10 Things to Research Before Making a Birth Plan – A Guide for Expecting Moms
Why Your Birth Plan Matters
Birth is sacred. It’s a journey where your body and baby work together in perfect rhythm. And while we can’t control every detail, we can prepare with intention.
I recently came across a TikTok from a Labor and Delivery Nurse expressing her awe at how more individuals in 2024 are experiencing quicker, healthier births. I believe this is a result of new parents taking the time to educate themselves and advocate for their birth choices.
A birth plan isn’t about forcing things to go a certain way—it’s about feeling grounded, informed, and at peace with your choices.
Here are 10 things to explore as you create your vision for birth.
1. Where Do You Feel Most Safe to Birth?
Your environment deeply affects your birth experience. Take time to tune in—where does your body feel most at ease?
Hospital birth – Access to interventions if needed, but policies may be more rigid.
Birth center – A cozy, home-like setting with midwives.
Home birth – Full freedom to move, birth in water, and be in your own sacred space.
✧ Close your eyes and imagine labor starting. Where do you feel the most calm and powerful?
2. Who Will Hold Space for You?
Birth is energy work. The people in your space should bring calm, trust, and unwavering support.
OB-GYN or Midwife? OBs are great for high-risk pregnancies, while midwives specialize in low-intervention care.
Doula? A doula provides emotional and physical support (and they’re amazing at protecting your birth space). My doula (jasladoula.com) was heaven-sent for moments where my partner was unsure of how to give me comfort.
Partner or family? Do you want a hands-on birth partner, or do you prefer a quiet, grounded presence? Will you have your parents or siblings in your birth space?
✧ "I choose a birth team that honors my intuition and respects my choices."
3. Pain Relief – Natural or Medicinal?
Pain in labor isn’t just suffering—it’s powerful, transformative, and your body’s way of guiding you. Every time I had a contraction, I would visualize my baby getting closer to being in my arms.
Holistic Comfort:
Water (birth tub or shower)
Massage
Rebozo
Breathwork & vocal toning
TENS unit or acupressure
Hypnobirthing or meditation
Medical Options:
Epidural
Nitrous oxide (a gentle relaxant)
✧
Your body
knows what to do
but you deserve options that align with your needs.
✧
4. Interventions – What Feels Right to You?
Many hospitals have standard protocols, but you always have a say. Look into:
IV fluids, Saline Lock (some places require them, some don’t)
Cervical Exams (you can ask for limited exams)
Continuous vs. intermittent fetal monitoring
Artificial induction (Pitocin vs. natural methods like nipple stimulation & dates)
✧ Ask your provider, "What are my options if I want to let labor unfold naturally?"
5. How Do You Want to Move During Labor?
Labor is an embodied experience—your body wants to sway, squat, stretch, and flow. Yet, some hospitals encourage laboring in bed.
Explore:
Walking & dancing
Birthing ball or rebozo techniques
Water immersion
Hands-and-knees or side-lying positions
Peanut Ball
Squat Bar
✧ Movement isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. Tune into your body’s wisdom. Your body will know what to do.
6. Pushing – Coached or Instinctual?
Not every birth requires the “hold your breath and push” method. Some mothers prefer:
Breathing baby down vs. directed pushing
Perineal massage, oil or warm compresses to prevent tearing
Changing positions to allow baby to descend naturally
✧ “My body and baby will guide the pushing process in perfect timing."
7. Delayed Cord Clamping & Placenta Care
The umbilical cord holds lifeforce energy—delayed clamping allows your baby to receive more blood and oxygen. This is now becoming a standard practice at most hospitals, but make sure you write this down in your birth plan!
You can also explore:
Cord blood banking or donation
Lotus birth (leaving the cord attached until it falls off naturally)
Placenta encapsulation
✧ Consider a small placenta burial under a tree as a grounding ceremony.
Placenta = The Tree of Life ࿔
8. Golden Hour – The First Moments with Baby
The first hour after birth is magical. You can request:
Immediate skin-to-skin contact for bonding & breastfeeding
Delaying the first bath (vernix is deeply nourishing for baby’s skin)
Uninterrupted time before newborn procedures
✧ Instead of rushing, let this moment be slow, quiet, and deeply connected.
9. C-Section – A Backup Plan with Intention
Even if planning for a natural birth, it’s good to hold space for the unexpected.
For a gentle C-section, you can request (approval will vary based on condition):
Skin-to-skin in the OR
Delayed cord clamping
A clear drape (so you can witness birth)
✧ Remember, that Birth in any form is still powerful, still sacred.
10. Postpartum – Your Sacred Fourth Trimester
Birth is just the beginning. Your postpartum healing is just as important.
Consider:
5-5-5 Rule (5 days in bed. 5 days on bed. 5 days around the bed)
Wait to Shower to prevent postpartum shakes
Postpartum herbal baths & belly wrapping
Nourishing, warm meals
A postpartum doula or meal train for extra support
✧ You are rebirthing too. Be gentle with yourself.
Final Thoughts – Trust Your Intuition
Your birth plan isn’t about control—it’s about trusting yourself, preparing with love, and flowing with what comes.
✧ What’s the #1 thing you’re including in your birth plan? Drop it in the comments
