Birth plan builder

Birth plan template: your wishes, clearly written

Choose your preferences for each moment of labor, with every medical term explained in plain words. Your plan builds itself as you go. Finish it in Amelia to add the last steps and get a PDF to share with your midwife.

Updated November 2026

1

About you

Let's start with the basics, so the team knows who you are.

Have you given birth before?
What kind of birth are you planning?

A cesarean section is an operation to deliver the baby through a cut in the belly and the uterus. A planned (elective) cesarean is booked in advance for medical reasons or after discussion with your team.

2

Arriving at the hospital

When you arrive, some routines may be offered. How do you feel about them?

An IV line (cannula)
What does this mean?

A thin plastic tube placed in a vein in your hand or arm, so fluids or medicines can be given quickly. Some hospitals place one routinely; you can ask for it only when it's needed.

If an induction of labor is suggested…
What does this mean?

Induction means starting labor artificially: with medicines (prostaglandins or oxytocin), a balloon catheter or by breaking the waters. It may be advised for medical reasons, for example when a pregnancy goes beyond 41 weeks.

3

Your space

Labor can be long. Let's make the room feel a little more like yours.

Wearing my own clothes
Playing my own music
Soft, dim lighting
As much quiet as possible
Only the people needed in the room
Students in the room
Photos or video of the birth
What does this mean?

Hospitals have their own rules about photos and filming in the delivery room. It's worth asking about yours in advance.

4

During labor

Now, how you'd like to spend labor itself.

Moving freely: walking or using a birth ball
Drinking fluids and having light snacks
What does this mean?

For women at low risk, the WHO recommends being able to drink and eat during labor. The team may advise against it in some situations, for example if a general anesthetic might be needed.

Using a shower or bath for comfort
How would you like your baby's heartbeat to be checked?

Intermittent auscultation: the midwife listens to the baby's heartbeat at regular intervals with a handheld Doppler or a Pinard stethoscope, so you can move freely. The WHO recommends it for healthy women in labor.

Cardiotocography (CTG) records the baby's heartbeat and your contractions continuously with two sensors on your belly. It's advised when there are risk factors, with an oxytocin drip or with an epidural.

5

Medical procedures

These are sometimes needed during labor. I'll explain each one.

Vaginal examinations
What does this mean?

The midwife or doctor checks how far your cervix has opened (dilated) with gloved fingers. The WHO suggests one every 4 hours in the active phase of labor for women at low risk.

Breaking the waters (amniotomy)
What does this mean?

The team makes a small opening in the bag of waters (amniotic sac) with a sterile hook. It may be done to speed up labor or to check the color of the fluid.

An oxytocin drip to speed up labor
What does this mean?

Synthetic oxytocin given through a drip into a vein makes contractions stronger and more frequent. It can help when labor slows down; contractions usually feel more intense.

6

Pain relief

There's no right or wrong here. Many people change their mind on the day, and that's okay.

What's your approach to pain relief?
Which methods would you like to have available?

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): small pads on your back send mild electrical pulses that some people find helpful in early labor.

A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that you breathe through a mouthpiece or mask. It acts within seconds and wears off quickly. Not every hospital offers it.

Strong painkillers such as pethidine, given by injection or through a drip. They can cause drowsiness or nausea and, if given close to birth, can affect the baby's breathing and first feed.

Epidural analgesia: a local anesthetic given through a thin tube in your lower back numbs the pain from the waist down. It's the most effective pain relief; it usually comes with continuous monitoring and a drip, and the pushing stage can be longer.

Information on how sedatives, painkillers or anesthetics may affect breastfeeding

Birth plan

Your answers will appear here as you choose them.

These are my preferences for labor and birth. I understand that birth can't be fully predicted, and that the team may need to change the plan for my safety or my baby's. If so, I'd like it to be explained to me.

Finish your plan in Amelia

The last five steps, the PDF and the view for the team are in Amelia, free on iPhone:

  1. Giving birth
  2. Meeting your baby
  3. If a cesarean is needed
  4. Your baby's first days
  5. Anything else?
  • A clean PDF to print or share, in 5 languages
  • A large-type view to show the team in the delivery room
  • Shared with your partner through iCloud
Download on theApp Store

Free download. Your plan stays in your own iCloud.

What is a birth plan?

A birth plan is a short document that tells your midwives and doctors what you'd like during labor and birth, and just after. It covers things like who's with you, pain relief, monitoring, positions for birth and what happens when your baby arrives. It helps you think through your options in advance and makes it easier for the team to know what matters to you when you may not feel like talking.

How to write a good birth plan

Questions parents ask

When should I write my birth plan?

Many people start in the third trimester, around 28 to 34 weeks, and talk it through at an prenatal appointment before 36 weeks. That leaves time to ask questions and change your mind.

Will the hospital follow my birth plan?

Your team will try to respect your wishes whenever it's safe. If something changes for medical reasons, they should explain why and talk you through the options.

Can I change my plan during labor?

Yes, at any time. A birth plan describes your preferences, not a contract. You can change your mind about anything, including pain relief.

Sources

Written from the guidance above. It's general information: your midwife, doctor or pediatrician knows your situation.

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Amelia gives general information, not medical advice. Always follow your own midwife, doctor or care team, and call them whenever you're unsure.

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