Because your preferences deserve to be heard, honored, and held.
Creating a birth plan isn’t about scripting every moment. It’s about knowing what matters to you, being informed about your choices, and feeling empowered to advocate for the birth experience you deserve.
At Your Circle Midwifery, we see your birth plan as a love letter to yourself—a way to communicate your values, wishes, and needs to your care team with clarity and confidence. And while no one can predict exactly how birth will unfold, having a plan helps ensure that you remain the center of the story.
Let’s walk through how to create a birth plan that’s not only practical and flexible, but also aligned with your heart.
Step 1: Start with Your “Why”
Before listing preferences, ask yourself:
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- What are my hopes for this birth?
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- What kind of environment will help me feel safe and supported?
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- What words or phrases reflect how I want to feel during birth?
Your “why” becomes the compass for your entire birth plan. Whether you’re birthing at home, in a center, or elsewhere, it helps your team understand the energy and intention behind your choices.
“I want a birth that feels calm, connected, and empowered.” “I want my partner to feel involved and confident.” “I want to feel respected and heard in every decision.”
This clarity helps guide everyone who supports you.
Step 2: Know What to Include
A great birth plan covers key areas while leaving room for flexibility. Here’s what you may want to include:
General Preferences:
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- Who will be present at the birth?
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- Photos/video: yes, no, or only during certain moments.
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- Environment: lighting, music, scents, birth affirmations.
Labor Preferences:
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- Desired coping tools (water, massage, movement, birth ball, etc.)
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- Preferred positions for laboring and pushing
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- Use of a birth tub or shower
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- Hydration/snacking during labor
Monitoring & Medical Support:
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- Intermittent vs. continuous fetal monitoring
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- Preferences for cervical checks
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- Preferences around membrane sweeping or rupture
Pain Management:
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- Natural coping techniques
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- Open to nitrous oxide, epidural, or none at all
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- Preferences if labor becomes especially intense
Birth & Pushing:
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- Freedom to move or push in any position
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- Guidance vs. instinctual pushing
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- Mirror or touch baby’s head when crowning
Immediate Postpartum:
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- Delayed cord clamping
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- Skin-to-skin contact
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- Placenta preferences (encapsulation, save, discard)
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- Newborn procedures (eye ointment, vitamin K, vaccinations)
Step 3: Make It a Conversation, Not a Command
A birth plan works best when it opens dialogue—not demands. Share it with your midwife, doula, and partner during your prenatal visits so everyone is on the same page.
Ask your midwife:
“Do you foresee any challenges with my preferences?”
“How do you typically support births like the one I’m envisioning?”
“Can we revisit this later in pregnancy if anything shifts?”
At Your Circle Midwifery, we review birth preferences together so you feel prepared, not pressured. Your plan becomes a collaborative document we can adapt as needed while staying true to your values.
Step 4: Stay Open to the Journey
Birth is powerful. It can be unpredictable, primal, and sometimes humbling.
Having a birth plan doesn’t mean you’re rigid. It means you’re informed and intentional. And if your story shifts along the way, you can still walk through it with clarity and grace.
A flexible mindset paired with a clear plan gives you both agency and peace of mind.
Real Talk: What Happens if Things Change?
Even the best-laid plans might need to bend to the moment. If something shifts—like needing to transfer to a hospital, or choosing pain relief when you hadn’t planned on it—know this:
You are still making informed choices.
You are still worthy of respect and support.
Your birth is still beautiful.
We’ll be right there with you, adapting in real time and always centering your voice.
Your Birth. Your Voice. Your Way.
Your birth plan is a reflection of you. It’s not about control—it’s about intention.
Whether you print it out, keep it digital, or just use it as a talking point, let it be something that empowers you to show up on your birthing day with clarity, courage, and the full support of your team.
At Your Circle Midwifery, we’re honored to hold space for your story—however it unfolds.
Want help creating your custom birth plan?
We walk through every detail with you. Schedule your free consultation here and let’s start dreaming about your ideal birth.
Because birth is yours. And it should feel like it.
