Birth Plan Checklist | Seattle Pregnancy Resources | Eickhoff Photography
When planning for the birth of your child, there are many things to consider. One way to simplify your decision-making during labor and delivery is to have a birth plan. Most providers will have a birth plan form that they ask you to fill out and discuss with you ahead of time. When my babies were born, we filled out the midwives birth plan, but I also really liked how comprehensive the birth plan was from Penny Simkin’s Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn.
If you’re like me, you always hope for everything to go perfectly and according to the plan; but, during childbirth, flexibility is often a necessity. Discussing with your partner or provider ahead of time how strongly you feel about aspects of the birthing process can make it easier for you to make decisions in the moment. It can also make it easier for your birthing partner to help advocate for you if you have clear thoughts on what you prefer.
There are some common questions that come up when searching online for things to consider for your birth plan:
Who do you want present?
Where do you want to give birth?
Do you want specific music, lighting, aromatherapy, or clothing?
Do you want photos or videos taken during the labor and delivery? Who would you like to have take photos?
What birthing positions do you want to try?
Would you like to have a tub, shower, birth ball, or birthing bar available?
Do you want to push when you feel the urge? Or would you like direction from your team?
What pain management strategies are you interested in?
Do you want an epidural or would you prefer to avoid one?
Do you prefer continuous or intermittent fetal monitoring?
Do you want skin to skin immediately after birth?
Do you want to breast feed exclusively, formula feed, or a combination of both?
If planning to breastfeed, do you want to breastfeed in the first hour?
Do you want delayed cord clamping?
Would your partner like to cut the cord?
Would you like to collect or donate cord blood?
What are your thoughts on immediate newborn care?
Vitamin K Shot
Eye Ointment
Hepatitis B vaccination
If you have a boy, do you want him to be circumcised?
Who would you like to allow to visit right after birth? Your parents, your partner’s parents, yours/your partner’s siblings, your older kiddos?
These items are all important considerations to discuss with your partner ahead of time, but I found it helpful to have a plan for some of the less expected things and some of the unlikely but very hard things too.
Regardless of how much we planned before our kids arrived, in the moment things were either happening really slowly or super fast. When things were moving quickly, sometimes we had to make decisions quickly too. My husband and I found it helpful to know the basics of some of the less likely scenarios so that, when they came up, we could make fast, educated decisions without feeling pressured into unknown procedures.
Below are some less expected events and procedures that may be good to consider your preferences for:
How do you feel about induction?
Do you want to avoid it completely unless medically necessary?
Have you thought about stripping membranes or other alternatives to medication induction?
Do you have preferences on the use of cervical dilators or artificially rupturing the membranes?
What are your thoughts on receiving Pitocin to induce labor?
How do you feel about the use of vacuum extraction, forceps, and/or episiotomy if the pushing stage is taking much longer than expected?
If there are signs that baby is distressed, consider how you would feel about
Internal fetal monitoring
amnioinfusion
Caesarean delivery or C-Section
There are a lot of thoughts and opinions about c-sections. Different hospitals are more or less likely to perform c-sections. You should ultimately make decisions about your birth process with the help of your birth provider based on what is right for you and your baby. Whether you have planned a c-section or it becomes medically necessary during labor, here are some things to consider ahead of time. Depending on your situation and location, you may not have the option for all of these things, but if the option is available:
If available, who would you like in the room with you? Your partner? Your mom? A close friend?
Would you like to have videos or photos taken during the delivery? Do you have a designated person that will do this?
If the option is available, would you prefer local anesthesia (epidural) so that you are awake during the c-section or general anesthesia, where you are asleep?
If watching the delivery is an option, would you like to see your baby being delivered?
Would you like the doctor to explain what is happening during the delivery?
Ask your provider about what medications might be used during a C-section and whether they will affect your memory or ability to be awake/alert during the birth process
If possible, do you want your support person to cut the cord?
If you are not able to hold baby right after birth, do you want baby to go to your partner?
If baby needs care performed outside of the operating room, do you want your partner to go with baby or stay with you? Do you have a second support person that could help bridge this gap?
There are certainly more potential circumstances than I can possibly list here, but I encourage you to talk with your provider ahead of time and ask questions until you feel comfortable with understanding your options.
Trigger warning: Birth Complications
I want to cover one more section that is both hard to write and hard to think about. We had two miscarriages before having my son and I knew that it was important for me to feel prepared for all possible outcomes, so I truly appreciated this section in the Penny Simkin birth plan. Simply writing this brings tears to my eyes and when I filled out birth plans for my kids, I cried both times when we got to this section. (I filled it out, then put it away and hoped to never need to look at it again).
The idea of any baby being born sick or premature is very challenging. The idea of any baby being stillborn is unimaginable. If you choose not to read through the next section, I understand. As I wrote it, I stopped part way through and needed to wait a few weeks before being able to finish writing. I even debated about whether to include this section, but I feel strongly about having the opportunity to prepare. As a person who hates to make decisions, even more so when I am feeling pressured by time and circumstance, I found that I gained some peace of mind knowing I had a plan for the worst possible outcomes. I knew that my partner could advocate for us in those moments, if needed, and, since I had it written down, I knew that if I needed it, I could simply hand the paper to the nurse and I was confident they would take care of the rest. In the event that the very unexpected or unimaginable happens, here are some things you could consider ahead of time to help manage the most challenging and heartbreaking moments.
If baby is born sick or premature:
Do you want to be able to visit them in the nursery or stay in the NICU (if possible)?
Do you want to be able to do kangaroo care with them and hold them skin to skin as soon as it is medically safe for them?
Would you like to be as involved in the feeding and care as much as possible while they are in the hospital? Or would you like the nurses to take the lead?
If your baby needs to be moved to a different hospital than you, will your partner or another support person go with baby until you are discharged and able to join?
Feeding once baby is able:
Would you like to breast feed if possible?
Pump and feed by tube/bottle?
Feed formula
Do you have any interest in meeting other families in a similar situation or meeting with a NICU support group to help form community in the hospital?
If baby is stillborn or unable to survive long after birth, here are some things you may want to consider ahead of time
How much would mom like to be involved in decision-making before, during, and after delivery?
How and where would mom like to recover?
On the maternity unit?
In a room separate from the maternity unit?
With a visit from spiritual and grief counseling?
With resources for support groups after discharge?
Would mom and partner like to see and hold baby? Or would they prefer no contact with stillborn baby?
Would mom and partner like to obtain momentos of baby?
Photographs?
Seattle local non-profits that provide photography services include
Locks of hair?
Footprints and handprints?
Baby’s Blanket?
Silhouette of baby?
Or no momentos?
Would family like to name baby
Care of baby after death
Any specific spiritual or religious services?
Autopsy?
Burial or Cremation?
If you chose to work through this section, I encourage you to write down your preferences, discuss them with your partner, doula, or advocate, and then put them out of your mind. I hope you too will never need to look at them again. <3
I will be sending all of my positive thoughts to you for a smooth and beautiful birth experience. If you are interested in documenting these precious memories with maternity or newborn photos, I would love to help you record these moments 💜 Please reach out with any questions or to book a session.
This is intended to be a guide to help you think of possible situations during labor and delivery. It is not all-inclusive of things that may arise during birth and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Please speak to your medical provider for information regarding your specific health situation and delivery options.
Updated March 9, 2026
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