let's get your birth plan ready....
from your community birth doula 🧡
As a community doula, I know that for many reasons, not every mom has a doula. If you're pregnant and navigating this journey without one, this article is to help you create your birth plan.
What’s a birth plan?
A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor, birth, and postpartum care. It serves as a communication tool to help your healthcare team understand your wishes and provide care that aligns with your goals whenever possible. A birth plan is not a do-or-die document; it’s simply a guide. While it’s important to be detailed about your preferences, it’s equally important to leave room for flexibility in case of an emergency. You also want to include your wishes in case of an emergency within your birth plan. This gives your birth team a better understanding of what to do and how to operate under emergency circumstances while still honoring your preferences as much as possible.
Things Your Birth Plan Should Include
1.Your Birth Location
Where do you want to give birth? What would be the most comfortable for you. In your home. The hospital. A birthing center.
Home Birth – You’re in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by a familiar environment. Many families choose a home birth because they feel more relaxed.With a home birth, a midwife and birth doula should be present. Most moms set up a pool of water and begin labor there with the support of their midwife and doula. As a birth doula, most moms I’ve worked with prefer this route due to the limited pressure and constant noise that other birth settings may bring. Many also appreciate being in a familiar environment where they feel more comfortable, relaxed, and in control of their birth experience.
Birthing Center- A birth center, to me, is the middle ground between a hospital and your home. It provides a comfortable environment with all the necessary tools and professionals nearby. With birthing centers, there are plenty of amenities, such as birthing tubs and spacious rooms. You have the freedom to move around during labor and create a more personalized birth experience. Birthing centers are catered to you, making sure you’re comfortable and supported throughout your labor and birth journey.
Hospital Birth – Well, the hospital is the hospital. It’s the most medicalized birth setting and provides immediate access to doctors, nurses, medications, and emergency care if needed.\However, it is the least flexible when it comes to your preferences. It also comes with a lot of noise, distractions, and constant interruptions during labor and birth. This is the setting most moms use when there isn’t another option available to them, which is why a birth plan is so important.
Our birth plan will continue as if we are giving birth at the hospital.
2. Your Labor Preferences
As a birth doula, my goal is to help you achieve a healthy, natural birth whenever possible. While emergencies can happen and some moms may choose a cesarean birth, I always support and honor whatever birth experience feels right for you. While you’re in the hospital room we want you to be as comfortable and relaxed. Choosing what you would like throughout labor helps everyone has an idea on how smooth labor should be.
Movement – Squatting, walking around, using a birth ball, swaying, changing positions, and staying active during labor can help support the natural progression of labor. Movement can encourage baby to move into an optimal position, help manage discomfort, and allow your body to work with labor rather than against it.
Fetal monitoring- Some mothers prefer continuous monitoring of the baby, while others feel it can be a distraction during labor. You get to choose what option you would like and what feels best for your birth experience.
Atmosphere – What do you want the hospital room to feel like? Dim lights, soft music, and minimal in-and-out from nurses and staff. Be very specific about what you want the environment to be like as you give birth.
Who Is in the Room – You have the right to choose who you would like in the room while giving birth. This can include your spouse, family members, and of course your doula, but it can also include no one if that is your preference. Make sure you are very specific in your birth plan so that no issues arise at the time of birth.
Communication – How would you like healthcare providers to communicate with you? Would you like to be told exactly what will be done first so you can decide, or are you comfortable with them proceeding and explaining afterward? Do you want your doula to be included in all discussions and interventions? Be specific with this, as a common theme during birth is miscommunication.
2. Pain Management Options
As a birth doula and a mother, I understand that labor pain is different for everyone. Be prepared for what you want when the pain arises.
For an unmedicated birth, what natural methods do you want to use to manage it? Examples include breathing techniques, massage, and movement.
If you want a medicated birth, which methods do you want to use? Options include an epidural, nitrous oxide, and IV pain medications.
