Healthy Parents and
Baby
Long Labor
Boy
Labor starts
on its own
Birth doula
Birth at home or
birth center
Only one birth
partner
Early labor at home
Short labor
Healthy Parents and
Baby
Medical Induction of
labor
Girl
Birth at hospital
No birth doula
Early labor
at birth place
Additional support
people (family,
friends, etc.)
Wear a
hospital gown
Eat & drink as
desired
Music during labor
Saline lock
(IV access)
Birth ball
Spontaneous
rupture of
membranes
Shower or tub
for labor
Upright positions &
walking during labor
Clear fluids only
Wear your
own clothing
No IV access
No music during
labor
Artificial rupture
of membranes
No birth ball
Labor in bed
No shower or tub
for labor
Continuous fetal
monitoring
Spontaneous
pushing (pushing
when you have the
urge)
Narcotic
pain medication
Position of your
choice for pushing
Epidural
Episiotomy
Pitocin to
augment labor
Forceps or
vacuum extractor
Directed pushing
(by nurse, doctor,
or midwife)
Intermittent
fetal monitoring
Position of
provider’s choice for
pushing
No narcotic
pain medication
No episiotomy
No epidural
No forceps or
vacuum extractor
No Pitocin to
augment labor
Cesarean birth
Collaborative
decision-making
for your care
Your preferred
doctor or midwife
Skin-to-skin through first
feeding & initiate
breastfeeding when
baby is ready
Immediate
cord clamping
Breastmilk only
Immediate
skin-to-skin
Rooming-in
Decisions made for
you by your provider
Vaginal birth
Initiate breastfeeding
after all assessments
of baby
On-call doctor
or midwife
Supplementing
with formula
Cord clamping
after cord has
stopped pulsing
Baby in nursery
Baby to warmer or
another person, or
cleaned up first
No Hep B/Delayed
Hep B
No Vitamin K Shot/
Delayed/Drops
Frequent Checks
for Dilation/Progress
Membranes
Stripped
in Pregnancy
Hands-Off During
Crowning
No Tub/Shower
Bright Lights
Uninterrupted
Third Stage &
Spontaneous Birth
of Placenta
Vitamin K Shot
Baby to Receive
Hep B After
Skin-to-Skin
No Membrane
Stripping
Minimal/No
Vaginal Exams
Access to
Tub/Shower
Warm Perineal
Compress/Oil
Active Management
of Third Stage
Lights Dim
Hospital/Birth
Location to Dispose
of My Placenta
No Photographs
of Birth
Partner goes
with Baby
Leave Baby’s
Genitals Intact
OB/Midwife
Catches Baby
Partner/Parent
Cuts Cord
Hat on Baby
Immediately
Do Not Offer
Epidural/Narcotics
Unless Asked
Photograph Birth
Encapsulate My
Placenta
Circumcise Baby
Partner stays with
Birthing Parent
OB/Midwife
Cuts Cord
Partner/Parent
Catches Baby
Provider Offers
Epidural/Narcotics
Delayed Hatting