May the Journey be Yours
There is No One Way: The Birth Map helps you find Your Way
What is a birth map?
A Birth Map considers the various pathways we may encounter, facilitating communication with our care providers and helping us make confident decisions. The process of creating a Birth Map allows you to understand the possible pathways and the circumstances that might require them. As birth unfolds, we can then make the best decisions possible based on the circumstances.
“The term Birth Map reflects commonly used language, such as navigating, pathways, and comparisons to journeys, giving a sense of flexibility without diminishing agency by providing structure and consistency to preparations.”
Bell, C. H., Dahlen, H. G., & Davis, D. (2023). Finding a way forward for the birth plan and maternal decision making: A discussion paper. Midwifery, 126, 103806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103806
How to create a birth map?
This website is designed to help you make sense of your options and determine what is best for you in various circumstances.
You can flip through the book, The Birth Map, and play The Game of Birth in the free member access. These resources give you an overview of possibilities, and help you to consider them in advance. You will discover the questions to help you discuss your options with your care providers, and build an understanding of them and what they can offer.
History of The Birth Map
The term ‘birth map’ was coined by Catherine Bell in 2014, to better describe the process she was using for her birth preparation. She found that using the term ‘plan’ was problematic, and the alternatives offered, such as ‘wishes’ and ‘preferences, were diminishing her intent. In preparing for her 4th birth, in 2016, she actively used the term and the process she had devised to prepare. She found that communication was easier and her decision making more confident. Her care provider was more open to discussing her needs, and she was able to receive information specific to her circumstances. In 2018 she published the her book, The Birth Map, to help others to use this process. The Game of Birth was first published in 2021 as a tabletop game and a simple online ‘adventure’. Catherine has been training Birth Cartographers since 2021.
In 2025 she completed the study, evaluating the resource across different models of care in Australia.
Future of The Birth Map
The online game is being developed into a more sophisticated experience, combining the book content with the game format. The vision is for the concept to be embedded into the system, from undergraduate level to maternity services.
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