If a baby is in your future, you’ve likely been planning ahead — stocking up on diapers, newborn clothes and blankets, as well as considering how you’ll name your little one. “But before the baby is ...

At the core, birth plans are a way to look “at your expectations, your fears, your needs, and your coping strategies,” Rubin says. And while “birth” is in the name, expecting parents should use them ...

A birth plan is a great tool for letting your doctor or midwife know about your wishes for labour and birth. Sometimes, ...

This story is part of SELF's ongoing series exploring black maternal mortality. You can find the rest of the series here. I welcomed the opportunity to plan for my ideal birth, but I knew early on ...