What If I Go Into Labor in a Snow Storm?

This is another explanatory post in the "Start Here" series to help you know the ins, outs, ups, and downs of doula care! Today we're talking "what ifs?" to help you feel confident in your birth worker.

So, let's get started!

Snowstorms won't keep me from your birth!

What if I go into labor in a snow storm?

Babies do not care if it's raining, snowing, or you're in the middle of a hurricane. If they're ready, they're ready! And I will be too! If it's the middle of a blizzard, you (if birthing somewhere other than your home) and I drive extra cautiously, leaving some extra time on the front end to help ensure we arrive where you want to be, when you want to be.

What if it's in the middle of the night?

You call me, we determine based on your birth plan if it's time to go to the hospital, birth center, call the midwives, etc. and we execute next steps! This is part of the job and I'm ready!

What if it's determined I need a c-section?

Cesarean sections are needed for lots of good and valid reasons. If you find yourself having to schedule a c-section, I am happy to attend your delivery (though I may not be allowed to be in the delivery room) still and help you settle postpartum. If you determine you do not need me during your scheduled c-section, we can re-negotiate your client contract and adjust fees as needed. If your cesarean is an emergency, I will stay through your surgery and help you adjust postpartum. There will no adjustment of fees if you have an emergency c-section.

Taco Tuesday's are NOT a reason to miss a birth.

What if it's on Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, your birthday, etc?

If you are my client, I am on 24/7 call for you beginning at 38 weeks, regardless of any standing holiday, birthdays, President's Day, the first day of school, New Years Eve, Tax Day, Black Friday, Sunday church service, Taco Tuesdays, and the like. I will be ready to shift into your labor and birth doula when you call.

What if I'm late third trimester and decide I need a doula?

There's no time like the present to hire a doula. If you have 30 weeks, ten weeks, or two weeks before your due date, I'll do everything I can to make you feel confident, safe, and empowered in your birth. It could mean a little less time for education and getting to know one another, but it won't change the quality of care!

What if I change providers during the middle of my pregnancy?

If you need to pivot and change care teams, location of birth, or any other pre-determined delivery detail, let's chat about it! This can feel like a really big deal and can take a lot of courage to do so. More than likely this will not change the look of how I can continue serving. If this change happens late in pregnancy, you may end up needing the stability of your doula even more to feel comfortable and confident with your changes!

What if I go into labor early?

Sometimes babies decide to make an appearance before 38 weeks gestation. Regardless if this happens because of some predetermined complication or spontaneously, I will do my best to readjust my schedule to support you. If preterm labor begins spontaneously, please contact your care provider first to determine your next steps!

What if my labor happens extremely quickly?

This can be tricky! But this is also why we discuss in our consults how you call me when you believe your labor is beginning so I can prepare to jump in my car and meet you the moment you're feeling like you're needing doula support, even if you have precipitous labor.

What if my labor is extremely long?

Labor can look a million different ways. One variation of normal is a labor that takes a day or more. Though I'll do everything in my power to help you work through a long labor, giving you the tools to move your body to help your baby engage properly, address fears which may be holding your labor up, and provide comfort and relaxation tools, sometimes labor run it's own, long, inevitable course. In most labors, I will begin attending you once you are in active labor with a strong, steady contraction pattern. However, I will not refuse to come sooner if you're need extra early labor support. If I have provided 12 hours of continuous care for you and you still have not had your baby, I will assess if it's time for me to call a back up doula or offer virtual support for a time. Though you are my client, I do reserve the right to step back, regroup, attend to my own family, and catch some zzzz's.

Sickness happens, and we'll work through it!

What if I'm sick?

If you're sick, it most likely won't change the course of your care one bit. In fact, if you've got the flu, cold, or some other common virus, good chance you'll be needing extra care any way. If your illness is determined to be much more serious, we'll make a care plan together with your birth provider and adjust any costs as needed.

What if you're sick?

If I happen to be sick with a sniffle or on the back end of a cold, my care will be provided at your discretion. If I'm actively ill, I will do everything in my power to provide you with a competent back up doula who I trust to provide similar services as my own. This does not affect our agreed upon fees, unless I cannot engage a back up doula to cover our predetermined services.

What if I can't get ahold of you?

Lucky for you, all my clients get a back up number to call if I'm not answering my phone (which at the time of writing this has yet to actually happen). I'll give you this number to save when you've arrived at the 38 week mark of your gestation.

What if my birth doesn't go like I planned?

This can be a tough thing to overcome. You plan for one thing, your baby and body plan for another, and your birth story ends up feeling like a tricky one to integrate. I completely understand how overwhelming, scary, and disappointing that can feel. I will do what I can to help you process and understand what happened, and ensure you have the resources you may need to continue overcoming a challenging or unexpected birth.

What if an Act of God happens?

If my house burns down, my car explodes, my hands stop working, a tornado is continuously blocking the road to your care center, or robots have risen up and taken us all as prisoners, I do have a clause in our agreement about what happens next. You have the option to re-negotiate your care package adding on postpartum visits, or I can reimburse you for services not rendered.

But could an AI takeover look this cute?

What if I go into labor and decide I no longer need you?

If you feel well supported and you no longer need care, I absolutely respect that! However, you will be responsible for the full payment amount as agreed upon because I have been on call for you and provided services throughout your pregnancy.

What if I decided during my pregnancy I no longer need doula care?

Oh friend, how I'll be sad to see you go! But if you're feeling supported, or maybe you've decided I'm just not your vibe, I'll fully respect that decision. However, I reserve the right to keep your 50% down payment for services rendered and holding your date in my calendar.

What if I can't make it to the hospital or birth center?

Though it happens rarely, sometimes baby's come quicker than expected and labor patterns change unexpectedly. I am not medically trained, but if you have already called me and I am with you, I will support you and help you stay calm in whatever way I can.

What if we don't have care for our kids during birth?

This is something we'll discuss during your prenatal care. If you would like to have your kids involved in your birth, I recommend having a caretaker available for the kids so you and your partner can stay focused on labor and delivery. If you find yourself in a situation where your previously planned care falls through, I will step in and help any way I can. This may ultimately mean I won't be able to fully focus on you, but I will split my attention the best I can!

What if I'm out of town on vacation when I go into labor?

If the stars align and your baby decides it's time to come when you're out of town, ultimately you'll need to decide what to do next. Hopefully you'll have chatted with your care provider and made a plan with them prior to leaving. Will you travel home for birth? Will you birth in the city you're currently residing in? I will do my best to meet you if the distance is reasonable, especially if we have discussed your travel plans prior to leaving. If you're multiple hours away, the best option most likely will be to pivot to virtual care.

If this is where you're vacationing late term, consider my bags packed. I wouldn't want you to accidentally feel unsupported at the beach! ;)

What if I feel supported during birth, but only need postpartum services?

Cool! I'm here for it! I provide a la carte services and would be happy to set you up with some postpartum visits! Same thing if you're looking to take labor and delivery or breastfeeding classes.

What if we loved your care at our birth??!

Awe, that's my aim for you and I'm so glad to hear it! If you loved it, consider telling your friends all about it, hiring me back for future births, and leaving me a stellar review here! It's a genuine honor to serve your family!

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There can be a lot of what if's in pregnancy. If I missed something or haven't adequately provided an answer to the questions above, please comment, or contact me to set up a consult today! I'd be happy to thoroughly answer all your questions and determine if my services will fit your birth needs.