider preferences such as:
- skin-to-skin contact if medically possible;
- who you would like to cut the cord, where relevant;
- feeding preferences;
- whether you want photographs;
- your preferences around vitamin K for your baby;
- anything important to you culturally or personally.
6. Think about unexpected situations too
This part can feel uncomfortable, but it can also make your plan more useful.
For example:
- If an assisted vaginal birth becomes necessary, who do you want with you?
- If a caesarean becomes necessary, what would help you feel supported?
- If you and baby need to be separated temporarily, would you like your partner to remain with baby if possible?
You cannot plan every scenario.
The goal is simply to think about what matters most to you.
A very simple one-page birth plan
You can organise yours under five headings:
My birth partner
Who I want with me and how I would like them to support me.
During labour
Movement, positions, environment, birth pool and comfort preferences.
Pain relief
What I would like to try first and what options I am open to.
Birth
Any preferences that are particularly important to me.
After baby arrives
Skin-to-skin, feeding, cord, vitamin K, photographs and early newborn care preferences.
Talk about the plan before labour
Do not simply put the finished document into your hospital bag.
Discuss it with your midwife, obstetrician or other maternity professional beforehand.
They can explain what is available in your chosen birth setting and whether any preferences need adapting to your individual pregnancy.
Then make sure your birth partner understands it too.
Hello World Kit | 0–6 months
You cannot plan exactly how birth will unfold, but you can make the first months afterwards feel a little simpler. The Hello World Kit brings together thoughtfully selected play and memory pieces for your baby's first six months, ready for when your first hello becomes everyday life together.
Explore the Hello World Kit
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a birth plan?
No. A birth plan is optional, but thinking through your preferences can help you understand your choices and communicate what matters to you.
When should I write my birth plan?
The third trimester is a good time to begin. Aim to discuss your preferences with your maternity care team before labour starts.
What should a birth plan include?
It can include where you would like to give birth, your birth partner, movement and position preferences, pain relief, birth facilities, skin-to-skin contact, feeding and newborn care preferences.
What if labour does not follow my birth plan?
A birth plan should remain flexible. Circumstances can change during labour and your healthcare team may recommend different options to support the safety of you and your baby.
How long should a birth plan be?
There is no required length, but a clear one-page plan with short sections or bullet points can make your main preferences easy for your birth team to understand.
The Owloo approach
A birth plan cannot control birth.
But it can help you understand your choices before the day arrives.
Know your preferences. Ask your questions. Leave room for your story to unfold.
Written by Tina Krapez, Owloo Co-founder & COO
Tina Krapez is the Co-founder and COO of Owloo, where she helps create thoughtful products and resources supporting families from pregnancy through their baby's earliest development.
Sources and further reading
- NHS — What to include in your birth plan
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Sample Birth Plan
