When to Call the Doula

When I am hired to support someone as their doula, one of the most common questions that I get is when to call me once they are in labor. My answer to this question, along with many other questions regarding someone’s decisions during labor, is that it depends on their personal preferences and needs in that moment. Even within what appears to be a simple question, there is nuance and various factors to consider to decide when to call me to come support you.

My simplest answer is that you know when you need support. So, I can meet you at your home to support you during early labor and onward, if that is when you feel like you need support. I can meet you at the hospital after you have labored at home during early labor, if that is when you feel like you need support. I can meet you at the hospital once you’re already there and starting to push, if that is when you feel like you need support. I can meet you at your home once you start filling up your birth pool for your home birth, if that is when you feel like you need support.

I don’t require you to have reached a certain point in your labor or a specific dilation before I will come to provide support. Why? Because you know when you need support. If you called me during early labor because you were struggling to find a rhythm to manage contractions, that is a vital time for you to know that you’re supported, not dismissed. Support at the beginning of your labor (if needed) is so instrumental because it can set up the trajectory for the rest of your labor. Doing the work early to get into a good rhythm and headspace can make all the difference as you get further into labor. As your doula, I am there to support you and the process of birth, not hinder it.

Let me say it again, you know when you need support. Throughout your pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum, I will be encouraging you to lean into your intuition and make decisions that are best for you and your family. No one else, including me, can make these decisions for you, because you are the only person who knows what is best for you. Your birth team is there to help provide information, consider options, and provide support, but it is ultimately up to you to make the final decisions. So, even regarding when to call me to come support you, that is up to you.