Instructions for Parents

Congratulations on your journey to parenthood. This season can be both exciting and overwhelming — full of new information, decisions, and possibilities.

This set of 61 cards is designed to support you through it all. Each card offers information, prompts, and visuals to help you learn, reflect, and have meaningful conversations as you prepare for labor and birth. Our goal is to help you feel more confident, informed, and connected to your options — so you can make decisions that align with your needs, preferences, and unique situation.

Get Comfortable: Find a space where you feel relaxed and able to focus. You might want to have a notebook or your phone nearby to capture thoughts, questions, or ideas as they come up. You can explore these cards on your own, with a partner or support person, or alongside a birth worker such as a doula or childbirth educator.

‍Start with the Topic Intro Cards: The deck is organized into six color-coded topics: Care Providers, Birth Spaces, Support Team, Comfort Measures, Interventions During Labor, and Interventions After Birth.

Begin by reading each topic’s introduction card. These provide a helpful overview and set the foundation for the cards that follow.

‍Pick a Topic and a Card: Choose a topic that feels most relevant or interesting to you. From that category, select a card and read it aloud. Each card focuses on a specific part of the birth experience and includes both educational context and an illustration on the reverse side to support visual learning.

‍Discuss and Reflect: Take time to talk through what you’ve read. Use the prompts on the cards — along with the discussion guide cards in each section — to explore your preferences, questions, and feelings. There are no right or wrong answers here. This process is about understanding what matters most to you.

Take Notes: If something stands out, write it down. These notes can be helpful when speaking with your care provider, working with a doula or educator, or creating your birth preferences. They can also serve as a grounding reference point as decisions come up during pregnancy and labor.

‍Repeat and Explore: Move through the deck at your own pace. You can go in order, jump between topics, or revisit cards as your thoughts and needs evolve. Over time, you’ll build a deeper understanding of your options and what feels right for you.

Create Your Birth Plan: Once you’ve gone through the cards and had meaningful discussions, use what you’ve gathered to create a birth plan that reflects your wishes, values, and preferences. Keep in mind that birth plans are less about controlling what will happen, and more about preparing for what may come — which we can’t fully control, and that’s okay.

Feel free to use one of our five birth preference templates.

Keep the Kit Handy: Keep your Labor + Birth Prep Kit nearby throughout your pregnancy, and consider packing it in your birth bag as a reference during labor and for conversations with your healthcare team.

This card deck is designed to support empowerment and informed decision-making alongside care from your healthcare provider. Every pregnancy and birth experience is unique, and your choices should reflect what’s best for you, your baby, and your family.

We hope this kit helps you feel confident, prepared, and ready to embrace this meaningful season in your life.

Wishing you a healthy and joyful pregnancy and a beautiful birth experience, too!
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Instructions for professionals

Thank you for the essential role you play in supporting expectant parents through the journey of pregnancy, labor, and birth.

The purpose of this set of 61 cards is to build on and enhance the education and support you already provide. Use these cards to add a visual and interactive element to your work, open meaningful and productive conversations with your clients, and support them in making informed decisions about the many aspects of labor and birth.

Get to Know the Cards: Before introducing the kit to your clients, take some time to familiarize yourself with its contents. Review the cards, questions, and discussion guides so you feel comfortable navigating the material and leading thoughtful, productive conversations.

‍Client-Centered Approach: Keep in mind that each client’s needs, preferences, and experiences are unique. Use the kit as a flexible tool to support their specific concerns, interests, and learning style.

‍Introduce the Deck: During prenatal appointments or sessions, introduce the card deck to your clients. Frame it as a resource for informed decision-making, shared understanding, and open communication.

‍Card Selection: Start by selecting cards that align with your client’s stage of pregnancy or their current questions and interests. You may choose to begin with a category that feels most relevant or resonant for them.

‍Talk it Through: As cards are chosen, guide your clients through the information and discussion prompts. Encourage open dialogue and create space for them to share their thoughts, concerns, and preferences.

Respect Choices: Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers. Your role is to provide information, context, and support — while honoring your client’s autonomy in decision-making.

‍Document Preferences: Take notes during your discussions to capture your client’s preferences, questions, and decisions. This can help support continuity of care and provide a helpful reference as you move closer to labor and birth.

‍Support Birth Plan Creation: Use the insights gathered from your conversations to support your client in creating a birth plan that reflects their values, priorities, and preferences.

‍Collect Feedback: Invite your clients to share feedback about their experience using the kit with you.This can help you refine your approach and continue strengthening the support you provide.

We hope that the Labor + Birth Prep Kit becomes a meaningful and enjoyable addition to your practice. While these are our suggested ways of using the deck, we encourage you to adapt it in a way that aligns with your style, workflow, and the needs of your clients.

Ultimately, our goal is to support a more confident, engaging, and empowered experience — for both you and the families you serve.