Questions for your birth plan template...

Use the following birth plan template to develop your own plan. Sharing your birth plan with your doctor or midwife helps to put everyone on the same page.

If you are delivering your baby in a hospital, find out what their policies are before developing your birth plan. For example, if you want to breastfeed your baby immediately after birth, your doctor may have to arrange a delay in the baby's postnatal check up.

Read up on what options are available for your birth so that you can find the perfect plan for you.

Copy, paste, and answer the following questions to start off your baby birth plan:

And remember...the best laid plans of mice and men....be prepared for the unexpected. This birth plan is for best-case, you may have to be flexible depending on how things go.

With my second child, I planned on having her in a birth center with my 4 year old son present. He attended a birthing class for kids and was so excited (we both were!)

As I approached my 11 month of pregnancy, yes she was almost FOUR weeks late, it became necessary to induce labor. I was rushed to the hospital when a non-stress test failed and was immediately induced.

Not only was my son absent from the birth, I encountered so much resistance when I insisted that the baby not be given a bottle and that she room in with me. Boy, they were so happy to see me leave the next morning!

In the end, I had a healthy baby girl so all's well that ends well.

Hope this birth plan template helps. Good luck!!!