Birth plan template: free printable and what to include

The short answer: a birth plan template helps you think through your choices for labor, delivery and the first hours with your baby, then share them with your care team on one simple form.

• Page 1: your details, the labor environment and comfort options
• Page 2: pain relief and delivery choices
• Check only what matters and use check boxes, not essays
• Review it with your provider, share copies and pack it
• Next step: Get the free birth plan template (we email it to you); want more? The Newborn Baby Tracker is $3.99.

A birth plan template makes it easy to think through your choices for labor, delivery and the first hours with your baby, then share them with your care team on one simple form. Download the free 3-page birth plan template below, check the options that matter to you, and take it to your next prenatal appointment to talk it through.

What is a birth plan?

MedlinePlus describes birth plans as guides that parents-to-be make to help their health care providers best support them during labor and delivery. The Office on Women's Health calls a birth plan a tool used to communicate how you want labor and delivery to go.

A birth plan is not a contract. MedlinePlus notes that some things you want may not be possible, you may change your mind during labor, and your provider may recommend steps for your health or your baby's health. That is why many people think of it as their birth preferences.

What to include in a birth plan

Cleveland Clinic's guide to writing a birth plan suggests starting with introductory information, then labor and delivery preferences, interventions you are comfortable with, and immediate postpartum care. Our template follows the same order:

Questions to answer before you fill in the template

MedlinePlus suggests thinking through a series of questions as you create your birth plan. These are the ones that shape most of the template:

The birthing room

• What atmosphere do you want: music, lighting, pillows, photos?
• Who do you want with you during labor, and during delivery? Is there anyone you would prefer was not in the room?
• Do you want your partner or coach with you the entire time, and what would you like them to do for you?
• Would you like a doula to be present?

Labor and delivery

• Do you want to stand, lie down, use a shower or walk around during labor?
• Would you prefer remote monitoring so you can stay mobile, if it is available?
• Is there a birthing position you prefer?
• Would you like a mirror to see your baby being born?
• How do you feel about episiotomy and assisted delivery?
• Do you want to record a video? MedlinePlus notes that some hospitals have rules about recording births, so check ahead.

Pain relief

• Do you want to try to give birth without pain medicine, or plan to use medicine?
• Would you like an epidural, or IV pain medicine only?
• Would you like to labor in a tub or shower, if allowed?
• How can your partner or coach help you cope?

Right after the birth

• Who will cut the umbilical cord?
• Do you want to save or donate cord blood, or ask about delayed cord clamping?
• Do you want skin-to-skin contact right away, or your baby washed and clothed first?
• Are you planning to breastfeed, and do you want your baby to stay in your room?
• Would you like help with breastfeeding, or someone to talk with you about bottle-feeding and baby care?

You do not need an answer to every question. Write down the ones you feel strongly about, and mark the rest "no preference" or "discuss with provider."

Birth plan template for different situations

The same template works for most births. Adjust it for your situation:

How to fill in your birth plan template

1. Learn your options first. Cleveland Clinic suggests reading, talking with loved ones and taking a childbirth class. Know what your hospital or birth center offers before you check boxes.
2. Talk with your partner or support person. MedlinePlus recommends making the plan together.
3. Check only what matters. Leave items blank if you have no preference. A shorter plan is easier for the staff to follow.
4. Write your top priorities in the notes. If one or two things matter most, say so clearly.
5. Review it with your provider. Your provider can explain the risks and benefits of options and tell you if anything is not offered. You may need to fill out forms or releases ahead of time.
6. Share copies. MedlinePlus advises sharing your plan with your provider well before your delivery date and leaving a copy with the hospital or birthing center.
7. Pack it. The Office on Women's Health suggests bringing a written copy when you go into labor.

Why your choices may be limited

MedlinePlus lists a few common reasons you may not get everything on your plan:

• Your health insurance may not cover every wish.
• The hospital may not be able to provide some options.
• Your provider may recommend a different approach for safety.

Ask about these at a prenatal visit, so there are fewer surprises on the day.

Birth plan tips from labor and delivery basics

• Use check boxes, not essays. Nurses change shifts; a quick-scan list works best.
• Say who can speak for you. Cleveland Clinic suggests thinking about backup plans and who can speak on your behalf if things change.
• Include your pediatrician. The staff may need to know who will care for your baby after discharge.
• Note allergies and health conditions at the top of page 1.
• Plan the hospital visit. The Office on Women's Health suggests visiting the hospital or birth center in advance, knowing where to park and check in, and asking whether you can preregister.
• Keep the tone friendly. A plan that reads as preferences tends to start a better conversation with your care team.

Sample birth plan wording

If you want to add a few lines in the notes, keep them short and clear:

• "I would like to move around and try the birthing ball before discussing pain medicine."
• "Please explain any procedure before it happens, if time allows."
• "If a cesarean is needed, I would like my partner present and skin-to-skin as soon as it is safe."
• "We plan to breastfeed and would like to see a lactation consultant."

Pack your hospital bag

Page 3 of the template has a quick 10-item hospital bag list: photo ID and insurance card with this birth plan, a phone and long charger, a robe, socks and slippers, nursing bras and pads, toiletries and lip balm, comfortable going-home clothes, the baby's going-home outfit and blanket, an installed rear-facing car seat, snacks for your support person, and a pillow from home. Our full hospital bag checklist has a longer list for you, your partner and the baby.

After the birth: tracking the first weeks

Once your baby is home, the questions change: When did the baby last eat? How many wet diapers today? Pediatricians often ask about feeds, diapers and sleep at early visits, so having it written down helps.

The Newborn Baby Tracker ($3.99) is a 14-page printable with a baby profile, a daily log, feeding, diaper and sleep logs, pediatrician visits, growth, vaccinations, temperature and medicine, milestones and important contacts. It is an easy way to keep the details in one place during the sleepy newborn weeks. For a simpler daily sheet, see our newborn feeding and diaper log.

Still getting ready? Our baby registry checklist covers the gear to ask for, and our baby budget guide helps you plan the costs of the first year. If you are announcing the sex first, see our gender reveal ideas under $25.