My Vaginal Birth Plan (A.K.A My Birth Wishlist)
When people find out I’m a labour and delivery nurse, they often ask, “So… what would your birth plan look like if you had another baby?”
Well, first off—let me say this—that factory is closed. Four babies is enough for this mama. But in my years of helping families prepare and educating about birth, I’ve gathered all kinds of wisdom. So even if I won’t be birthing again, I thought I’d let you peek into this L&D nurse brain and see what my birth wishlist would look like.
Because This Is Your Birth: Building a Flexible Birth Wishlist
First, let’s set the tone! Birth is beautifully unpredictable. Think of your birth plan as more of a birth wishlist—a guide that reflects your hopes while allowing room for the natural flow of labour. Every birth is unique, and while things might not go exactly as imagined, having a plan helps your care team understand your preferences and support you in making informed choices.
1. The Vibes Need to Be Vibing
For real, I want a vibe. That means no bright fluorescent lights, no loud talking, and no constant interruptions. I’d bring twinkle lights, dim the room, and play my playlist. Creating a cozy, safe space helps labour progress and just feels… good. You deserve to feel supported and secure.
2. IV Access—Yes. Fluids—Not Unless Necessary
As a nurse, I’d 100% want an IV placed. Emergencies can happen quickly, and having access ready is smart. But I wouldn’t want continuous fluids unless needed. Oral hydration is usually enough, and fun fact: not all IV fluids stay in your bloodstream—they can cause swelling postpartum. No, thank you!
3. Let Me Eat, Please
If I’m hungry, I want to eat. Policies vary by hospital, but the risks of eating during labour (spoiler: very low) should be discussed with your provider. If I understand the risks and still want to eat, that’s an informed choice. I’d stick with light snacks—think granola, nuts, something crunchy—and stay away from heavy meals. Jello, gummy bears, and lollipops? Fair game.
4. Epidural? Yes—but Timing Matters
If I decided on an epidural, I’d aim to get it after around 6 cm dilated. That’s because being upright and mobile is one of the best ways to help labour progress. Once the epidural is placed, your feet won’t be hitting the floor again. So I’d milk the mobility as long as I could—then enjoy that sweet, sweet epidural nap before pushing.
5. Keep Me Moving (Even With an Epidural)
Even with an epidural, I’d want help changing positions. Just because I can’t feel everything doesn’t mean I can’t move. A good epidural still allows you to feel pressure and shift into supported kneeling, squatting, or side-lying positions. And I’d want to push in whatever position feels right and gets things moving.
6. Immediate Skin-to-Skin, Please
As long as me and baby are doing well, I want my baby on my chest, stat. Skin-to-skin helps regulate baby’s heart rate, breathing, temperature, and blood sugar. For me? It floods my system with oxytocin, helps with bonding, postpartum recovery, and that magical start to breastfeeding.
7. Early Latch—But No Pressure
I wouldn’t force a latch right away, but I’d allow baby time to touch, smell, and explore while on my chest. That’s how babies naturally find the breast—something called the “breast crawl.” Latching within that first hour can really support your breastfeeding journey.
8. Uninterrupted Golden Hour
I’d want all the newborn assessments—heart rate, temp, breathing—done while baby is on my chest. The only thing that truly can’t be done during skin-to-skin is weighing baby. Even medications and heel pricks can happen while baby is breastfeeding, which can actually reduce their perception of pain. So, unless baby needs urgent help, that first hour? It’s all ours.
9. Delayed Cord Clamping
Delayed cord clamping boosts a baby’s iron stores and hemoglobin levels, especially helpful for preterm babies. Most hospitals wait at least 60 seconds, but you can request to wait until the cord turns white and stops pulsing. Just make sure your provider is on board.
10. Limit the Visitors
Yes, everyone’s excited, but those first 12 hours (or longer!) are precious. Personally, I’d ask family to wait until we’re home before visiting. Those early hours are for bonding, healing, and figuring out your new normal—not entertaining Aunt Carol.
11. Rooming-In With Baby
I’d want baby to stay in the room with me, not whisked off to a nursery. This supports on-demand feeding and helps me keep track of what’s happening with my newborn. Plus, it gave me peace of mind with my own kids.
12. No Bath Until 24 Hours Post-Birth
This one’s evidence-based. Delaying baby’s bath helps stabilize their temperature and blood sugar, protects against infection, supports breastfeeding, and maintains that skin-protective vernix. The World Health Organization recommends at least 24 hours, so it would definitely be on my list.
