A personal birth plan is a document that allows you to create your wishes for childbirth records. It helps inform your healthcare providers of your preferences and gives you more insight and peace of mind yourself. What's in it? Think about:
- Where you want to give birth: at home, birth centre or hospital.
- Choices around pain management: natural or medical, such as an epidural.
- Wishes for the first moments with your baby: skin-to-skin contact, feeding and visiting.
The plan provides guidance, but flexibility is important. Births can go differently than expected. Discuss your plan with your midwife around week 36 of your pregnancy. This will ensure that your wishes are clear and remain feasible.
Start thinking today about what is important to you and put your ideas on paper!
All about the birth plan | What do you put in it and why do you make a birth plan?
Step 1: Preparing to make your birth plan
Making a birth plan starts with a moment of self-reflection. By reflecting on what is important to you, you lay a solid foundation for the choices you make later.
Reflect on your preferences and concerns
Start by exploring your core values around childbirth. Imagine how your ideal birth looks like. What atmosphere do you want to create? Think about things like lighting, music, temperature, comfortable cushions or personal photos that give you a sense of security.
Also determine who you want to be there during childbirth. Would you like your partner to be present? Or maybe a doula, a family member, or would you prefer just your healthcare provider? It is equally important to think about who you would rather not have in the room.
Try to define three core values that summarise your vision of childbirth. These could be values such as autonomy, peace, security, freedom or a sense of connection.
In addition, it is good to consider any worries or fears that you have. Do you have medical concerns or past experiences that influence your choices? By facing these honestly, you can make targeted decisions that suit your needs.
Use these reflections as a basis to gather information that will help you move forward.
Gather ideas and information
In the Netherlands, the obstetric usually your main healthcare provider during pregnancy and the first weeks afterwards. She will guide you through check-ups, ultrasounds, prenatal screening and help you draw up your birth plan. Schedule your first appointment with a midwife before the 9th week of your pregnancy.
Use reliable sources such as RIVM and deverloskundige.nl to gather information about what to expect. Looking for a midwife? HollandZorg's "Care Finder" can help. Simply enter "midwife" and your postcode.
If you do not have a good command of the Dutch language, your midwife or maternity nurse can assess whether an interpreter is needed. The cost of a professional interpreter will be reimbursed.
The Dutch healthcare system sees giving birth as a natural process. As long as there are no medical complications, you can choose where you want to give birth: at home, in a birth centre or in hospital.
Make sure you properly organise the ideas and information you gather.
Write down your initial thoughts
Use your reflections and the information you have gathered to put your ideas on paper. Start with the writing down your first preferences. What do you think is important? What atmosphere do you want to create? What concerns play a role?
Take notes on your ideal birthing environment and practical issues such as pain management, freedom of movement during labour and your wishes for the first moments with your baby.
Structure your ideas by putting in categories divide, such as environment, support, medical preferences and aftercare. This will help you draw up a clear birth plan later. Write down not only your preferences, but also why they are important to you. This way, you will create a plan that really suits you.
Step 2: Main components of a birth plan
Now that you have researched your preferences and gathered information, you can make the most important components of your birth plan start putting together. A good birth plan focuses on three key points: where you want to give birth, how you want to manage pain and comfort, and what your wishes are for the care after birth.
Where you want to give birth
The choice of the delivery site forms the basis of your birth plan. In the Netherlands, there are three main options, each with their own characteristics.
- Home birth: This offers the most control over your environment. Think lighting, temperature, music and who is allowed to be present. You can move freely and use your own shower or bath. It is a good option if your pregnancy proceeds without complications.
- Birth centre: These offer a homely atmosphere combined with professional facilities. They are designed to create a warm, relaxed environment, while providing basic facilities to intervene when needed. You have more privacy here than in a hospital.
- Hospital birth: This is the best choice if there are risk factors or previous complications, or if you feel more comfortable with direct access to medical care. There is a team of specialists and all the necessary equipment here.
Once you have decided where you want to give birth, you can think about how you want to manage pain and comfort during labour.
Pain management and comfort options
Your choice around pain management plays a big part in your birth plan and is very personal.
- Natural pain relief: There are several techniques to relieve pain naturally. Free movement (such as walking, cradling or squatting) can help. Heat, for example through a shower, bath or hot water bottle, relaxes muscles. Breathing techniques, massages and a soothing environment with dimmed lighting can also be effective.
