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A birth plan is a written map for childbirth, containing your hopes and dreams for Baby's birth. Birth plans are a guide for your medical provider and care team, listing your birth preferences, such as medical interventions, pain relief, breastfeeding choices and care of Baby after birth. Use these articles, expert Q&As and tools to research birth plans before you write your own, so that you can create a plan that will have a positive impact on your baby’s birthday.

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article picks

The Birth Plan
Is a Birth Plan Helpful or Troublesome?
Many people view writing a birth plan as an important step in preparing for childbirth. Your childbirth educator may guide you or you can find ideas in many books (see resources section for suggestions).

Birth Plan Considerations
Tips on Making These Important Pre-baby Choices
These days it's common to include a birth plan in your pre-baby preparations. A birth plan allows you to make choices about labor and delivery while you are still able to participate in decision making.

Dad's Birth Plan
Plan Ahead with a Birth Plan for a Less Stressful Birth
Joseph Perrotta of Wesley Chapel, Fla., remembers the birth of his daughter, Arianna Gia, now 3.

tool picks

Birth Plan Generator
What's a birth plan? Get inspiration from a sample birth plan. Create your own free birth plan, and then print out copies for your doctor, the hospital or birth center, your coach and one for you.

Pregnancy Week by Week Calculator
How many weeks pregnant am I? Enter the date of the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), and the Pregnancy Week by Week Calculator will calculate a week-by-week timeline of your pregnancy.

Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
When am I due? The Pregnancy Due Date Calculator will figure out your due date. Just enter the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) to calculate your due date or even when conception occurred.

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flip gallery picks

10 Steps Toward a Positive Labor
Learn 10 steps to help you have a positive labor and delivery.

Pregnancy Week By Week
This flip calendar shows the weekly journey of a woman through pregnancy.