Birth Plan Template and Checklist

Updated on 6/1/2026

To help make it easier for you to communicate your birth preferences with your health care providers, Motif Medical has developed a wonderful free birth plan template! Please feel free to download this PDF to help organize your thoughts. Make sure you print out a copy to take with you whenever baby decides to make their appearance - it's an easy way to let your birth team know what you want so you can all be on the same page as the day unfolds. Be ready to give it to your provider and say, ‘this is my birth plan!’

“If you don't know your options, you don't have any.” - Diana Korte

This is perhaps one of the most well-known quotes in the birthing world, and it's also the best reason I know to develop a birth plan, although I prefer to call them “birth preferences.” The thing is, a baby’s birth can't be planned. Even when some details are known, estimated due date, location, preferred birth method, etc., there is too much about it that you won’t know until it happens!

However, it’s worth taking time during the third trimester to research options that might come up on the big day so you can clarify your preferences. Think of it as putting together a toolbox. All the tools will fit in the box, but there are probably some you want at the top for easier access. But if you need to, you can always access the tools at the bottom.

A birth plan is a written document that outlines your preferences and goals for your labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum care. It serves as a clear communication tool between you, your partner, and your entire healthcare team, including your OB/GYN, midwife, doula, and labor nurses.

While the term has "plan" in it, it is actually more of a flexible guide. Because childbirth can be beautifully unpredictable, your birth plan helps ensure that even if your labor takes an unexpected turn, your healthcare providers understand your core priorities and values.

If you're wondering exactly what to include in a birth plan, the most effective birth plan formats are usually broken down into three main phases:

1. Labor Preferences: Your environment, support team, and pain management choices.

2. Delivery Preferences: Pushing positions, medical interventions, and delivery methods.

3. Newborn Care: Immediate post-birth bonding (like skin-to-skin), medical procedures, and feeding choices.

You might be thinking, "If birth is so unpredictable, why do you need to make a birth plan at all?" Creating a birth plan offers several major benefits for expectant parents, even if things don't go exactly as expected:

• Provider Alignment: Discussing your checklist with your doctor or midwife during your third-trimester prenatal visits is the best way to ensure your provider actually supports your goals before the big day arrives.

• Reduces Anxiety: Childbirth can feel overwhelming, but knowing that your preferences have been thoroughly researched, documented, and shared can help you feel much more empowered, relaxed, and in control of your birthing experience.

So what should you think about when you’re writing a birth plan? The following is a list of what I think are the most common and most important options that people ask about.

One of the most important steps that can have the biggest impact on your birth is choosing your provider. We all have certain ideas of what we want birth to be like, and it is essential to find a doctor or midwife whose ideals align with yours. If you want a natural birth, delayed cord clamping, or even a scheduled c-section, you need to find a provider who will fully support those choices and make you feel involved in the process.

At the top of your birth preferences, you'll want to list anyone you plan to have with you at the delivery, your partner, doula, friend, birth photographer, etc.

Let your care providers know if you want to use alternative lighting to create a more homey atmosphere; a strand of Christmas lights or flameless candles can make a cozy birth environment. If you want to incorporate music, audio hypnotherapy, or essential oils, be sure to include them in your preferences.

Let your provider know if you have any strong preferences about where and how you deliver your baby. This should include whether you want perineal support during the birth, if you would rather have an episiotomy, or let your tissues tear on their own if needed. Keep in mind that your ideal birthing position might change on the big day, depending on how your baby is positioned in the womb.

Everyone has their own comfort level with this; some people choose to buy a labor gown to wear during delivery, some wear the hospital gown, and some want to wear their own clothes. If you prefer your own clothes, don’t forget to leave room for them in the hospital bag. Know that birth can be messy, and the clothes you wear might not wash clean.

If you choose not to wear the standard hospital gown, consider purchasing a specialized labor gown online. These are beneficial because they provide easy IV access, unbutton at the shoulders to make immediate breastfeeding easier, and open at the back in case you decide to receive an epidural.

It's a good idea to talk about this option before labor starts, as some facilities don't have the equipment to allow this while they're monitoring the baby's heartbeat. Talk to your provider about what you want to do during labor so that you are all on the same page.

Some birth centers will have options such as birthing stools, birth balls or peanut balls, a labor tub, showers, or a squat bar. Designate a member of your birth team to either pack these items in your car or, upon arrival at your birthing location, immediately help locate them with the nursing staff so they are ready when you need them.

Even if your plan is for vaginal delivery, everyone should read about having a baby via a C-section. There are several options you'll want to research, including what type of anesthesia you'd prefer and who you want to be with you in the operating room. Ask your provider whether a clear drape is available at their facility, as that may be another option to consider.

