Why You Should Write a Birth Plan

Every now and again I come across a blog post or article about why birth plans need not be written. I've read birth can't be planned, making a plan just encourages disappointment, there's no benefit, choices can be made on the fly instead, and that birthing women are unqualified or even selfish to have preferences on how they will give birth. Silly women and their silly preferences!

Those arguments are all very short-sighted, miss the purpose of writing a plan, and don't place the woman at the center of birth. I think they're wrong.  I think you should consider writing a birth plan and that it can be an important part of preparing for birth.

Writing a birth plan isn't about planning your birth, it's about planning for birth.  

Birth Plan vs. Birth Preferences

First, let's get into some semantics.  I prefer to call birth plans birth preferences.  When I'm working with clients we talk about how to write a birth preference list.  The purpose and intentions are the same whether you're writing a plan or a preference list, but language is important.  It's true that you can't map out exactly how your birth will go, but you can always have preferences!

Considering Options

Your birth preference list or birth plan is an important tool for preparing for birth.  It helps you to think through your options, how would I prefer to handle discomfort during labor?  What position(s) might I prefer for birthing my baby?  How do I feel about standard newborn care procedures?  What happens in the event of a cesarean?  You might not have preferences on everything, but it's a good practice to think about what is important to you and then highlight those points on your list.

Preparing for Birth

Thinking through options and electing preferences on points that are important to you allows you to think about what you will experience.  How do I envision my early labor?  What will happen when I arrive at the hospital?  What happens after my baby is born?  Thinking through the process step-by-step allows you to research and ask questions ahead of time so that you're more educated going into the birth.  It also allows you to address any fears or concerns you may have. This allows you to feel more confident going into your birthing time.

Communication Tool

Your birth plan is a tool to help you communicate with your health care providers.  It conveys to them what kind of birth you're hoping to have and what is important to you during your birthing time.

Going over your preferences with your OB or midwife during a prenatal visit allows you to make sure everyone is on the same page.  This discussion provides your care provider an opportunity to voice their opinions on your preferences and gives you a better idea of what to expect during the birth.

If you're hoping for intermittent fetal monitoring and your OB is going to recommend continuous fetal monitoring, this is something you want to consider before you're actually in labor.  If you are envisioning birthing your baby in an upright position and your OB is going to ask you to get in the bed when you begin pushing you want to know this before you're working to birth your baby!

Likewise, if you are birthing in a hospital you can hand over a copy of your birth preferences to your nurse upon arrival.  Your nurse is not likely to be someone you will have met or chosen beforehand, but they're going to be a major player in your birth team!  You want to convey to them what your preferences are, how you envision your birth, and what you and your OB or midwife have discussed together ahead of time so your nurse can help support your wishes.

Labor Tool

If your health care providers understand the kind of birth that you're hoping to have they will take that into consideration with their actions and suggestions during your birthing time.

If your nurse knows that avoiding pain medication is very important to you they may suggest you utilize a tool such as a birth ball instead of offering an epidural.  If your OB knows that it's very important to you to keep your birth as quiet and intimate as possible they may not bring along the medical student who is shadowing them.

Your preference list provides your birth team with something to reference to remind them of your wishes. It's also helpful in the event of a shift change when a new nurse, OB, or midwife will be taking over your care, allowing them to quickly review your wishes.

Tool For A Positive Experience

People who are active participants in their birth, making choices that are right for them, have a more positive experience overall. You're not incapable of making decisions or communicating during your birthing time, but it simplifies things if there are as few surprises and major discussions as possible. Writing a birth plan helps with this.

During birth circumstances may change, preferences may change, you may have to make decisions on the fly; when it comes down to it you can't plan birth, but you can plan for birth.  You can prepare prenatally and go into your birthing time feeling informed, confident, and supported.

A thoughtfully written birth plan, utilized with purpose, can be a fantastic tool to help you prepare for birth so that once the time comes you can focus your energy and attention on what's important: birthing your baby and having a positive experience while doing so.

TENS for Labor

I recently completed an advanced doula training with Sunday Tortelli to learn about TENS for labor. I love continuing education opportunities and I strive to be able to offer my clients a variety of options to help them have a more comfortable birth experience!

TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, is a method by which electrical currents are used to stimulate nerves for pain relief purposes.  TENS units are commonly used by physical therapists, chiropractors, and for women in labor.  They are not currently in widespread use for labor purposes in the U.S., but are a popular tool in Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe.

