
Working out your birth plan
Working out your birth plan
Giving birth is less daunting if you have an easy birth plan in mind to help the day go as smoothly as possible. See our birth plan guide below.
Checklist
- Think about where you’d like to give birth. Home, hospital or birth center.
- Consider how you want to deliver your child.
- Consider what kind of pain relief you’d like, if any.
- Talk to your healthcare provider (HCP) about skin-to-skin after birth.
- Talk to your HCP about lotus birth — keeping the placenta attached to your child once delivered.
- Talk to your HCP about interventions like ventouse and forceps.
- Consider where and how a birth partner can offer support.
- Share the birth plan with your birthing partner — maybe they can help write it.
- Consider any equipment you might like to use during labour: mats, beanbags, bars, balls, stools, and so on…
- Think about whether you’d like a water birth, if that is an option.
- Talk to your HCP if you have questions about Caesarean sections.
- Discuss how your child will be monitored during labor.
- Discuss any other birth plan options and preferences with your HCP.
- A natural birth is the ideal form of delivery, as long as there are no health complications. But of course, things don’t always go to plan, so it’s best to keep an open mind. What matters most is for you and your little one to be healthy.
- Once you’ve got your birth plan sorted, you can start thinking about what you’ll need to pack. See our Hospital bag checklist for help.
Related articles

Good Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy
Discover pregnancy tips and advice on proper nutrition throughout the trimesters.
1 min to read

6-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your child’s growth is in overdrive right about now. So many exciting developments on such a tiny little being! Read more about this week.
Danial Ahmad, Author
2 mins to read

22-Week pregnant: Development and diet
If you could look inside, you may see your little angel sucking her thumb. It’s nature’s way of getting her ready to breastfeed from birth. Read more about this week.
Danial Ahmad, Author
3 mins to read

38-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Two more weeks! Yes, it’s true, you and your little one will soon be making each other’s acquaintance. Everything is pretty much in place. Read more about this week.
Danial Ahmad, Author
3 mins to read

Questions to ask at your first prenatal appointment
Your very first prenatal appointment is here — you must be excited! With so much going on, it helps to have a list of pregnancy questions on hand to ask your healthcare provider.
2 mins to read

4 Couple Exercises for a Happier, Healthier Pregnancy
If you’ve been active and fit before getting pregnant, chances a
2 mins to read

17-Week pregnant: Development and Diet
Your little one now weighs more than 200g and is looking more and more like a “real” person every day. Read more about this week.
2 mins to read

33-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Six weeks. That’s about how long you’ve got left before you get to meet the little person growing inside you. Amazing, right? We think so. Read on to know more about this week.
3 mins to read

How to cope with pregnancy pains and discomfort
As your body changes, pregnancy pains and discomfort can occur, especially in your back, legs and feet. The good news is, there are ways to ease your pregnancy aches and pains.
2 mins to read

Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 26 - 40
You’re almost there! This is the part where you’re really getting in the mood for motherhood.
5 mins to read

12-Week pregnant: Development and diet
You’re coming to the end of your first trimester. Congratulations! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read

28-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your little one is around 35 cm long from crown to toe and already weights about 1.3 kilos, a third of her birth weight. Her feet measure nearly 6 cm – yes, they are tiny!
Danial Ahmad, Author
2 mins to read

Stay Fit and Active for an Easier Delivery!
Did you know? Regular physical activity while you’re pregnant might help you have a shorter labour and an easier birth.
2 mins to read

5 ways to reduce your child’s chances of having allergies
Find out how breastfeeding from birth and beyond and taking certain probiotics may also help reduce your child’s allergy risks
Shen-Li Tan
5 mins to read

7-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your unborn child is already a pretty impressive 18 mm long. Though you won’t feel it yet, she’s on the move. Read more about this week.
Danial Ahmad, Author
2 mins to read

23-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your child’s feet are now 4.5 to 5cm in length now, and she weighs considerably over 700g. You have got around 16 more weeks to go! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read

39-Week pregnant: Development and diet
You might have felt a few contractions already and were wondering if that was “it”. Don’t worry, you won’t miss the start of labour! Read more about this next to last week.
3 mins to read

How to deal with morning sickness at the start of pregnancy
Morning sickness can strike at any time of day or night. Especially at the start of pregnancy. Here’s a few things that could help make the first, delicate trimester a little easier to stomach.
Danial Ahmad, Author
2 mins to read

18-Week pregnant: Development and Diet
Lots of leaps and bounds happening in week 18, from nerve cells multiplying to the beginnings of fingerprints. Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
Related tools
Ovulation calendar
Determine when you are likely to ovulate can improve your chances of conceiving.
Pregnancy week
Find out what changes you can expect in your body, your emotions, your life and your little one.