Free Birth Plan Template

What Is a Birth Plan Template and Why Make One

A birth plan template is a one-to-two page document that lists your preferences for labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period. It covers everything from who you want in the room to how you feel about pain medication to whether you want delayed cord clamping.

A birth plan does not guarantee every preference will be honored, but it does three important things. First, it forces you and your partner to research and discuss your options before labor, so you arrive informed. Second, it gives your care team a quick reference for your wishes, which is especially valuable when shift changes happen and a new nurse walks in. Third, it reduces the number of conversations and decisions you need to make while you are in labor and focused on contractions.

Most doctors and midwives are used to receiving birth plans and welcome them as a tool for providing patient-centered care. Keep your plan to one page if possible, and bring several printed copies on your delivery day.

• Expectant parents preparing for a hospital birth, birth center, or home birth
• First-time parents who want to understand their options before labor begins
• Parents who have had a previous birth experience (positive or difficult) and want to document specific preferences
• Those who want their partner or support person to be able to advocate for them during active labor
• Parents using a doula who needs to understand the family's priorities

What to Include in a Birth Plan

A complete birth plan template covers six main areas. You do not need to have a preference about every single item. It is fine to leave sections blank or write "provider discretion."

• Personal information: Your name, due date, provider name, hospital, blood type, GBS status, and allergies, this section helps care teams who do not know you identify your chart quickly
• Labor environment: Preferences about lighting, music, who is allowed in the room, and how often you want to be checked
• Pain management: Which pain relief options you are open to (epidural, IV medication, nitrous, hydrotherapy, massage) and which you prefer to avoid
• Labor and delivery: Preferences for movement during labor, fetal monitoring (continuous vs. intermittent), delivery positions, and how you feel about interventions like induction or episiotomy
• C-section preferences: If an unplanned cesarean becomes necessary, document who you want present, whether you want a clear drape, and your preferences for immediate contact with your baby
• Immediately after birth: Cord clamping timing, who cuts the cord, skin-to-skin preferences, and newborn procedures (Vitamin K, eye ointment, hearing screen, first bath timing)
• Feeding: Breastfeeding, formula, or combination, and whether you want a lactation consultant visit

How to Write a Birth Plan Step by Step

Writing a birth plan is most useful when done in conversation with your provider before your due date. Here is a practical approach.

1. Download and open this free birth plan template in Google Docs or print the PDF version.
2. Read through each section to familiarize yourself with the options. Research anything you are uncertain about, like delayed cord clamping or intermittent fetal monitoring.
3. Fill in your preferences together with your partner or support person, discussing any areas where you differ.
4. Bring your draft to your prenatal appointment (around 32-36 weeks) and go through it with your doctor or midwife. They can tell you which preferences are routinely accommodated and which might need to be adjusted based on your health history.
5. Revise based on that conversation and finalize the document.
6. Print three to five copies: one for your hospital bag, one for your partner, and one to hand to the labor and delivery nurse when you arrive.
7. Keep a digital copy on your phone in case the printed copies get left at home.

Birth Plan Preferences: Common Options to Know

If this is your first birth, some of the options on a birth plan template may be unfamiliar. Here is a plain-language explanation of the choices that come up most often.

Delayed cord clamping: After a baby is born, the umbilical cord continues to pulse for a few minutes, transferring additional blood (and iron stores) to the newborn. Delayed clamping means waiting at least 30 to 60 seconds before cutting. It is widely supported by medical guidelines for full-term births and is simply a matter of noting your preference.

GBS (Group B Streptococcus) status: Routine GBS screening happens around 35-37 weeks. If you test positive, your care team will recommend IV antibiotics during labor to protect the baby. Knowing your status before you go into labor is important because it affects timing decisions.

Skin-to-skin contact: Placing the baby directly on your bare chest immediately after birth (or on your partner's chest if needed) supports bonding, temperature regulation, and breastfeeding. Most hospitals accommodate this routinely for uncomplicated deliveries, including many cesarean births.

Episiotomy: A surgical cut made to enlarge the vaginal opening during delivery. Routine episiotomies are no longer standard practice. If you have a preference about this (many people prefer to tear naturally rather than have a cut, or vice versa), note it in your birth plan.

Free Birth Plan Template Formats: PDF, Printable, and Google Docs

This birth plan template is available in three formats depending on how you prefer to work.

Printable birth plan template (PDF): Download and print the PDF, then fill in sections by hand with a pen, or use a PDF editor to type into it. This is the most practical format for sharing with your provider and bringing to the hospital.

Free birth plan template in Google Docs: Open the template in your browser and make a copy to your Google Drive. Type your preferences directly, adjust the layout, and print or share via link. Google Docs makes it easy to update the plan as your preferences change closer to your due date.

Word document: If you prefer Microsoft Word, download the template as a .docx file and edit it locally. This works identically to the Google Docs version and can be printed or emailed to your provider.

Tips for a More Effective Birth Plan

The goal of a birth plan is to communicate clearly, not to lock in a rigid agenda. These tips help you create a plan that works with your care team rather than against them.

• Keep it to one page. Nurses and doctors genuinely do not have time to read a four-page document during active labor. One page of clear checkboxes or brief statements is far more effective.
• Use positive language: "I prefer to try natural pain management first" rather than "I do not want an epidural" leaves room for the conversation to evolve.
• Include a line that acknowledges flexibility: "I understand that safety may require changes to this plan, and I trust my care team to communicate options with me." This signals that you are a collaborative patient, not a combative one.
• List your non-negotiables separately from your preferences. A partner present in the OR if a c-section is needed may be a non-negotiable; your preferred playlist is a preference.
• Discuss the plan with your partner so they can advocate for you if you are not in a position to speak for yourself during active labor.
• Bring the plan in a plastic sleeve or document protector, labor and delivery wards are busy and paperwork gets wet.