Elements of a Birth Plan

Keep your birth plan simple.   Nurses do not want to read birthing philosophy essays.  Simply create a list of things that are important to you.  Use bullet points instead of full sentences.  Phrase your requests or desires in a positive way; state what you want rather that what you don’t want.  Organize your birth plan into stages of labor such as “During Labor,” “Delivery,” “Following Birth.”  The hospital staff can easily find what applies to them if there is a shift change for the nurses or an extra nurse comes in.  Some birth plans focus heavily on the atmosphere of the room, coping techniques, or baby care.  It all depends on what is important to you.