Free Birth Plan Template Every Mama Needs (with Real Examples!)

Mama, if you’re pregnant and thinking about giving birth without a birth plan — this is your sign to hit the pause button and grab one 🙌

Because here’s the thing — birth plans (I prefer birth wishes but more on that later) aren’t about being rigid or controlling every detail of your labor. Nope! They’re all about communicating your preferences so your birth team can support you the way you want to be supported. 💕

In this article, I’m breaking down exactly what a birth plan is, what to include in your birth plan, sharing real-life birth plan examples, and handing you a free birth plan template you can download and customize right now — because yes, I gotchu, mama!!

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What is a birth plan — and do you really need one?

Overall, I see birth plans as an empowering tool that gets mamas researching and thinking more about birth before it happens!

Just like good childbirth education, the process of creating a birth plan helps eliminate some of the fear and anxiety surrounding birth because it erases a bit of the unknown.

A birth plan is not a magic guarantee your labor will go exactly how you imagine it. But it is, as I mentioned above, one of the best tools to help you and your support team stay on the same page.

More completely, here’s why birth plans can be so effective and important:

• Gets you thinking about labor, birth, & newborn care decisions
• Sparks dialogue and questions surrounding labor, delivery, and newborn care
• Helps you visualize your experience
• Exposes you to possible options and outcomes
• Gives you a voice in your birth experience and can help with advocacy
• Provides your partner and other members of your birth team with a source for advocacy on your behalf
• Inspires research on various interventions, options, policies, and norms associated with labor, delivery, immediate newborn care, and your hospital stay after birth
• Creates an opportunity to learn more about your birthing place’s policies and standard care procedures
• Reduces anxiety about birth and creates a sense of control and confidence
• Empowers mamas to take an active role in their care!

 It gets you thinking through your options ahead of time — which builds confidence and reduces those last-minute, in-the-moment decisions that can feel super overwhelming and scary.

The caveat to birth plans

There is a pretty big caveat I like to say surrounding birth plans – don’t let them be the downfall of your positive birth! A birth plan should be something you think of more as your “birth wishes”.

It’s a chance for you to reflect on what you think you want, and what you think you definitely don’t want.

Try your best to let it be flexible! It’s impossible to know how your unique birth will progress. Setting yourself up with a rigid birth plan and then having things go differently can set you up for disappointment and a more difficult birth to process mentally.

I don’t want to see that happen to you!

MLN’s FREE birth plan templates

These templates were put together by my team of actual L&D nurses! You can be sure we didn’t leave anything out!

Let’s go through what you get:

• Traditional birth plan template
• Visual birth plan template
• C-section birth plan template
• Visual C-section birth plan template

Curious how you gain access to this pack of templates that have been downloaded and loved by over 30,000 women? All you have to do is fill out this form and we will send them straight to your inbox!

When should I make my birth plan?

You definitely want to have your birth plan completed before you go into labor…but a little bit ahead of that is even better! I recommend starting to think about your birth plan at the beginning of the third trimester.

You don’t have to sit down and complete the whole thing at once, but looking over some birth plan templates and considerations can get the ball rolling and conversations started towards creating a plan you feel good about.

Complete it before you’re full term

Ideally, you should finish your birth plan sometime between weeks 35 and 37, this way you can discuss it in detail with your provider. Then, ask if the birth plan can be included in your hospital pre-registration packet. Some hospitals do this as standard practice, but many will accommodate it if not.

If you are able to hand over a copy of your birth plan early, great! But still, bring a printed back-up copy just in case it gets lost somewhere down the line.

Creating your birth plan: What to include

Your birth plan should cover the stuff that matters most to you — and it’s really okay if you don’t have a strong opinion about every single detail! To avoid turning this article into more of a novel, I won’t go into every single detail with you but I will cover the biggies.

