In summary, creating a birth plan is a powerful act of preparation and communication that allows you to play a central role in your childbirth experience. This guide has provided you with a comprehensive template, walking you through the key areas where you can express your preferences for your labour and delivery.
We’ve covered everything from creating a calming atmosphere in your birthing room and your wishes for pain management, to your preferences for the moments immediately following birth, including postnatal care and bonding with your newborn. This document serves as a clear and organised starting point for a productive conversation about your ideal birthing experience.
The most important takeaway, however, is that a birth plan is not a rigid contract but a flexible guide. The true value of this exercise lies in the process of becoming informed about your options and discussing them thoughtfully with your obstetrician and birthing partner.
It prepares you to make calm, informed decisions, even if things don’t go exactly as planned. Ultimately, the success of your birth plan depends on the final, crucial step: how to choose a maternity hospital and a medical team that listens, respects your wishes, and partners with you to achieve a safe and positive birth.
Introduction
As you approach the end of your , your thoughts pregnancy journey will naturally turn to the big day: your baby’s birth. You might have hopes and preferences for how you’d like this incredible experience to unfold. This is where creating a birth plan comes in.
A birth plan is simply a written list of your preferences for your labour and delivery. It’s a wonderful tool to help you think through your options and communicate your wishes clearly to your medical team.
At Borneo Hospitals, our obstetricians, including our expert Dr. Vrushali Pillai, see a birth plan as a fantastic starting point for a conversation. It helps us understand what is important to you so we can provide the best possible pregnancy care.
This guide will provide a simple template and walk you through the key decisions, which is the most important part of how to choose a maternity hospital that is right for you.
Before You Begin: The Most Important Thing to Remember
Be Informed, But Be Flexible
The number one rule of childbirth is that it is unpredictable. The safest and best birth is one where a healthy baby is born to a healthy mother. Think of your birth plan not as a rigid script, but as a “wish list” or a set of goals.
The process of thinking about these options is the most valuable part, as it prepares you to be an active participant in your care, no matter which path your labour and delivery takes.
The Borneo Hospital Birth Plan Template
Use the following sections and questions to create your own plan.
Part 1: The Basics
- Your Name:
- Support Person/Birthing Partner’s Name:
- Doctor’s/Obstetrician’s Name: Dr. Vrushali Pillai
- Hospital: Borneo Hospital (Thane/Nashik/Waluj/Raipur)
- Due Date:
- A quick statement: “Our main goal is a healthy baby and a healthy mother. We have created these preferences to guide us, but we trust our medical team to advise us on the safest path.”
Part 2: Your Labour Environment
- Who would you like in the room? (e.g., “My partner and my mother only.”)
- What would make you feel more comfortable? (e.g., “I would like the lights dimmed,” “I would like to play my own shaant (calm) music playlist.”)
Part 3: Your Preferences for Labour and Delivery
This section is about how to prepare for a normal delivery.
- Monitoring: “I would prefer intermittent monitoring if my baby and I are doing well, to allow me to move freely.”
- Movement: “I would like the freedom to walk around, use a birthing ball, and change positions during labour.”
- IV Fluids: “I would prefer to drink fluids rather than have an IV, unless medically necessary.”
Part 4: Pain Management and Relief
This is a very personal choice. There is no right or wrong answer.
- “I would first like to try natural pain relief methods like breathing techniques, massage, and changing positions.”
- “I am interested in learning more about your painless delivery options.”
- “I would like to have an epidural available to me. Please offer it to me when I am in active labour.”
“I would prefer to avoid pain medication unless I ask for it.”
Part 5: Your Birthing Preferences
- Pushing: “I would like to follow my body’s urges to push.”
- Birthing Position: “I would like to try different positions for birth, such as squatting or side-lying, if possible.”
- Episiotomy: “I would prefer to avoid an episiotomy unless it is medically urgent for the baby’s safety.”
Part 6: In Case of a C-section Delivery
Even if you plan for a vaginal birth, it’s good to have preferences for a C-section.
- “If a C-section is needed, I would like my partner to be present in the room with me.”
- “I would like to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby as soon as possible in the operating theatre or recovery room.”
Part 7: Your Newborn's Immediate Care
- Skin-to-Skin: “I would like immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with my baby for at least the first hour after birth.”
- Cord Clamping: “I would prefer delayed cord clamping.”
- First Feed: “I plan to breastfeed, and I would like to try the first feed as soon as my baby shows readiness cues.”
- Newborn Procedures: “I would like all newborn procedures, like weighing and measuring, to be done after we have had our first hour of bonding, unless there is a medical reason.”
The Next Step: Discussing Your Plan with Your Obstetrician
Once you have written down your preferences, schedule a time to discuss it with your obstetrician. This is one of the most important questions to ask your obstetrician.
This conversation will help you understand which of your preferences are possible at your chosen hospital and will ensure that you and your doctor are on the same page. This is key to feeling confident and supported.
Your Birth, Your Way: A Partnership in Care
In summary, creating a birth plan is a powerful act of preparation and communication that allows you to play a central role in your childbirth experience. This guide has provided you with a comprehensive template, walking you through the key areas where you can express your preferences for your labour and delivery.
We’ve covered everything from creating a calming atmosphere in your birthing room and your wishes for pain management, to your preferences for the moments immediately following birth, including postnatal care and bonding with your newborn. This document serves as a clear and organised starting point for a productive conversation about your ideal birthing experience.
The most important takeaway, however, is that a birth plan is not a rigid contract but a flexible guide. The true value of this exercise lies in the process of becoming informed about your options and discussing them thoughtfully with your obstetrician and birthing partner.
It prepares you to make calm, informed decisions, even if things don’t go exactly as planned. Ultimately, the success of your birth plan depends on the final, crucial step: how to choose a maternity hospital and a medical team that listens, respects your wishes, and partners with you to achieve a safe and positive birth.
Consult Our Experts
Your birthing experience matters to us. At Borneo Hospitals, we are proud to offer a range of birthing options in a supportive, state-of-the-art environment. We encourage you to discuss your birth plan with our expert doctors.
You can visit your nearest Borneo Hospital branch in Thane, Nashik, Waluj, or Raipur.
If it’s easier for you, you can also call our helpline for advice. We invite you to make an appointment with our esteemed Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Vrushali Pillai (MBBS, DGO), who is a passionate advocate for patient-centred childbirth.
Further Reading & Authoritative Sources
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Creating a Birth Plan
- National Health Service (NHS), UK: Create your birth plan
- World Health Organization (WHO): WHO recommendations: intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience (Provides the evidence base for many birth plan choices).
- Cochrane Library (Research Review): Continuous support for women during childbirth (Evidence on the benefits of a support person).