- Medical pain management: For medical options, there are several possibilities. Nitrous oxide (Entonox) is a mild, self-dosing form of pain relief available in some locations in the Netherlands. An epidural anaesthetic (aka epidural) offers strong pain relief, but limits your freedom of movement and is only available in hospital. Pethidine injections offer a middle ground.
Decide how you want to deal with pain and when to consider medical interventions. Do you want to try natural methods first, or do you prefer an early medical approach? Also discuss who gets to make decisions if you can no longer think clearly during labour.
In addition, you can make your movement requirements capture. For example, do you want to be able to walk during contractions, try out different positions, or do you prefer a specific birthing position?
After discussing the delivery location and pain management, it is important to also record your wishes for care after the birth and your own recovery.
Caring for the newborn and wishes after childbirth
The first moments after birth are special and deserve attention in your birth plan. By recording your choices, you maintain control even after the birth.
- Umbilical cord clamp: You can opt for delayed umbilical cord clamping, which can help improve your baby's iron stores. Decide in advance whether you want this.
- Skin-to-skin contact: Direct contact between you and your baby promotes bonding and helps initiate breastfeeding. Indicate how long you want this contact and whether your partner can also experience it.
- Nutrition: Record whether you want to breastfeed and whether you object to bottle feeding in emergencies. You can also indicate whether you want support with the first feeding.
- Visit: To avoid stress, decide who you want to see immediately after giving birth and who can wait. Also specify how long visitors can stay and when you need rest.
- Medical procedures: Decide whether you want to be present at your baby's first examination. Indicate your preferences for vaccinations or the vitamin K injection.
- Recovery wishes: Think about what you need for your recovery. For example, do you want to shower immediately after giving birth? Do you have specific preferences for food or drink? Do you want to go home soon or stay longer in hospital for extra support?
By carefully considering these aspects, you can create a birth plan that suits your wishes and needs.
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Step 3: Writing and organising your birth plan
Now that you have your wishes clear, it is important to record them in an orderly manner. A well-structured document ensures that your midwife and other healthcare providers can quickly understand your preferences, even during busy times or when shifts change.
How to draft your document
The length of your birth plan plays a big role in usability. Keep it short and sweet, preferably no longer than 2 A4 pages. Healthcare providers often have little time to go through extensive documents, especially during childbirth. A concise plan is read and applied faster.
"It is a concise and clear document of no more than 2 pages." - Obstetric practice Vita Nova 's-Hertogenbosch
Formulate your wishes in short and clear sentences. Long paragraphs and complicated wording can be confusing. Instead of: "I would like my preference for a natural childbirth without medical intervention, unless absolutely necessary for safety", it would be better to write: "Preference for natural childbirth. Medical interventions only when necessary."
"It states in short sentences what these wishes are." - Beautiful Birth
Structure is essential. Use headings and bullet points to make your information clear. Start with your basic information (such as name, date of birth and expected delivery date) and systematically work through important sections. Headings such as "Delivery location", "Pain management" and "After delivery" make your plan clear and easy to follow.
Rank your most important desires at the top of each section and highlight them with bold text. This ensures that caregivers immediately see what is most important to you, even if they can only look at the document briefly.
Leave enough space between sections to make the document visually calmer and simpler. Use bullet points to present your choices clearly, rather than continuous text.
Dutch formatting guidelines
Besides general principles, there are specific guidelines you can follow in the Netherlands. For example, use the dd-mm-yyyy format for dates (such as 15-03-2025 for your expected delivery date) to avoid confusion.
For units of measurement use the metric system: centimetres for length, kilograms for weight and degrees Celsius for temperature.
Language plays an important role in communication with healthcare providers. Choose respectful and clear wording. Avoid coercive language such as "I absolutely do not want..." and instead use "My preference is..." or "I prefer...". This creates a positive tone and shows that you are open to professional advice. If your partner does not speak Dutch or if you prefer to communicate in English, state this explicitly in your birth plan.
Use Dutch medical terms and provide explanations where necessary. For example, write "Epidural anaesthesia (epidural)" instead of just "epidural". This ensures that everyone in the healthcare team, regardless of their experience, understands your wishes.
Make sure you contact details be complete and correct, including a mobile number in the appropriate Dutch format (e.g. 06-12345678). Also include the contact details of your partner and any second contact.
By following these guidelines, you will create a professional and practical document that is in line with Dutch standards of care and easy to use by everyone involved in your delivery.
