How2Mom clients
When to call your doula
Call us when you think you are in labor, or when the first signs begin, even if you do not need us yet.
You are not bothering us and it is never too early. Telling us things have started is what lets us clear the decks, talk it through with you, and be ready when you do need us.
Reach out when any of these start
Any one of them is reason enough. You do not need several, and you do not need to be sure.
- Your water breaking
- Losing your mucus plug
- Bloody show
- Dilation or effacement
- Mild or infrequent contractionsOften called Braxton Hicks
- Irregular pre-labor contractionsSlightly more intense, or uncomfortable
- Pressure low in your abdomen or backOften described as intense menstrual cramping
- An induction being scheduled or started
Also tell us about
These are not labor, but they change what we are planning for, so we want to know.
- Any extra visit to your provider outside your usual schedule
- Being admitted to the hospital, for any reason
- Any non-routine medical testing
- Any change to your birth plan, including your GBS results
How to reach us
Your doula is usually your first point of contact, even before your physician or midwife. Use your judgment on which way to get hold of us.
Text or call
Anything urgent, or anything where you need an answer now. Middle of the night included. That is what the phone is for.
Email or text
Anything that can wait, or a question you are just turning over and do not need answered in the next hour.
When to ask us to come
As things intensify and you can no longer talk or breathe through contractions, you will probably hit a grey area where you are not sure what to do, or you just feel like you need someone with you. That feeling counts.
- Loud vocalizing, moaning, primal groans
- Less talking, more inward focus, eyes closed
- Intense sensations
- Pressure waves every 4 to 5 minutes for the last two hours
- Vomiting
- You wanting your doula there
- Emotional blocks, or doubt creeping in
- Thinking about heading to your place of birth
- Pain medication being discussed or given
You ask, and we answer one of three ways.
- We talk it through and agree it is still early, and we check in again soon.
- We offer something to try, and reassess in an hour.
- We come to you, usually within about an hour.
Why we do it this way. So you can ask for what you need and make real decisions during your own birth. So the attention stays on you and what your intuition is telling you. So you open the door when you are ready for your birth team, and not before. And so you get the quiet at the start to nap, rest, eat well and be with your partner.
A few honest things
It may take us one to two hours to reach you from the moment you ask. Factor that in rather than waiting until you are desperate.
Later is often better, but not always. Birth can go on for days, and the longer you wait to bring us in, the fresher we are for the hardest part. We are not saying that to hold you off or because we do not trust you. We want your birth team at full strength all the way through pushing. We also do not want you waiting too long if you really need us.
If you are unsure whether it is time, ask. That is exactly what we are here for, and we are happy to talk through the options and make a plan together. Trust your intuition and tell us what you need.
Want to know what is actually happening in each phase? Signs and phases of labor
This is a guide for a typical unmedicated birth, and there are situations where we will deviate from it. It is general education, not medical advice, and it does not replace care from your provider.