The best birth-plan format is the one you can read, update and discuss with your maternity team. A plain sheet of paper can do this well. A template is a convenience, not a requirement for having your preferences heard.
A birth plan records what matters to you and opens a conversation about care. Your choices may change during labour or in response to clinical circumstances. The format should make those conversations easier rather than suggest there is only one acceptable outcome.
Choose by how you actually work
Print and handwrite if you like paper and expect a short list. It is quick to annotate during an appointment and needs no editing account. Leave enough space for your writing; a beautiful form with tiny answer boxes is not helpful.
Edit, then print if you want to rearrange sections, enlarge the text or make several revisions. Before paying for a template, check the required software, account requirements and whether the fields you need are editable. Not every PDF can be typed into.
Use a phone or digital document if that is easiest while drafting. Keep an offline copy and ask your maternity team how they prefer to receive or view it. A link behind a password may not be practical during care; a paper backup can be useful.
If you are undecided, draft your preferences in a free notes app first. Choose a layout afterwards, once you know how much space your words need.
Start with this free outline
Copy these headings onto paper or into a document. Delete anything irrelevant and take unanswered questions to your midwife.
- What I most want you to know: communication needs, accessibility needs and anything that helps me feel heard.
- Who I would like with me: my chosen birth companion and how I want them involved.
- During labour: preferences or questions about movement, positions, environment and pain relief.
- If circumstances change: how I would like options explained and my companion involved, where possible.
- After birth: preferences or questions about skin-to-skin contact, feeding support and care for my baby.
- Still to discuss: choices I do not understand or information I need from the maternity team.
This is a starting point, not a complete clinical form. The NHS birth-plan guide and free template cover further topics to discuss.
Write preferences that someone can understand quickly
Compare “Keep me informed” with “Please explain what you recommend and why, and give me time to ask questions when possible.” The second sentence tells someone what useful communication looks like for you.
Instead of squeezing every thought into the first page, put your most important points first. If you need more space, add a clearly labelled page. There is no need to force complex communication or access needs into a one-page design.
Avoid leaving preselected answers in a template without reading them. If you are unsure about an option, write “I would like to discuss this” rather than ticking something because it sounds reassuring.
Check the practical details before printing
- Confirm the page size: A4 and US Letter have different proportions. Check print preview for cropped edges or cut-off text.
- Print one test copy. Make sure handwriting, typed text and headings remain readable in black and white.
- Add the date of the latest revision and replace older copies in your bag.
- Discuss it with your midwife and tell your companion where the current version is kept.
Birth plans can include sensitive information. Share them with the people who need them and avoid putting an unredacted copy on social media.
Optional template: the free outline above is enough to begin. If you prefer a designed print-and-fill layout, EverMama has a printable birth plan. Check the current listing's formats before choosing it.