Secret Life of a Doula on Call

Secret Life of a Doula on Call

Two weeks before my clients EDD and two weeks after the EDD I am on call. Being on call means that I need to be ready go to the birth ASAP. Being on call is the hardest thing about being a birth doula, yet it is also the best thing about being a doula. Waiting for baby is an exciting time for me. I have spent time with the couple got to know them and became connected with them at their prenatal visits, I have given them information and resources and now it’s time for baby to come. I can watch them. Every day I wonder if today is going to be the day and every night before I go to bed I wonder if I will get the call tonight.

It’s important for me to make sure that the car is full of gas at all times. I cannot make any plans that takes me far from home. I stay close to home in those weeks in order to get to the client in a timely manner. I try not to schedule appointments for myself during this time. When I am at an appointment I do turn the volume down, however I look at my phone constantly to make sure I didn’t miss the call. It’s also important that I keep my phone fully charged.  My mind set is on the birth of a baby. That comes before anything else going on in my life.

When I am on call I have my doula bag packed and ready to go. Every time I get into my car the bag goes with me, just in case. Sometimes I put it in the trunk of my car and it stays there until I’m on my way to the birth.  I also have a smaller bag that I keep by my purse in it I have snacks and the water that I may need during the birth. If there is a family event to attend, I drive my car and my husband will drive his, just in case. My family knows that if I’m not at a birthday party or if I miss a Holiday, I’m at a birth.

Once when I was assisting a midwife we received a call that the mother was in early labor. Her home was 50 miles away from my home. I was ready to go, I got into my car and started the trip. I was going through a town that I was familiar with (so I thought). I took the short cut in which in a few minutes I became unfamiliar with my surroundings. I was lost. Well, I thought, it’s her first baby so labor will go on for a time. The midwife started sending me texts “WHERE ARE YOU”. One of my rules I have is not to text when I’m driving. I couldn’t pull over because that would take time. Eventually I found my way to the freeway I needed to be on. When I was around 8 miles from my exit low and behold my phone’s GPS froze up and before I knew it I was 10 miles past my exit. I exited the freeway, turned around to get back on the freeway going the right direction. Again getting a text “WHERE ARE YOU”. Finally I pulled in the client’s driveway, I ran into the house (as quietly as I could). I went upstairs where the mother was laboring and there she was sitting on the bed holding her baby. Needless to say the midwife was very upset with me. She stayed professional and didn’t say anything right then, but she gave the look that I knew I was in trouble. I learned a very good lesson that night. I stay on the freeway now, I don’t take short cuts anymore, and I bought a new phone with voice texting.

It’s very important for every doula to have a backup doula. This is a doula that can attend the client’s birth when I cannot attend. This has never happened, however, I do have a backup doula, just in case. Before hiring my back up doula I made sure that she has the same philosophy of birth as I do. It’s very important that the expectant couple to get the same support as I would have given them. At the first prenatal appointment I have a confidentiality form that I have them sign so that I can give the backup doula information she needs to know to give the couple the respect they need and want. I give them her website address and go over her credentials with them. I tell them a little about her and ask if they would like to meet her. It’s a good idea to make sure she will be the right fit for them.

 After the first prenatal I call my backup and let her know the EDD and if it works for her. As it gets close to the birth and I think I may not be able to attend I give the backup doula only information that is needed for her to support the couple and the information to keep her safe. I have a close relationship with my backup. I trust her to keep things I’ve told her confidential. Like I said, I have never needed to use my backup doula, however it is nice to have her and to know that my clients will get the best care from her.