The Truth about Birth Plans

Birth plans have become a staple of modern maternity care. You can find endless templates online and TikToks debating what should (or shouldn’t) go on them. But what’s the real purpose of a birth plan, and do they actually make a difference in your experience?

In this episode of The Push Podcast, Sydney and Meghan unpack the history of birth plans, how they’re used in hospitals today, and what the research says about their impact on outcomes. We talk through what birth plans can do well—like helping you communicate your preferences, and where they can sometimes fall short, especially if expectations don’t match real-world circumstances.

If you’re pregnant and considering writing one, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will help you think about birth plans in a practical way: not as a guarantee, but as a tool to spark conversations, clarify your values, and prepare for the unexpected.