Resources
When to Call Your Midwife – Labour!
Pomegranate Phone Service: 604-255-5556
Labour
Please page us day or night if you think you are in labor and have:
- Regular, strong contractions:
FIRST BABY: 3-2-1 Rule = consistent contractions every 3 minutes for over 2 hours that are over 1 minute long
SECOND or more BABY: 5-1-1 Rule = contractions every 5 minutes for 1 hour that are 1 minute long
AND:
- Not reached 37 weeks gestation
- Broken your water and you are GBS positive
- Broken your water and the water has a strong odor OR is any color other than clear OR baby isn’t moving normally
- Constant abdominal pain that does not go away
- Large amount of bleeding, more than mucousy “show”
- Persistent and severe mid-back pain
- A fever > 38oC (if you feel hot or shivery, take your temperature)
- An outbreak of blisters anywhere around your genitals
- Blurry vision, double vision or spots before your eyes
- Concerns about fetal movement (less than 10 movements in 2 hours)
Heads-up calls
DAY (between 9 am and 9 pm): If you suspect you may be in labor and/or your water has broken, page the midwife on call. A heads-up call can help us to arrange our day so that we will be available when you need us later.
NIGHT (between 9 pm and 9 am): If you do not need a midwife immediately, please wait until morning. We appreciate our chances to sleep through the night. But if you know you are in active labor and need a midwife now, please call!
When to call 911
- If your water has broken and you feel something hanging in your vagina (then get in a knees & chest position on the floor)
- If the birth is suddenly imminent and the midwife is not going to make it in the next few minutes
AFTER you call 911, call your midwife IMMEDIATELY.