The next step after your free birth plan
A guided walkthrough for your birth plan — so you fill it out with confidence, not confusion
Go from a blank template to a plan you actually understand — in about an hour.
You downloaded the free Joyful Birth Plan. Now a certified birth doula walks you through every section, every tradeoff, and every conversation you'll need to have — so your plan reflects what you want, not what the hospital assumes.
What the Guided Birth Plan Walkthrough covers
You've got a birth plan template — now what? This course picks up where the free PDF leaves off.
- 60 minutes of short videos — no marathon sessions. Watch between appointments, revisit before provider meetings, or knock it out in an evening.
- Maps section-by-section to the Joyful Birth Plan — each lesson corresponds to a section of your plan, so you fill it in as you learn.
- Real scenarios, not generic advice — what actually happens when your provider recommends induction, what "optional" really means on a newborn procedure, and how to phrase your preferences so a busy nurse reads them.
What's included
Module-by-module walkthrough
6 modules covering every section of your birth plan — from labor preferences through newborn care and advocacy scripts. See the full curriculum below.
Fillable PDF included
Don't have the PDF yet? It's included. Or bring the one you already downloaded — the course maps to the same plan, section by section.
Lifetime access
Watch between appointments. Revisit when your plan changes. Review before a provider meeting. It's yours to keep.
Watch at your own pace
Short lessons — pause anytime, resume where you left off. No all-day commitment required.
How this course is different from a free checklist
A free checklist tells you what to include. This course explains why each preference matters.
Most birth plan templates hand you a list of checkboxes and send you on your way. But checking "delayed cord clamping" doesn't help if you don't know what that means, when it might not be possible, or how to bring it up with your provider.
This course walks through real scenarios — what if you're induced? What do you say when your provider suggests something you didn't plan for? These are the conversations the checklist doesn't prepare you for.
Taught by Shelbi Kohler, a certified birth doula who has sat in the delivery room with hundreds of families — not a generic content creator reading from a script.
This course is for you if
You downloaded a birth plan and stared at a blank page
You want to understand your options, not just check boxes
You're worried about being pressured into decisions you didn't choose
You want guidance you can revisit — not a one-time phone call
You've had a birth before and want to make different choices this time
Course curriculum
01 — About me and my preferences
How to fill in the "About Me" section so your care team sees you as a person, not a chart number. What to include in your flexibility statement. How to note trauma history, sensory needs, or religious preferences so they get read — not skipped.
02 — Labor and delivery
The section that confuses most first-time parents. We walk through monitoring, IV, movement, environment, pain management, induction, and augmentation — what each choice actually looks like in the room, what your provider typically recommends and why, and how to say "I'd like to understand the reasoning" without feeling confrontational.
03 — Pain management preferences
More than "epidural or unmedicated." We cover the full pain management ladder — from breathing techniques and position changes to IV meds and epidural placement — with honest context about timing, tradeoffs, and how to keep your options open at each stage.
04 — Post-delivery and newborn care
Skin-to-skin, cord clamping, golden hour, feeding, Vitamin K, Hep B, eye ointment, circumcision, rooming-in, newborn screenings. These decisions happen fast after delivery. We make sure you know what each one is, what your hospital's default is, and how to state your preference clearly in advance.
05 — Advocacy and consent phrases
The part most birth plans skip entirely — what to actually say when something unexpected comes up. "I need a minute to think," "What happens if we wait?," "Can you explain the reasoning?" These aren't confrontational. They're calm, clear, and effective. We practice them so they're ready when you need them.
06 — Plan B, Plan C, and flexibility language
Birth is unpredictable. That doesn't mean you shouldn't plan — it means your plan needs language for change. We help you write backup preferences for common scenario shifts (induction, C-section, extended monitoring) so you still have a voice even when things don't go as expected. See our induction birth plan and C-section birth plan pages for scenario-specific guidance.
Pricing
$47 one-time
No subscription. No upsell traps. Lifetime access to all modules.
Enroll in the birth plan courseDon't have the free plan yet? Download the free Joyful Birth Plan
Need personalized feedback? Book a Birth Plan Confidence Session
How it fits together
Three steps, one goal
Step 1 — Start free
Download the Joyful Birth Plan. It's the template. Fill out what you can. You don't need the course to start — but if you want to understand what you're checking and why, keep going.
Step 2 — Learn the why behind every choice
You're here. The Guided Birth Plan Walkthrough is the next step. Each lesson maps to a section of your plan, gives you context, and helps you fill it in with real understanding — not just hope. $47 one-time. Watch at your own pace.
Step 3 — Get personal support when you need it
If you have a complicated situation, a trauma history, or specific provider concerns that a course can't cover — book a Birth Plan Confidence Session. A certified birth doula reviews your completed plan with you live and role-plays the conversations you're most worried about. $250 per session. Limited spots.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the free birth plan first?
Yes. This course is built to match the Joyful Birth Plan section by section. Download the free PDF first, then start the course. You'll fill in your plan as you go.
How long is the course?
About 60 minutes total — broken into short lessons you can watch in one sitting or a few at a time. Most parents finish it in an evening or two.
Can I watch it again?
Yes — lifetime access. Revisit between appointments, review before a provider meeting, or watch again if your plan changes. It's yours to keep.
Is this medical advice?
No. This is birth planning education — context, explanations, and language for talking to your provider. Always discuss your specific medical situation with your OB, midwife, or care team.
What if I want personalized feedback on my birth plan?
The course gives you knowledge and language. If you want a certified birth doula to review your completed plan line by line and practice advocacy scenarios with you, book a Birth Plan Confidence Session — a 60–75 minute live Zoom call for $250.
Does this cover induction or C-section scenarios?
Yes. Module 6 covers flexibility language for when plans change — including induction, changed recommendations, and unexpected interventions. For deeper scenario-specific guidance, see our induction birth plan and C-section birth plan pages.
Can my partner watch too?
Absolutely. Partners who understand the plan are partners who can advocate for you in the moment. Watch together, discuss as you go, and leave with a shared understanding of what matters most.
How do I access it?
After enrollment, you'll get access to the course platform (Thrive Apprentice). Lessons are available immediately. Watch on any device, at your own pace, as many times as you want.
Ready to fill out your birth plan with a doula guiding you step by step?
$47 one-time · ~60 min of short videos · Lifetime access
Enroll in the birth plan courseDon't have the free plan yet? Download free birth plan
Need personal support? Book a Birth Plan Confidence Session