When To Call/Text Your Doula
So…
your due date is approaching or has passed, your bags are packed, and you know it’ll be any day now that you welcome your sweet, little one into the world!
You’re probably asking yourself how you’ll know when labor has truly begun. What signs should you be watching for? And when should you call or text your doula(s)? When should you call your midwife/OB?
We’ve written this post for you to refer back to so you’ll know what next steps to take!
Note: If at any point in your pregnancy you feel concerned by anything physical, first call your care provider immediately. Especially if you are experiencing any signs of labor before 37 weeks gestation!
You experience pre-term labor:
If you begin to experience contractions or heavy cramping, or your water breaks before you are full-term (before 37 weeks pregnancy), you should contact your care provider (OB or midwife) first. Afterwards, reach out to update us, too. We are available to you no matter when your labor occurs. If you and your care provider decide that you need to go to the hospital due to signs of pre-term labor, please let us know. If it’s during the day, you can text your doula group text. If we don’t respond within 15 minutes, then please call us. If this happens during the night (from 10pm-7am), then call us.
If you are experiencing signs of labor beginning (or impending):
• You’re extra crampy
• You’re experiencing loose bowels, or a lower backache
• Seeing bloody show or signs of losing your mucus plug
• Increase in vaginal discharge and/or vaginal pressure
• You’re experiencing contractions 10-20 minutes apart
• You’re just feeling “off”
We like to know about any of the signs above so we can guide you through the labor process. Even if your labor hasn’t truly begun yet, any of the things above can be a sign that it might be starting soon. Feel free to text us with this information in your doula group text that we started when you hired us. You are welcome to text us during the day and during the night anytime, but if you ever NEED us, please make sure to call in the middle of the night (from the hours of 10pm-7am). We may not see a text until the morning, so if it’s a minor update, you’re welcome to text that anytime.
When you’re in early labor, the most important thing you can do is to ignore it for as long as possible. Our main focus for you during early labor is to rest as much as possible - we want you to conserve as much energy as you can for when active labor arrives. It’s much harder to rest during active labor. Pain is not your enemy during labor, but exhaustion can be. We’ll give you suggestions during this time of other things you can do, like: take a walk, take a bath or shower, stay nourished and hydrated, etc.
If your water breaks:
Unlike the movies and TV shows, your water breaking as the first sign of labor isn’t actually common (only in about 15% of pregnancies does this happen). But if it does, we want to know! When/if your water breaks, you can text us in your doula group text and someone will respond soon. If someone doesn’t respond within 15 minutes, please call us! If it’s at night (from 10pm-7am), then call us. We will be able to talk you through the next steps during the day or not. Your care provider will want to know when/if your water breaks, too. Most midwives are very comfortable with you staying home with your water broken for a while in the hopes that labor will begin within the next few hours. Some OBs will want you to come to the hospital if your water breaks first. There are many variables to consider for your next steps, and we can help you navigate those.
You decide it’s time to go to the hospital or birth center:
If you’ve been laboring at home during the early stages of labor, then we’ll have been in close contact with you during this time. Once you think it’s time to go to the hospital, or if you are ready for doula support at home or at the hospital or birth center, then please text us. If we don’t respond within 15 minutes, then please call us. If it’s during the night (10pm-7am), call us. We will ask questions to make sure it’s time for us to join you and we will remind you of some last minute things to consider before heading to your birth location.
Which doula should you call?
During your pregnancy, you’ve had the opportunity to meet both doulas on call for you, and have text and phone communication with them, too. You are always welcome to ask us who is currently on call for you at any time. If your labor process begins and you don’t know, please text your doula group text first. If someone doesn't respond within 15 minutes, please call one of the doulas. If that doula doesn’t answer, please call the other. One of your on-call doulas will always answer. We always answer your call during the night, but if for some reason we didn’t pick up immediately, please call again. We always begin a doula group text with you when you hire us. We recommend saving all of the numbers in your doula group text so that you have them easily accessible.
As a reminder, here’s when to text your doulas:
• If you have non-urgent updates (like updates from prenatal appointments with your care provider)
• If you have non-urgent questions about resources, education, or anything we can help you with through your pregnancy or birth
• If you'd like to set up a time to talk on the phone about a non-urgent issue
• If you're having signs of labor during the day (7am-10pm) and want to give us a heads up or you'd like feedback on what you are experiencing (if we do not respond to your text about this within 15 minutes, always call us)
• If it's at night and you are having some signs of early labor and want to let us know but you don't need doula support yet (if you would like feedback or want to know what to do next, then call us at night from 10pm-7am since we don't always see texts during the night)
As a reminder, here’s when to call your doulas:
• If your water breaks, or you think it’s starting to trickle
• If you are trying to figure out what to do next during the current stage of labor
• If you are trying to decide if you should call your care provider
• If you are trying to figure out if it is time to go to the hospital or birth center
• If you are experiencing preterm labor and are going to the hospital
• If you just feel like you need to talk to us for any reason (like if you have a burning question)
We like to emphasize again that it's so important to CALL at night if you want to speak with us. We don't always hear texts at night, so texting from 10pm-7am is not a good way to contact us unless you'd like to send us an update that isn't urgent.
If you are ever conflicted about something that isn’t on this list, it’s always worth calling or texting us about it. We LOVE communication with our clients and we want to hear from you. We love updates during your pregnancy and early labor, and we’d rather be ‘in the know’ about it all.
We’re looking forward to your birth!