In general, you should also be prepared to have answers for the following questions:

If you are birthing in the hospital, you will have several options for pain relief (epidural and IV pain medications are common), and some hospitals will have the option of nitrous oxide, which is administered through a mask. If you prefer to be unmedicated, be sure to note that in your birth plan.

You may want or need your labor to be induced, so you'll want to familiarize yourself with the commonly used methods. While some parents explore natural ways to get things moving at home, such as using a breast pump to help induce labor, if medical induction is needed, there are specific interventions you will want to research.

Pitocin, Cytotec, and a Foley bulb are often used to induce labor in someone who isn't already having contractions. Pitocin and the breaking of your water (artificial rupture of membranes/AROM) can be used to increase the frequency or strength of your contractions. A vacuum extraction or forceps can be used during the pushing stage of labor to help assist your baby's birth.

All of these interventions have their own pros and cons. You'll want to familiarize yourself with each one and indicate your preference for using or not using them on your birth plan.

Some people find that labor makes them extremely nauseous, so eating and drinking is the last thing they want to do, but it's a good idea to know the risks and benefits of taking in your own nutrition while in labor. My favorite resource for information on this topic is a blog post published by Evidence Based Birth titled, Evidence On: Eating and Drinking in Labor.

Talk to your OB/GYN to see if this is an option. Also, let them know if you want to delay the clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord, and find out their usual wait time for delayed cord clamping. It may be that their typical timing is acceptable for you, or it might be something you want to remind them of at the delivery.Some people find that labor makes them extremely nauseous, so eating and drinking is the last thing they want to do, but it's a good idea to know the risks and benefits of taking in your own nutrition while in labor. My favorite resource for information on this topic is a blog post published by Evidence Based Birth titled, Evidence On: Eating and Drinking in Labor.

If you plan to preserve your placenta or cord blood, write this down on your birth plan, so your team can take the right steps.

One of the first decisions you'll want to make about the care of your new baby is what happens in the first hour after the birth, also known as the ‘golden hour.’ The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the World Health Organization all recommend that babies have immediate skin-to-skin contact with their mother after delivery (or as soon as the baby is medically stable and the mother is awake). Mother and baby should stay that way for at least one hour. This holds true regardless of whether the baby was born via vaginal delivery or c-section.

Establishing breastfeeding and bonding within the first hour requires uninterrupted time. Consider asking that all newborn weights, measurements, and non-emergency procedures be delayed until after the baby has had their first feed and skin-to-skin time.

Other important decisions to make about the care of your new baby include the Vitamin K injection, erythromycin eye ointment, and the Hepatitis B vaccination. These medications can be administered any time after the delivery or delayed for the first hour.

You'll want to indicate if you prefer a circumcision if you have a boy, and whether you want your baby to stay in your room with you (generally called “rooming in”) or be taken to the nursery while you are sleeping.

One of the first decisions you'll want to make about the care of your new baby is what happens in the first hour after the birth, also known as the ‘golden hour.’ The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the World Health Organization all recommend that babies have immediate skin-to-skin contact with their mother after delivery (or as soon as the baby is medically stable and the mother is awake). Mother and baby should stay that way for at least one hour. This holds true regardless of whether the baby was born via vaginal delivery or c-section.

Establishing breastfeeding and bonding within the first hour requires uninterrupted time. Consider asking that all newborn weights, measurements, and non-emergency procedures be delayed until after the baby has had their first feed and skin-to-skin time.

Other important decisions to make about the care of your new baby include the Vitamin K injection, erythromycin eye ointment, and the Hepatitis B vaccination. These medications can be administered any time after the delivery or delayed for the first hour.

You'll want to indicate if you prefer a circumcision if you have a boy, and whether you want your baby to stay in your room with you (generally called “rooming in”) or be taken to the nursery while you are sleeping.

If you plan to breastfeed, bottle-feeding and early pacifier use can sometimes cause unnecessary nipple confusion. Add a note to your birth plan asking your care providers to get your explicit permission before giving any formula supplements or pacifiers to your baby.

If you and your baby need to be separated, you will still need to establish your milk supply. Include a backup plan to request a hospital-grade pump and to meet with a lactation consultant to learn hand expression for removing colostrum during the first 24 hours.

Whew! That's a lot to think about! While there's so much planning for the postpartum period and the baby’s first days, a birth plan is also important. It can serve as a great roadmap to guide your birth experience toward one that you are comfortable with. 

Download your free birth plan checklist to easily record your choices and share them with your birth team.

And while you're checking items off your third-trimester to-do list, now is the perfect time to secure your breast pump! Motif Medical offers a range of hospital-grade, insurance-covered breast pumps designed to support your breastfeeding and pumping journey from day one. Explore Motif Breast Pumps today to find your perfect fit—so you have one less thing to worry about when your little one arrives.

Happy birthing!

Information provided in blogs should not be used as a substitute for medical care or consultation.