How to Write a Birth Plan: Your Complete Guide to Giving Birth Holistically

As a mom and holistic nutritionist, it’s comforting to know that I’ve made the important decisions before I’m in the delivery room.

I’m talking about a birth plan.

A birth plan is your way of ensuring your wishes for pain management, cord clamping, and skin-to-skin contact are honored. It’s the calm before the storm. And it’s a beautiful way to know your baby will be cared for during his or her first moments of life.

But if you’re new to creating a birth plan, you may not know where to start. That’s why I’ve compiled everything I know about natural birth preparation — from pain management to holistic remedies and more.

Home Birth vs. Birthing Center vs. Hospital Birth

Determining where you want to have your baby is the first step in creating your birth plan.

And I want to make sure you know: there’s no wrong choice.

Yes, even if you’re super holistic (like me), you have permission to choose a hospital birth. Or, if you’re pretty traditional with medicine, it’s okay to choose a birthing center.

There is no wrong answer. Only the right answer for you.

Hospital Birth

The traditional place for childbirth, a hospital has quick access to any medical tool.

• Pro: If you’re carrying a high-risk pregnancy or have health concerns, a hospital birth may provide you with the most peace of mind.

• Con: If you’re holistic-minded, a hospital may not check all your boxes when it comes to natural childbirth care.

Birthing Center

An in-between option, birthing centers are typically close to hospitals. They provide the comfort of a more natural birth with the peace of mind of trained midwives.

• Pro: Most birthing centers encourage you to create a highly customized birthing plan. They may also be more equipped to support you emotionally for an unmedicated or holistic childbirth.

• Con: Birthing centers don’t have the same medical equipment as a hospital, so you will need to be transferred if there’s an emergency. Additionally, some women might prefer the comforts of home for their birthing experience.

Home Birth

This non-traditional childbirth method is becoming more popular in the holistic community. It’s a beautiful way to bring your baby into the world, but you should be informed about how it works.

• Pro: You have all the comforts of home and are able to give birth in a peaceful environment. You also have total control over your birth plan and can spend one-on-one time with your baby immediately after delivery.

• Con: You have to be really prepared for a home birth. I recommend a trusted midwife and a thorough back-up plan in case of emergency. A home birth can also be extremely intimidating, especially with your first baby.

How to Write a Birth Plan

As I prepare for the birth of my third child, here are some things I’m personally doing to create my birth plan…

Establish a Goal

I love to include a few short paragraphs about the goal for my birth. For example: “We’d like to have a safe and effective natural birth for mom and baby.” It’s as simple as that. Don’t spend too much time perfecting your goal on paper — just write what first comes to your mind.

Have Remedies on Hand (That Work)

Tap into your intuition and personal experiences, and find natural pain management remedies that work for you. Especially during birth, you want options you feel good about that are both quick and effective.

Build a Trusting Relationship with Your Doctor or Midwife

This is arguably the most important part of your birth plan. A trusting relationship with your doctor or midwife lays the groundwork for the birth you want. Throughout your pregnancy, I recommend talking through birth preferences with your provider. Make sure they’re not only on board with your requests but excited to make them happen.

Write Down Your Birth Plan

Okay, now that you’ve covered the important things, it’s time to create a rough draft of your birth plan. You’ll want to make the plan short and sweet — around two pages. Separate the plan into phases (labor, pushing, and birth).

An Example Birth Plan

Download my free birth plan template here.

During Labor

In this space, talk about your preferences for pain management, vaginal exams, and emotional support. You may also add your preferences for medication, cesarean birth, and food. No request here is too small, and it’s okay to keep a detailed list of everything you want (and don’t want) during labor.

During Pushing

This is where you’ll want to focus on birthing positions, your partner’s role, and support for your perineum. You can write down your preferences for birth, followed by your contingency plan.

Once the Baby Is Out

In this section, include instructions for your baby’s first moments of life. This includes cord clamping, vitamin K shots, breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact. You can also talk about your desires for bathing, circumcision, and vaccines. Again, no request is too small, and you should always find a provider who supports and encourages your choices.

Natural Remedies for Childbirth and Pain Management

Here are some natural remedies to include in the pain management section of your birth plan (my favorite options).

• Homeopathy for childbirth. Since my mom is a homeopath, we always have homeopathic remedies on hand. They’re both noninvasive and extremely effective. You can get homeopathic remedies for emotional discomfort, too.

• Breathing techniques. Possibly the most common recommendation for natural childbirth, breathing intentionally can really help you move through the pain.

• Birthing positions. I highly recommend you do your research on birthing positions and test them out before your baby arrives. These can make a significant difference in your comfort and avoiding tears while pushing.

• Use hot and cold therapy. Showers and birthing tubs are great for minimizing the pain of contractions, and they can be used at pivotal moments during the labor process.

• Massage. Have your partner learn different massage techniques they can use to support the muscles in your back.

• Try a TENS unit. This device uses electrical impulses to soothe pain and make you more comfortable during the labor process.

• Listen to music. The right music can help distract you from contractions and even calm your nervous system.

The Most Important Part of Your Birth Plan

Advocating for yourself while you’re in the middle of a contraction isn’t easy. Neither is communicating with your doctor, midwife, or partner when you’re preoccupied and overtired. This is why creating your birth plan ahead of time is so important.

Once you write the birth plan, I highly recommend you share it with your provider. This confirms that you’re on the same page and ready to approach birth as a team. Then, all you have to worry about during labor is yourself and your baby.

Want a Template That Shows You Exactly How to Write a Birth Plan?