1: Why You Should Write a Birth Plan

A birth plan helps you:

• Think about your preferences in advance
• Learn about your options before you’re in pain or under pressure
• Communicate clearly with your midwife, doctors, and birth partner
• Feel calmer, more confident, and more in control

Birth rarely goes exactly to plan — but having a plan means you’ve already thought about different scenarios. That alone can reduce fear and anxiety. Your birth partner can also use your plan to advocate for you if you’re busy doing the very important job of birthing your gorgeous baby.

I don’t believe birth plans are a load of rubbish, and I certainly don’t believe you’re tempting fate by writing one (that’s the most common worry I hear from people who are about to write their birth plan).

2: When You Should Write a Birth Plan

The best time to write your birth plan is usually:

• Around 28–34 weeks, once you’ve had time to learn about birth
• After attending antenatal classes or doing some research (you can find our classes here: www.frombumpstobabies.net) 
• When you feel calm and not rushed

Remember, your birth plan can be updated at any time. It’s a working document, not something set in stone. You can even change your mind mid labour if you want to!

3: What You Need to Write a Birth Plan

You don’t need anything fancy.

You can:

• Use a birth plan template like mine (I’ll pop the link for my website here: https://www.frombumpstobabies.net/freebies)
• Or simply grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down your preferences

What matters most is that it reflects you — your values, your feelings, and what’s important to you.

4: Labour – Really Important Things to Think About

Where Are You Birthing?

• Home
• Birth centre
• Labour ward

Who Is Your Birth Partner?

Who do you want with you? One person? Two? What role do you want them to play?

Positions in Labour

Do you want to:

• Be as mobile as possible or would you rather not?
• Use a birthing ball?
• Try upright positions, hands and knees, side-lying, or maybe get in the water?

Coping With Contractions

Think about how you’d like to cope:

• Breathing techniques
• Hypnobirthing
• Water
• TENS machine
• Gas and air
• Stronger pain relief

Really important note from me as a midwife:

 Please do your research now, while you’re calm. It’s vital to make decisions when you’re not in pain or feeling anxious.

Head to my website (I’ll link it) to learn about a really helpful decision-making tool called BRAIN . It helps you make choices based on facts AND your feelings, rather than fear, pain, or pressure in the moment. You can download this here: https://www.frombumpstobabies.net/freebies

Helpful Personal Information (Midwives Love This!)

This is one of my favourite parts to read as a midwife. You might write things like:

• “I hate physical touch — please don’t massage me.”
• “I cry when I’m overwhelmed; it doesn’t mean I’m unhappy.”
• “If I get emotional, music or a cup of tea really helps.”
• “Please explain things slowly and clearly.”

This helps us care for you.

Considerations

It’s also helpful to think about:

• How you feel about monitoring in labour (as in a hand held doppler device or a CTG monitor that we attach to your bump)
• Vaginal examinations (they’re usually offered every 4 hours or so, but this is only ever with consent)
• Instrumental birth (forceps or ventouse)
• Episiotomy (a cut to help baby be born, rarely needed but worth thinking about)

Do you understand what it would mean if a caesarean section was needed during labour? Even if it’s not what you’re hoping for, knowing your options can make a huge difference if plans change.

6: Your Birth Environment

Your body labours best when it feels safe, calm, and relaxed.

Take a moment to think about:

• Lighting (fairy lights or battery operated candles no flames)
• Music or playlists
• Aromatherapy
• Comfortable clothing (a bikini if you want to get in the pool maybe)
• Anything that makes you feel grounded and secure (photos, crystals, a cosy blanket from home). The small details can have a huge impact.

7: After Birth – Important Preferences

After your baby arrives, there are still choices to be made.

You should think about:

• Skin-to-skin contact
• How your placenta is delivered (do you know the two different options?)
• Delayed cord clamping
• Vitamin K for your baby
• How you plan to feed your baby

8: Questions for Your Midwife

Use your birth plan to write down:

• Anything you’re unsure about
• Anything you want clarified
• Any fears or concerns

Bring these to your next midwife appointment — no question is silly or unimportant.

9: Need Help Writing Your Birth Plan?

If you’d like extra support, you can book a 1–1 session with me. We’ll go through everything together, talk through your options, and put your mind at ease. You can book me here: https://www.frombumpstobabies.net/birth-plan-session

Birth is one of the biggest, most important days of your life. You cannot afford not to plan for it.

Good luck — you’re going to be amazing.

See you soon.

Midwife Lily 

P.s - find me on socials for more info and a chat! @ frombumpstobabies