Creating an Atlanta Birth Plan

A Guide That Respects You

You deserve a birth experience built around your values, not just hospital norms. While every hospital in Atlanta has its own policies, there’s a core set of choices you can use as your foundation. Here’s a version of your birth plan that’s clear, respectful, and rooted in your research.

Why a Birth Plan Matters

A birth plan is more than a wishlist, it’s a legal communication tool that lets your care team see you and your priorities. Birth plan templates are widely used by hospitals to help you explore decisions like pain relief, interventions, baby care, and more.

When things shift (and they often do), your plan can flex, but having your desires in writing increases your chances of being honored.

Example of a North Fulton Hospital birth plan

Crafting Your Plan, Things to Decide:

Here’s how to structure it, and what is included most often.

1. Header

• Put your name, birth date and support person(s)

• Any important information regarding trauma/mental health/special needs

Sweet underwater love

2. Labor & Birth Environment

• No training personnel, as few people in your space as possible

• Use of water/hydrotherapy as a comfort measure

• Freedom to move (walking, changing positions)

• Monitoring: intermittent vs continuous

• Ambiance requests: music, dimmed lighting, essential oils

3. Pain Relief & Interventions

• Preference for non-pharmacologic techniques first

• If (or when) you want medicated options (IV meds, epidural)

• Membrane sweeps or artificial rupture

• Episiotomy: only if medically necessary

• IV fluids: know your options

4. Delivery & After Birth

• Who may catch baby (partner, midwife, OB, you)

• Delayed cord clamping until white

• Placenta: keep, encapsulate, or hospital disposal

• Management of postpartum bleeding: discuss if/when to give pitocin

5. Cesarean (If Needed)

Because it sometimes becomes necessary, you can pre-state your preferences:

• Presence of partner / doula in OR

• Clear or lowered drape so you can see baby emerge

• Instant skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping

• “Vaginal seeding” if you desire and hospital allows

• Family-centered C-sections are offered at some Atlanta hospitals

6. Baby Care Decisions

• Suctioning: automatic or only if needed

• Breastfeeding vs formula / supplementation

• Pacifier or not

• Sugar water or not

• Hepatitis B vaccine

• Vitamin K: injection vs oral

• Erythromycin eye ointment

• First bath: delay and rub in vernix

• Circumcision: yes / no / timing

Tips to Make It Work

• Keep it one page with a YES and NO column

• Use bold and spacing to separate sections (Labor, Delivery, Baby Care)

• Print 3 copies: one for your provider, one for your hospital bag, one for your support person

• Review it with your OB/midwife in advance so they know what you want and what is realistic at that hospital