“I’m Not Making a Birth Plan, I’m Going with the Flow” - Why That Might Not Be the Best Idea
- Nikki Bridges
- Jul 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 4
If you’re thinking, “I’m not making a birth plan, I’m gonna go with the flow,” you’re not alone. Many pregnant people feel that staying relaxed and open-minded means avoiding expectations and disappointment. But whilst flexibility is great, a lack of preparation is not the same as going with the flow, especially in today’s overstretched and failing maternity system.
Creating a birth plan is more than just writing a list, it's a key part of preparing for birth and the process helps you explore your birth options, understand your rights, and feel confident as you begin your birth journey. A well thought out birth plan empowers you to make informed decisions and take control of your birth experience, no matter how it unfolds.
Avoiding birth planning can lead to disempowerment, unnecessary interventions, and even birth trauma. This blog will explore why having a birth plan matters and how a little preparation can make a big difference in your birth experience.
"Going With the Flow" Can Lead You Somewhere You Didn’t Intend to Go
Starting your birth journey without a clear plan or without understanding your options often means going with the hospital's flow. That typically means following routine policies, time limits, and protocols designed for efficiency not individual needs. You might assume you’re in safe hands because you're surrounded by medical professionals but here is why that could be risky:
Increased likelihood of medical interventions: Research shows that without informed consent and advocacy, people giving birth in hospital are more likely to experience interventions like inductions, epidurals, episiotomies, and unplanned caesareans.
Higher risk of birth trauma: Research has found that 1 in 3 women experience birth trauma. Feeling unheard, out of control, coerced and disempowered during birth are key factors in experiencing trauma, even more than the physical outcomes.
Inadequate maternity services: A 2022 report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) revealed that almost 50% of maternity services were rated as inadequate or requiring improvement for safety. The UK’s maternity system continues to be under scrutiny. Further investigations into failings will commence in Summer 2025.
What is a Birth Plan?
A birth plan is a simple, flexible tool that helps you:
Build on your knowledge of birth
Communicate your birth preferences clearly
Understand your options and birth rights
Prepare for different outcomes (like inductions or emergency c-sections)
Feel empowered and informed
Why Being Prepared Makes a Big Difference
Birth preparation doesn’t guarantee a specific outcome but it does make a positive birth experience more likely. Just like you wouldn’t wing a wedding or a house move, you shouldn’t wing your birth. Take the time to prepare mentally and physically.
Creating a birth plan and preparing ahead:
Gives you confidence in your decisions and preferences
Helps your birth partner understand how to support you effectively
Reduces fear by replacing the unknown with knowledge
Ensures your care team understands your unique needs
How Can a Birth Doula Support You With Your Birth Plan
Birth Doulas walk beside you throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth, not to tell you what kind of birth to have or what decisions to make but to ensure you know your options, understand your rights, and feel supported every step of the way. Here’s how:
Explore Birth Preferences: A doula can help you understand common interventions, possible alternatives, and your own values and priorities, so you can create a flexible, informed birth plan that reflects your needs.
Education & Informed Choice: A doula can give you up-to-date, evidence-based resources tailored to your birth preferences, so you’re not Googling at 3 a.m.
Birth Rights Advocacy: A doula helps you understand your legal rights in birth and supports you in advocating for yourself, so your voice is heard and respected throughout your care.
Emotional Support: A doula can help you work through fears, anxieties, and previous experiences so you feel calm, and confident in your ability to have a positive birth experience.
Final Thoughts: Take control of your birth
It’s okay to stay open to how your birth unfolds, but don’t confuse that with giving away your power. Maternity services are strained, care is inconsistent and often unsafe. Being prepared and taking control of your birth is one of most powerful things you can do for yourself and your baby.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re pregnant and want to feel supported, informed, and empowered; I’d love to walk with you. Whether you’re planning a home birth or hospital birth or aren’t sure yet, I’m here to help you build the birth experience you deserve.
Try my free birth plan template:
Sources:
Developing a women centred, inclusive definition of traumatic childbirth experiences: A discussion paper (Leinweber 2022)
Maternal-infant outcomes of birth planning: A review study (Kohan, et al 2023)
National review of maternity services in England 2022 to 2024 (Care Quality Commission)
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