It’s important to know exactly what you want before heading into birth. With epidurals, there is a certain time window in which you can receive them, so knowing your preferences in advance can help you better manage pain during labor.
3. Delivery Preferences
Are you okay with being induced, or do you want to wait until your water naturally breaks? If you’re open to being induced with Pitocin, my only recommendation is to ask hospital staff to start at a low dose, such as 1 mg, because of how strong the medication can be..
What delivery positions would you like to try for the easiest safest birth.
Upright Positions (Standing, Walking, or Swaying): Uses gravity to help the baby move down and can relieve lower back pain.
Hands and Knees (All Fours): Take pressure off your spine, which is incredibly helpful for easing back labor. It also gives your baby more room to rotate into an optimal position.
Squatting: Opens the pelvis to give your baby more room to rotate and move through the birth canal.
If a C-section is deemed necessary in case of an emergency, who do you want in the operating room with you? Also, after a C-section birth, movement is limited, so in this case someone such as your spouse or birth doula would need to help advocate for your newborn preferences and communicate them to the healthcare team.
4. Newborn preferences
Delayed Cord Clamping – Instead of immediately cutting the umbilical cord, it is delayed, allowing blood from the placenta to go directly to the baby. Some moms choose this because it allows the baby’s iron levels and blood volume to increase after birth. This is very important to document and also have someone remind your birth team of this option.
Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact – As a birth doula, I recommend that every mom hold their baby immediately after birth, before any cleaning or routine procedures, for at least 15 minutes if possible. To me, this is a powerful bonding moment between mom and baby that helps support connection and attachment. Spiritually, I believe this is necessary.
Feeding Options – Are you planning to breastfeed, or are you okay with using formula? Would you like to try breastfeeding first and, if you are not producing enough milk, then introduce formula? It is very important to make this decision before birth due to preparation and planning.
Vaccines – A touchy subject, but it is up to the mother’s discretion. Do you want your baby to receive the Vitamin K shot, erythromycin eye ointment, and the Hepatitis B vaccine? This is completely up to you and whether you would like to go this route. As your doula, I support any decision you make.
Washing Baby Off – Some mothers prefer for baby to keep the white film on the skin, known for its protective properties. You can decide if you would like to keep it on for at least a little while before baby’s first bath.
5. Post Partum Care- 4th Trimester
Girl, you just gave birth and deserve all the rest. You deserve the best meal and a vacation. However, we are not there yet. As a birth doula, after birth I often support my clients by helping arrange their first postpartum meal, whatever they want, because hospital food doesn’t always hit the spot.
Support System – Who Will Be Helping You
After birth, who will be there to assist you while you are in the hospital? This can include help with feeding, supporting you if you choose to pump milk, and caring for the baby so you can rest. Think about who will be present to support you emotionally and physically during this time, such as your partner, family members, or doula.
When you’re released from the hospital, you still need a plan because sometime postpartum can be a bit more overwhelming than the actual birth.
Emotional Support
Postpartum is not just physical it’s emotional too. Who can you talk to when you feel overwhelmed, tired, or emotional? Who checks in on your mental health? If you have a birth doula, and may need an therapist. Make sure this is planned before time to support you in every way.
Household Support
Who will handle laundry, dishes, cleaning, grocery shopping, and meal prep while you recover? Planning this ahead of time helps reduce stress after birth.
Rest and Recovery Plan
How will you prioritize sleep and healing? Will you schedule help so you can nap? Will someone watch the baby while you shower, eat, or rest?
Financial and Practical Planning
If there are financial concerns, this is the time to try to navigate them and plan ahead so you can still receive the support you need during your postpartum period. Consider budgeting for help, meals, or postpartum doula support if available.
Planning your postpartum care is just as important as planning your birth.
Remember, a birth plan is just a guide to help you navigate birth and postpartum. If you are pregnant and would like help with a birth plan or have any questions, do not hesitate to message me. My goal is to support the maternal community in every way possible. Get rest and enjoy this sacred time between you and your unseen soul.
Love always,
Your community doula
Mahalia 🧡