Question 1

Should I bother to write a birth plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes of course! Maybe tinker the format a little bit, though. Those standardised, downloadable birth plans are not the way forward

It's true that birth plans have a reputation for 'going out of the window'. But the goal of writing a birth plan isn't actually the piece of paper you hand to a midwife you probably won't have met before). The goal is having that wealth preparing and reading and planning you'll have done in your back pocket. It won't all fit on one or two sides of A4 with your 'birth preferences' on them, so think about capturing all this important birth planning information and ideas in a different way. I suggest writing THREE birth plans.

Birth Plan #1 : do not use a standardised birth plan, with tick boxes and a long list of the observations and interventions you think you do or don't want. The first Birth Plan is your own mind map, containing all the notes you make while you're reading and in classes and watching social media. These are the important points you've heard and ideas you want to retain. This is flexible and dynamic and can be in any format that works for you - written long-hand in a notebook, on your phone, or graphically visualised.

Birth Plan #2 : put aside plenty of time to talk to your birth partner about the things that are really important to you and together write a birth plan specifically for them to use, like an aide memoir. Being a birth partner can be intense and frankly exhausting, so having a list they can refer back to can be helpful to you both. This can contain everything from reminders of the comfort measures and hypnobirthing techniques you'd like to use, through to your agreed contingency plans.

Birth Plan #3 : now you can write a birth plan to share with your midwives. My recommendation here is to think of this like a letter of introduction - unless you're planning a home birth you are very unlikely to have met your midwife before she supports you in labour. Start with a paragraph that tells them a little bit about who you are and what a 'good birth experience' would look like for you. Maybe tell them a little bit about you and your partner and your experience of this pregnancy. You might want to include the top three or five things that are most important to you. You can also share the list you've developed of the things you do and do not want, for example, vaginal examinations, induction of labour, monitoring, comfort measures and pain relief, epidural, and all the other things that are commonly in birth plans.

Finally! Book onto a birth planning session with me. Of course there's so much more to writing a birth plan than the three brief tips above. I can help you write a birth plan that is appropriate, credible, relevant, reassuring to you, and helpful to your birth partner and is a good start to your time with the midwife who'll be supporting you.

Email me at charlie@thegoodbirthpractice.co.uk to find out more and to book

Question 2

What should you include in your birth plan?

Accepted Answer

You can Google 'birth plan' and find thousands of suggestions for what to include, but those lists of ticks and crosses aren't always helpful. I recommend having two birth plans.

The first plan is for you and your partner. After your antenatal classes and all the reading and prep, jot down your thoughts about things like vaginal exams, monitoring, and movement during labour. This plan is more of a personal reminder than a formal document. Writing it down helps you remember what you've learned, and discussing it ensures you're both on the same page.

The second plan is for your midwife. Keep it short and focus on the most important information about your aspirations and concerns. There's no right answer here, but I suggest highlighting three key things that are really important to you. Write them as if you're writing a friendly letter to your midwife. This approach captures their attention and helps them see you as a whole person.

Want more help? Get in touch to learn about my birth planning sessions and workshops.

Question 3

What's the best time to write your birth plan?

Accepted Answer

Writing your birth plan is a journey, not a one-time task. You'll start making mental notes as soon as you find out you're pregnant (if not before!). My advice? Grab a notebook and jot down anything that seems interesting, important, worrying, or positive. As your pregnancy progresses and you learn more about birth (both in your body and within the NHS), you'll refine these ideas and build your birth plan from this growing knowledge.

Don't stress if you haven't finalized it by 34 or 36 weeks. Writing your birth plan is an ongoing process, and it's normal to change your ideas and preferences right up until the last moment. This is what you can call 'situational decision making.'

It's a good idea to have your key preferences, aspirations, and concerns noted down for your birth partner and midwife. Aim to have this ready by 37 weeks (full term), but you can keep refining it until you're in labour.

Want more guidance? Book a birth planning session with me! As an experienced doula and hypnobirthing practitioner, I have current insights into how birth works in the NHS. Check out the 'Supporting you' page for more info.

Frequently asked questions

Should I bother to write a birth plan?

What should you include in your birth plan?

What's the best time to write your birth plan?