Having a birth plan can serve a dual purpose. First, in writing your plan, you solidify your choices and you will have to do research to make those choices. Being educated will help you make informed choices and allow you to more easily reach your goals. In addition, your birth plan serves as a sort of instruction guide for your doctor, midwife, spouse, or other support person. Keep in mind that your birthing experience is "your choice" and you have the right to make decisions as to what happens with your body as well as your baby upon delivery. Sometimes medical personal are so set in their routine ways that they will tell you that you must abide by hospital policies when indeed you have the right to refuse certain treatments. This is another reason to make sure your support person understands your choices and will be there to back you up in case you become confused or upset during the process. Even better, go over your birth plan with your medical provider prior to the delivery of your baby to prevent unexpected resistance.

The following is a list of things that you should include in your birth plan:

• Your reason for your conviction to proceed with an unmedicated birth.
• The types of interventions that you wish to avoid and why. Be sure and list if you have moral or religious reasons for declining particular interventions.
• Be sure and list in specific terms how you wish to see your birthing experience unfold. Include whether you wish for the baby to be placed on your stomach, if you want the cord to be uncut until it is no longer pulsating, if you wish to initiate breastfeeding imediately before the baby is taken away to be bathed.
• Include your wishes as to which medical treatments and interventions you want done to your baby before and after birth, as in fetal heart monitoring (through the scalp), anitibiotic ointments placed in your newborns eyes, etc. Do your research ahead of time to make sure you understand the purpose of such interventions before you blindly refuse.
• Include your choice for or against circumcision if your child is a boy.