Home birth: when did you call your midwife?

[JollyMarie79]

Hi ladies
I'm just conscious I don't want to have a midwife at home waiting around if nothing much is happening. At what point did you phone the midwife to come over. Do they assess you on the phone first or assess you physically?
TIA x

I get the impression they can tell a certain amount by talking to you on the phone. It's worth phoning to warn them anyway I think. If they do come over and there's nothing happening, they will probably leave and pop back later.

I phoned mine when I was having contractions regularly, can't remember exact timmings, but called Community midwives they assessed on the phone and then asked me to call back once they'd got strong enough not to talk through. They don't mind coming and checking on you though, especially if it's daytime!

My husband kept her updated as the contractions got closer together. When they had been about 5 minutes apart for an hour she came. And I was 5cm when she got here so obviously didn't call too early!

I phoned mine initially because my waters broke. After about 16 hours I called her back to let her know how things were going. Contractions were regular but bearable at that stage. She said I seemed to be coping and I agreed, so I said I'd call back later. Called back maybe 4 hours after that and said things were a lot more intense. She said she'd come but wasn't there within an hour so I got my DP to call her back (I wasn't really able to talk any more) and ask her to please come quickly!

I was 7cm on arrival but the baby was another 8 hours coming.

I think it's fine to call at any time just for some advice, and it lets the team know they'll probably be needed that day/night.

I called when my waters broke and she was there within about half an hour. Baby was born 2 hours later.

Called her in the morning (about 9am) as I had a show and was having mild contractions , she popped over (5 minutes away) and did a quick check then went back to base to start paperwork/leave me to have a bath/tell another midwife that they'd be needed soon etc.
Came back at 1pm and decided to stay/phone for the other midwife, DS2 born at 4.30pm!

I called early, just to let them know things had started and she would likely be needed. Even though I said I was fine and did not need her to come out ( it was around midnight) she insisted and after examining me called out her friend to join her ("third babies can come quickly") . They then sat around drinking tea and gossiping loudly (despite us repeatedly asking them to keep their voices down as we didn't want our toddler and older child disturbed until it was unavoidable) while I laboured away quietly and fairly painlessly wishing I'd never called. Hubby and I went back to bed but I couldn't get much sleep cos I could hear them yakking downstairs. I was so relieved when the shift changed in the morning. I think their presence made everything grind to a halt. Once they had gone, and the kids had been picked up by GPs as planned, things got going properly. It was a lovely home birth in the end! (Just before lunchtime)
So my advice would be don't call early 'just to let them know' but it looks like quite a few people have found that to be helpful so I guess you need to decide for yourself. Wishing you the very best I hope it goes well.

I had been told to wait until active labour (contractions 3 in 10) or waters going with DD2. We did that, and she ended up being born before she got there.

This time, I have been told to call them as soon as I feel I'm in enough pain to want them to come out, even if they then go away again. I have a history of irregular contractions and erratic labours though, so we're all a bit nervous!

I'd got to the point that I wanted to get into the birth pool but didn't want to get in until I should so I didn't slow things down. The MW arrived and said that she thought I was still in very early labour because I was breathing through the contractions quietly (I don't do screaming in labour, just deep breathing), so she'd go and we could call her again later once things really got going. It took a while to persuade her to examine me - and I was 7cm. She stayed and delivered my DS a few hours later!

I called when contractions started, baby arrived 16 minutes later. Midwife arrived about 40 minutes after baby! This was not completely unexpected- 4th baby, 3 other quick labours.

I called them at midnight after I'd had a show and some mild pain to let them know. My first baby was born after a 4 hour labour so knew this would be quick. Called again about 1.45 as the contractions started to ramp up. They arrived 40 minutes later and DS was born 40 mins after that. I'm really glad I pre-warned them that I'd be quick as two midwives just came straight round together.

It is nice to call when you feel things have started. They can chat to you on the phone, with my first they asked if I wanted them to come over and check me or if I was happy to have them call back in a couple of hours (with the others they knew I laboured fast so they got the hell over here ). But then even if nothing much is happening they know that you have started and can expect to hear from you and be ready for you. They can come and see you and then go away again, they don't have to hang around once there.

I called my mw when they were about five mins apart and lasting about a minute. She popped round, stayed with me for s bit to see how I was getting on, then went off to finish her round (one last person to see who lived close by). Told me to ring her if I need her whilst she was out.

All very laid back.

I think you'll know when the time is right abs like others have said, they'll do a lot of the initial assessment over the phone.

my birth was an unplanned homebirth, basically i was labouring at home with a view to going into hospital when 'ready'. i telephoned the labour ward to ward them they were getting serious and they sent someone to check on me at home to prevent me getting to the hospital too early and having to send me home.

both the midwife and myself were v surprised when i was found to be 10cm! cue emergency delivery kit from midwife's car and baby born shortly afterwards.

im having a planned homebirth with baby no.3 but not sure when to call either!! i never had strong regular contractions so god knows how im going to know when i actually need the midwife. i dont want her here too early getting in the way!