How to Write an Antenatal Birth Plan That Works for You

Creating an antenatal birth plan is a powerful way to take control of your labour and delivery experience. It’s not about scripting every second of childbirth—because, let’s face it, babies don’t always stick to the plan—but about clarifying your preferences and ensuring your voice is heard. Think of it as a handy roadmap for you, your partner, and your healthcare team.

In this guide, we’ll dive into how to craft a birth plan that reflects your needs, offers flexibility, and helps you feel prepared and empowered for the big day.

What is an Antenatal Birth Plan?

An antenatal birth plan is a written document that outlines your preferences for labour, delivery, and immediate postpartum care. It’s designed to ensure everyone involved in your care understands what matters most to you, from pain relief choices to how you’d like those first magical moments with your baby to unfold.

Key Benefits of a Birth Plan

Confidence: Knowing your options and having a plan reduces anxiety.

Communication: Your healthcare team and birth partner can easily understand your wishes.

Empowerment: You have a voice in your birthing journey.

Flexibility: Encourages you to prepare for various scenarios.

While a birth plan is incredibly helpful, remember it’s a guide, not a guarantee. Staying open to changes ensures you can adapt if things don’t go as planned.

How to Write Your Antenatal Birth Plan

1. Start with Research

Before putting pen to paper, spend time learning about your options. Knowledge is empowering, and understanding what’s available helps you make informed decisions.

Topics to Research:

Pain relief options: Explore everything from gas and air to epidurals, or natural methods like antenatal yoga or hypnobirthing.

Birth settings: Home birth, birthing centre, or hospital—each has its own benefits.

Labour and delivery preferences: Mobility during labour, positions for pushing, or water births.

Medical interventions: Inductions, assisted deliveries, and C-sections.

Newborn care: Choices like delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, and feeding preferences.

Use reliable UK resources like the NHS, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), or Tommy’s PregnancyHub for accurate and evidence-based information.

2. Keep It Simple and Clear

A birth plan isn’t the place for essays or flowery language. Make it concise and easy to follow, so your healthcare team can quickly understand your preferences during the busy moments of labour.

Tips for Clarity:

Use bullet points or headings to organise your plan.

Prioritise your must-haves, such as pain relief or postpartum preferences.

Avoid overloading your plan with unnecessary details.

3. Include Essential Sections

Your birth plan should cover the key aspects of your labour and delivery experience. Here’s what to include:

Labour Preferences

Where you plan to give birth (e.g., hospital, birthing centre, or home).

Your preferred environment: dim lighting, soft music, or aromatherapy.

Pain management: natural methods like breathing exercises or specific medical options.

Mobility: whether you’d like to move around or use a birthing ball.

Delivery Preferences

Positions for pushing: upright, side-lying, or squatting.

Whether you’d like minimal interventions or are open to assisted delivery methods like forceps or vacuum.

Immediate contact with your baby, such as skin-to-skin bonding.

Postpartum Preferences

Delayed cord clamping to allow extra blood flow to your baby.

Feeding preferences: breastfeeding, formula, or a combination.

Whether you want your baby’s first bath delayed or done right away.

4. Make It Flexible

Labour is unpredictable, and even the best-laid plans can change. Including phrases like “if possible” or “I would prefer” shows you’re open to adapting if necessary.

Example of Flexibility:

“I’d like to avoid an epidural but am open to it if labour becomes prolonged or particularly painful.”

“If a C-section is necessary, I’d like skin-to-skin contact with my baby as soon as possible.”

Flexibility helps your healthcare team balance your preferences with what’s safest for you and your baby.

5. Involve Your Partner

Your partner is your biggest ally during labour, so make sure they’re part of the planning process. Discuss your birth plan together and decide how they can best support you.

Partner’s Role:

Advocating for your preferences if you’re unable to communicate.

Helping with comfort techniques like massage or breathing exercises.

Participating in special moments, such as cutting the cord or holding the baby.

A prepared partner makes a world of difference on the big day.

6. Prepare for Special Circumstances

If you have specific medical conditions, cultural practices, or unique needs, include them in your birth plan.

Examples:

Language barriers: Requesting a translator if needed.

Religious or cultural preferences, such as specific postpartum rituals.

Accommodations for disabilities or chronic conditions.

Discuss these details with your midwife during antenatal appointments to ensure they can be addressed.

7. Review It with Your Healthcare Provider

Once your birth plan is ready, share it with your midwife or obstetrician. They can help fine-tune your plan based on hospital policies, your medical history, and practical considerations.

Questions to Ask:

What facilities and equipment are available?

How do they handle unexpected complications?

Are there any restrictions on preferences like water births or delayed cord clamping?

A collaborative approach ensures your plan is both realistic and aligned with your wishes.

8. Practice Self-Compassion

Finally, remember that no matter how much you prepare, labour can still throw surprises your way. Trust your instincts, lean on your support system, and focus on the ultimate goal: a healthy mum and baby.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overloading Your Plan: Keep it concise and focused on your top priorities.

Being Too Rigid: Stay open to changes, especially if unexpected medical needs arise.

Skipping the Discussion: Make sure your birth plan is shared and reviewed with your healthcare provider.

UK Resources for Writing a Birth Plan

Here are some excellent resources to help you get started:

NHS Pregnancy Services: Provides free antenatal care and guidance on birth plans. Visit NHS Pregnancy Care

National Childbirth Trust (NCT): Offers antenatal classes and detailed birth plan advice. Visit NCT

Tommy’s PregnancyHub: A hub for expert pregnancy and labour resources. Visit Tommy’s

Final Thoughts

Writing an antenatal birth plan is an empowering step in your pregnancy journey. It helps you clarify your preferences, communicate effectively with your care team, and feel more confident as you approach labour and delivery.

The key is to keep your plan simple, flexible, and focused on what truly matters to you. By taking the time to prepare and involve your partner and healthcare team, you’re setting yourself up for a positive and memorable birthing experience.

Remember, childbirth is a unique journey, and your birth plan is there to support—not define—the day. Whatever happens, trust in your strength and the support of those around you. You’ve got this!

Source List

NHS Pregnancy Care

National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

Tommy’s PregnancyHub