Step 4: Discussing and finalising your birth plan
Now that you have created a clear and concise birth plan, it is time to discuss and further refine it. Writing the plan is just the first step. The real preparation begins when you discuss the document with your midwife and make any adjustments based on their professional advice. This is an important step to ensure that your wishes are feasible and safe, and that everyone in your care team is well informed about your expectations.
Discussion with your midwife
Schedule a conversation around the 36th week of your pregnancy. This is an ideal time, as your baby is almost fully developed by then and there is still plenty of time to make any changes.
Bring a printed version of your plan and discuss each part step by step. Your midwife can give you valuable insights on what is feasible in your situation and what options are available at the hospital or birth centre where you want to give birth.
Ask targeted questions about issues that are unclear to you. For example, "What happens if my labour takes longer than expected?" or "What pain management options are there if my first choice doesn't work?" Such questions will help you be better prepared and make informed decisions.
At Verloskundig Huis Lief Leven in Maastricht takes plenty of time to go through your birth plan. Their personalised approach gives you the chance to discuss your specific wishes and concerns, giving you a realistic idea of what is possible.
It is also a good idea to bring your partner or companion to this talk. This way they can better understand your wishes and support you optimally during labour. After the talk, you can adjust your plan based on your healthcare provider's advice.
Stay open to change
Although you have discussed your wishes, it is important to remain flexible. Childbirth is often unpredictable, and you cannot control everything completely - both your baby and your body often follow their own rhythms.
"The most important element in any plan is flexibility. Trust that your medical team will do their best to respect your requests, but it is important to be kind to yourself if you cannot achieve your exact birth plan." - Christine C. Greves, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology
Think of your birth plan more as a 'wish list' or a 'birth vision' rather than a strict script. This approach helps you avoid disappointment when things go differently than planned.
Consider alternative scenarios for unexpected situations. Consider, for example, the importance of skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, engaging a lactation consultant or ensuring your partner's presence during a medical procedure.
A birth plan is mainly about preparation and adaptability. It helps you to be ready for different situations, while keeping your wishes central.
Conclusion: concluding thoughts on making your birth plan
Now that you have gone through all the steps, you have laid a solid foundation for a birth that suits your personal wishes. Drawing up a birth plan will help you to consciously reflect on what is important to you during this special event.
By putting your preferences on paper, you can communicate clearly with your healthcare team and prepare yourself mentally for what is to come. Whether it is about pain management, the environment you want to give birth in, or how you envision the first moments with your baby - you now have a tool to communicate your wishes clearly.
An effective birth plan combines preparation with flexibility. It is important to be open to unexpected situations, while having confidence in your own choices and the care team guiding you.
Wherever you decide to give birth - at home, in a birth centre or in hospital - your wishes matter. With a well-thought-out and flexible plan, you will strengthen cooperation with your healthcare providers and create the best conditions for this special moment.
Get started today with drawing up your birth plan. Write down your initial ideas and work through them step by step. That way, you will give yourself and your care team a strong foundation for one of the most precious moments in your life.
FAQs
How do I make sure my birth plan allows for unexpected situations during labour?
It is important that your birth plan clearly reflects your preferences, but also leaves room for unexpected situations. Make sure your wishes are specific, but remain flexible so that adjustments can be made if necessary. Discuss your plan in advance with your midwife or healthcare professional. This way, they know what is important to you and can better support you if something goes differently than expected.
Also mention in your plan that you are open to medical advice and willing to adjust your choices if necessary for your health or your baby's health. This way, you strike a good balance between following your own preferences and responding to unforeseen circumstances.
How can my midwife help me draw up my birth plan?
Your midwife has an important role in drawing up your birth plan. She will give you information about what is possible, discuss your personal preferences and help you make choices that suit your situation and wishes.
Because it is your plan, you decide what it will contain. The midwife is there to support you in clearly articulating your wishes and to answer all your questions. This way, you will be well prepared for the birth.
What are the advantages of giving birth at home over giving birth in a birth centre or hospital?
Giving birth at home brings several advantages. First of all, you are in your own familiar surroundings, which often helps you stay more relaxed. This relaxation can contribute to a more natural course of labour and possibly reduce the risk of medical interventions. Moreover, the risk of infections is lower as your body is already used to the bacteria in your own home.
Another advantage is that with a home birth, you have more control over how everything goes. You can decide when you want to move, take a break or give birth in a different position. This gives you a sense of freedom and comfort during this unique experience. Of course, it is essential to discuss carefully with your midwife what is best suited to your situation and health.
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