Here are some of the most common sections to include:

• Delivery plan: vaginal, C-section, VBAC
• Labor room environment: lights, music, aromatherapy, who is in the room
• Pain management: unmedicated, epidural, nitrous, non-medicinal relief strategies

• Labor interventions: induction, augmentation, cervical checks, 

• Ways your partner can support: counterpressure, position changes, birth affirmations, advocating

• Pushing preferences: guided, spontaneous, open-glottis, mirror, positions

• Following birth: announcing sex (if a surprise), delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin, placenta preferences

• Feeding plan: bottle, breast, combination
• Newborn care: vitamin K, antibiotic eye ointment, baby’s bath, Hepatitis B vaccine, circumcision, rooming in vs. nursery, in the event baby needs NICU care

✨ Pro tip: Try to keep it short and sweet — one page (ish) is perfect!

Download your free birth plan template!

Ready to actually create your birth plan? I’ve made it SUPER easy for you — no Googling, no formatting, no stress, mama.

🎉 Grab your free birth plan template here! It’s printable, fillable, and made by a labor nurse (hi, it’s me!) who’s helped thousands of mamas feel prepared and confident for birth.

[👉 Click here to download your FREE birth plan template!]

Real birth plan examples from real mamas

Want a little inspo? Here are a few examples of how different mamas have used their birth plans:

• Unmedicated hospital birth: “I’d like intermittent monitoring if possible and a quiet room during pushing.”
  
  
• Scheduled C-section: “Please play music during my C-section, and I’d love skin-to-skin ASAP after baby is born!”
  
  
• Induction with epidural: “I’d like an epidural as early as possible and support with changing positions even with limited mobility.”

See? Birth plans aren’t one-size-fits-all — and they shouldn’t be! It’s all about YOU, your preferences, your wishes, and your peace of mind.

10 common questions about birth plans

1. Do I need a birth plan if I’m having a C-section?

Yes, absolutely! You can still outline things like music, support people, and newborn care preferences.

2. What if my hospital doesn’t follow my plan?

Birth plans aren’t contracts, but they open the door for helpful convo. Most providers LOVE when you come in informed!

3. When should I make my birth plan?

Anytime in your third trimester is great — just make sure you’ve reviewed it with your provider beforehand!

4. Can I change my birth plan during labor?

Absolutely, mama! Your birth plan isn’t set in stone. It’s totally normal to change your mind based on how labor unfolds — the plan is there to guide, not trap you.

5. What happens if there’s an emergency during labor?

In emergencies, medical needs take priority — but having a birth plan still helps your team understand your preferences for non-emergent care (like newborn procedures or support people).

6. Do I need a birth plan if I have a doula?

Yep! A doula can help you make your plan — and then help advocate for it. But your care team still benefits from having your preferences in writing.

7. Should I bring copies of my birth plan to the hospital?

Definitely! Bring at least 2 printed copies — one for your provider/nurses, and one for your birth partner to keep on hand. Some mamas even tape it to the wall near their bed!

8. Can my birth plan include postpartum care?

Yes — and it should! You can include newborn procedures (antibiotic eye ointment, vitamin K, Hep B), feeding preferences, and postpartum support requests (like limiting visitors or asking for lactation help).

9. Is there such a thing as a birth plan for inductions?

For sure! Your plan might include how you’d like to start the induction (Cervidil, Foley balloon, etc.), when to use an epidural, how you want to rest or move during early labor, and what your pushing preferences are.

10. What if I’m giving birth at a birth center or at home?

You can still have a birth plan! In fact, it’s even more common — and often includes more personalized touches like water birth setup, who catches the baby, or special rituals after birth.

You’ve got this, mama 

No matter how your birth unfolds — whether it’s calm and quiet or fast and wild — having a birth plan can help you feel so much more in control and in a better place to advocate. 

So go ahead, download that free birth plan template, fill it out, and share it with your support team. You deserve a birth experience that’s informed, empowered, and totally YOURS 💕

And hey — want even more support? Check out my online Birth It Up course or give me on Instagram (@mommy.labornurse) — I’m rooting for you every step of the way, mama!