What to Do When Labor Doesn’t Go as Planned
Why Birth Plans Sometimes Change
You can do all the planning—hire the doula, take the classes, eat the dates, bounce on the ball—and still find yourself facing something unexpected on the big day.
That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.
Labor is dynamic. It can be long or fast, smooth or rocky, straightforward or full of plot twists. A change in your birth plan isn’t a failure—it’s a pivot.
The Key Is Knowing How to Make Decisions in Real Time
When something comes up in labor, it can be tempting to just nod and go along with what your provider suggests. You’re tired. Vulnerable. Maybe even scared.
But that’s when decision-making frameworks matter most.
That’s why I teach the BRAINS acronym inside my online course. It helps you slow things down and ask the right questions:
Benefits
Risks
Alternatives
Instinct
Nothing (What if we wait?)
Space (What if I just had a little time to myself to consider this?)
If you want a free printable version to bring to your birth, grab my free download below.
Birth Can Still Be Beautiful, Even If It Changes
Just because your labor didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean it wasn’t powerful. The real goal isn’t a perfect birth—it’s a birth where you felt heard, respected, and involved.
Inside my self-paced, online childbirth course, Your Birth, Your Options, I’ll walk you through:
How to prepare for the unexpected
How to advocate in the moment
How to process whatever unfolds afterward
This isn’t about rigid planning. It’s about resilient preparation.
Click below and get the tools to feel steady throughout your labor and birth, even if the path twists and turns.