TENS units work by sending mild electrical currents through the skin via electrode pads placed on the area of discomfort, for labor purposes they are placed on the lower back.  The person wearing the pads controls the level of stimulation and feels a light pulsing or vibrating sensation as the unit stimulates the muscles.  These sensations work to interrupt the nerve pathways, which  decreases pain, while increasing the body's own pleasurable hormonal response, endorphins, to help naturally ease discomfort.

Research shows that TENS units are most effective at relieving back labor, which is often challenging to manage, and many women who have experienced TENS in labor report that they would want to use the tool again for future births.

TENS is a safe option for relief of some types of labor pain and can be easily utilized or discontinued if necessary.  I'm excited to now offer this as a tool for labor!

Use Your BRAIN

One of the topics that I always discuss prenatally with my clients is the importance of making the choices that are right for them. I provide non-judgmental support and it's important to me that my clients understand that this is their birth and I am there to support them on their journey.

Birth is a complex process and what might be best in one situation may not be the best fit in another. That's why we can't talk in absolutes when it comes to birth, every birth is unique!

An important piece of feeling empowered during birth is being an active participant in any decision-making processes. My desire is for my clients to feel confident about the choices that they make during their birthing time and my role as a doula is to help them navigate their options, often by facilitating conversation with their health care providers, their doctors, midwives, or nurses.

Informed choice is important and you need knowledge about the options being presented in order to make a decision that you feel good about!  B.R.A.I.N. is an easily remembered acronym that helps formulate questions to ask your care provider in order to obtain necessary information to consent to, or refuse any intervention that may be suggested.


Benefits - What are the benefits of this procedure?  How will this help me/my baby/my labor?

Risks - What are the risks of this procedure?  How might this negatively impact me/my baby/my labor?

Alternatives - What are the alternatives to this procedure?  Are there other options available to me at this time?

Intuition - What are my instincts telling me about this situation?

Nothing - What if we do nothing at this time?  What if we need more time to make a decision?  What kind of timeframe are we dealing with for needing to make a decision? 


These questions can be asked in a variety of situations such as while exploring options for prenatal testing, methods of induction, or interventions that may arise during your birthing time ranging from something as routine as I.V. fluids upon admission or something more invasive like artificial rupture of membranes. There is usually time to discuss these questions with your care provider, if not, that's when having a care provider you trust becomes even more important because you want to know that they understand your hopes and wishes for this birth and that they are making any quick decisions with these desires in mind.

When we discuss informed choice/BRAIN prenatally it seems very simple, but if it needs to be utilized during your birthing time it's often less straightforward.  This is when it's helpful to have someone knowledgeable, like a doula, there to remind you of these questions and make sure that you have not only the information, but also the space that you need for you and your partner to make a choice about which you feel confident.

Rebozo: A Traditional Tool for Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond

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I recently had the privilege of attending a rebozo workshop with a group of lovely ladies.  It was great fun and I learned a lot of awesome techniques that I'm excited to use!


What is a rebozo?

A rebozo is a traditional Mexican shawl.  It is a long piece of woven cloth with fringe at either end. Rebozos are used in many ways: as a head covering, a shawl for warmth, to block the sun, carry babies or goods, and as a tool for pregnancy and childbirth.  I loved learning about the historical context of the rebozo and how important it is in Mexican culture.  It has uses for birth, death, and everything in between.

During labor I can use the rebozo to help you relax physically and mentally, assist you in a variety of positions, and encourage baby into a more optimal position, if necessary.  The rebozo is an incredibly versatile tool!


Here are some ways that you might be interested in utilizing a rebozo:

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During pregnancy:

A rebozo can be wrapped around your belly in the later weeks of pregnancy to help support the extra weight and give your back, hips, and pelvis some relief.  It can also be wrapped around your hips and tightened if you're experiencing hip or pelvic discomfort.  You can use the same technique postpartum if you would like to feel a little more supported.

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During labor:  

A rebozo can be used in many ways during labor.  Some easy, yet effective techniques include supporting your belly while in hands and knees position, wrapping it around your hips and tightening for counter pressure, or using it to tie on a warm rice sock or tennis balls (tie them on, then lean against the wall for counter pressure).

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Once baby is here:

Wear your baby!  And enjoy all the benefits of babywearing, utilizing a tool that helped you during pregnancy and birth.













Additonal resources:

Labor Tool - Rebozo
Amazon - Mexican Rebozo Shawl