Ultimate Birth Plan Checklist: Essential Items to Include

Ultimate Birth Plan Checklist: Must-Have Items for Delivery

So you’re approaching your due date, and it’s time to consider your birth plan. It’s a subject that sometimes makes hearts race, minds spin, and generates a lot of questions. You want to feel prepared, but just how detailed do you need to get? What are the essentials you must include in your birth plan? And, just as critical — what can you skip?
Create your perfect birth plan with this essential birth plan checklist. Ensure you include all key items for a smooth and confident delivery experience. Let’s break it down. This guide walks you through how to write a birth plan that reflects your wishes, readies you for the unexpected and — most importantly — empowers you as you approach labor. Ready? Let’s get to it.

Writing a Birth Plan: The Essential Elements to Include

For most people: Your birth plan should be simple. You don’t need a novel here, but you do need to work in your preferences on a few key points. Keep an eye on your top priorities — how you want labor to occur, who you want there and what, exactly, kind of support you’ll need. This isn’t about putting everything down in stone; things will change during labor, but knowing your preferences will help guide you and your care team.

The biggest surprise, which is also the best, is that I didn’t know I would love motherhood as much as I do.

Deborah Norville

Labor Support: Who’s In (And Who’s Out)

Your birth team is crucial. It’s not only the doctors and nurses; it’s also who you want beside you in those vulnerable moments, physically and emotionally. Decide who’s going to be with you while you’re in labor — your partner, a doula, a friend, a family member. Also be sure to detail whether you want anyone removed from the room. Shortened a bit, here’s a birth plan, from the family. If it’d be helpful, say in your birth plan that you don’t want some family members there.

Methods of Pain Management: Preferences and Choices

Pain management is a hot-button topic for most moms-to-be, and it’s definitely something you should cover in your birth plan. Do you want an epidural? Or perhaps you are looking for natural pain relief techniques such as breathing exercises, water immersion, or a birthing ball. Whatever you decide, make sure you know what you want. It’s O.K. to say, “I want an epidural when I’m ready” or “I want to try natural methods first.” Remember that your plan, may need to change depending on how labor progresses, and that’s absolutely okay.

Monitoring Interventions: You Decide What You Want

Labor can be unpredictable, so you might need some medical interventions such as IVs, monitoring, or Pitocin. While you can’t control every circumstance, you should be clear about what you’re comfortable with. Are you hoping for continuous fetal monitoring, or do you prefer to space out monitoring so you can move around more? Do you want to not intervene as long as possible? Being upfront about your wishes may help your team honor them if all doesn’t go as desired.

Laboring and Delivering — Birthing Positions

How you deliver is then up to you. Some women like to lie on their back, other want to experiment standing or squatting. Talk to your OB/GYN or midwife about your options. Would you like to use a birthing stool, give birth in water, or walk around while you are in labor? It is very helpful to list your preferences in this section but also be open — flexibility goes a long way. Things can change in labor, but having an idea of your desires can steer you in the moment.

Upon Delivery: The First Hours After Birth

What do you desire in the first moments post birth of your baby? It’s also important to include considerations like immediate skin-to-skin contact, and whether or not you want to delay the umbilical cord clamping. Some moms want to get their baby cleaned immediately, others want their baby to remain on their chest in bonding time. Tell your team if you want to breastfeed right away. These are basic preferences that would make your birthing experience personal and connected.

What to Feed: Breast vs. Formula?

Be explicit about your feeding preferences. Will you breastfeed or formula feed? If you’re breastfeeding, do you want help with it or a lactation consultant present? Some moms want their babies to breastfeed right away, others may want to bottle-feed. If you plan to formula-feed, also make sure it is written in your birth plan. Clarifying this helps make sure your baby is fed in the way that’s best for both of you.

Everything You Need to Know About Your Postpartum Care After Giving Birth

Be sure to include your postpartum preferences! This is the time period after birth when you’ll need support and care. Do you want your baby to room-in with you, or do you want the baby to be taken to the nursery for some sleep while you recover? If you’re expecting company, be clear about when you’re open for business. Also, inquire about what postpartum care is available to you, such as lactation support or help with mental health.

Have Contingency Plans: Keep Your Options Open

It’s important to keep in mind that your birth plan is not final. Things can happen during labor, and you might have to make on-the-spot decisions about how things are unfolding. If, say, you need an emergency C-section, how would you want that handled? Although it’s not something you can predict, adding a few pointers for worst case scenarios can relieve your peace of mind. Things may be changing fast, but be flexible and trust your medical team — they’re there to help you navigate whatever challenges arise.

What to Avoid: Do Not Overcomplicate Things

It’s good to have a plan, but there are few things you can do without. You don’t have to feel pressure to make your birth plan too detailed. You’re not supposed to write out every single step of labor or every possible scenario. Avoid things like an overly long list of requests that would be impossible to track during labor, or the belief that everything must go according to plan. Keep it simple, and give yourself freedom and flexibility. The aim is to minimise stress, not reinforce it.

How To Communicate Your Plan To Your Team

Writing the plan isn’t the only important part; communicating it clearly is as well. Make sure to discuss your birth plan with your OB/GYN, midwife, and any other caregivers well in advance. It’s worth reviewing in your prenatal appointments to ensure everyone is on the same page. When labor begins, you don’t want to be worrying about explaining your preferences. Providing your team with clear expectations in advance going into a situation helps ensure things go well when it matters most.

Over to You: Your Birth Plan, Your Experience

Writing a birth plan is about outlining your intentions, not rules. It’s about feeling empowered and prepared for what’s ahead, aware that you’ve considered your preferences and relayed them clearly. But keep this in mind: Not everything might go the way you want, and that’s all right. Labor and delivery can be unpredictable, but having a birth plan can create a comforting, control-like feeling for you.
So, take a load off, breathe deep, and get to work on your birth plan. Add what’s most important to you, create space for adaptation, and trust your crew to steer you through the most transformative journey you’ll ever take. You’ve got this. Here is a Hospital Bag Checklist and Baby Registry Guide—you’re definitely going to need them!