When to Call Midwife in Labor

⏳ When to Call Your Midwife (or Go In): A Real Talk Guide to Timing Labor Right

If you’ve been told to follow the 5-1-1 rule (contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute, for at least 1 hour), you’re not alone.

But here’s the truth: for most first-time vaginal births, that rule is usually way too early. And for people who’ve birthed before—especially those with fast labors—it might already be too late.

Labor doesn’t always follow a textbook pattern. So how do you know when it’s actually time to call your midwife, go to the birth center, or head to the hospital?

Let’s break it down.

🧡 Birth Timing Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Every body—and every birth—is unique. Some labors start with strong, spaced-out contractions. Others begin with frequent, mild ones. What matters most is how the labor feels, how you’re coping, and what your body and baby are telling you.

Here are a few real-life scenarios I’ve seen:

• Every 2–3 minutes, but only 30–45 seconds long, and you can talk through them?
  Probably still early labor—even if they’re close together.

• Every 6–8 minutes, but you’re moaning, can’t speak, and need to stop everything during a wave?
  That’s active labor, even if they’re spaced out.

So, instead of using a stopwatch alone, pay attention to:

• The intensity of the surges

• How you feel emotionally

• Whether you can rest, eat, or talk during them

🏡 If You’re Planning a Homebirth or Birth Center Birth

Stay in regular contact with your midwife. You’ll check in early and then again when things shift. You don’t need to call at the very first signs of labor or your bloody show—especially in the middle of the night.

Unless something feels urgent, it’s okay to wait until morning to connect—so you, your partner, and your team can rest for the journey ahead.

When to Call:

• You feel like things are picking up steadily over time

• You’re feeling emotional, intense, vocal

• You’ve had a previous fast labor

• You feel pushy or like you have to poop

• Water breaks and fluid is green/brown

• You notice less baby movement even after a snack, juice, or some rest

• You’re just not sure and need to talk it out

Your midwife knows you and your history. Often, after just a short phone call, I can tell exactly where a mama is in labor.

🏥 If You’re Planning an Unmedicated Hospital Birth

Unless you’ve had a precipitous birth before (start to baby in under 3 hours), your best bet is to stay home as long as possible in healthy labor—especially if everything is normal and baby is moving as usual.

Why?

Because hospitals are great at managing emergencies—but not so great at supporting undisturbed physiological birth. Their priority is quick, efficient delivery. And that can trigger the cascade of interventions: early admission → more monitoring → less freedom → higher risk of things you may not want.

You labor best when:

• You’re undisturbed

• You feel safe and private

• You can move, eat, vocalize, and ride the waves your own way

If you're coping well, let things unfold at home where your oxytocin can flow.

🌙 What to Do at Night in Early Labor

If you’re in early labor at night:

• Keep the lights off

• Breathe and rest between contractions

• Try to sleep or doze, even for 10–15 minutes at a time

You’ll need your energy later. So will your partner. You’ll be in touch with your midwife when the time is right.

🔔 A More Useful Gauge for Active Labor

Especially for first-time vaginal birthers, look for:

• Contractions every 3–4 minutes

• Lasting 60–90 seconds

• For at least an hour

• You can’t talk through them, you’re moaning, roaring, moving instinctively

And most importantly: They’re getting longer, stronger, and closer together.

If you’re not sure—it’s always okay to call your doula or midwife and talk it through.

👶🏽 If You’ve Given Birth Before

The focus shifts more toward intensity and emotional cues than just timing.

Some mamas have on-and-off early labor for days or weeks, but once things pick up—they can go fast. If you’ve had quick births before, stay in close contact. I often prefer to get there early and wait nearby than risk a car or bathroom baby.

🚗 Don’t Forget the Practical Stuff

Always consider:

• How far away you are

• Traffic and parking

• Time of day or night

• Snow, storms, or anything that might delay travel

Sometimes arriving “too early” is better than rushing—or not making it at all.

🧠 Trust Your Gut, Stay in Contact

You don’t need to overthink this. Stay in contact with your midwife or birth team, and trust that together, you’ll know when it’s time to go or have them come to you.

Call if:

• You’re worried

• Something feels off

• You feel pushy

• Baby isn’t moving normally

• You just need reassurance

We’re here for all of that.

💪 You’ve Got This

No matter where or how you give birth, when you understand how labor works—and what your body really needs—you can rock your birth.

You don’t need to follow outdated formulas.
You don’t need to rush into the hospital too soon.
You do need rest, trust, a supportive team, and the freedom to birth your way.

📘 Want to go deeper?
I dive into all of this—and so much more—in my Online “Love Your Birth” Comprehensive Prep Course, where you’ll learn how to prepare, cope, advocate, and thrive during your birth journey.

Image by Megan Hancock Photography

Don’t forget to check out my LOVE YOUR BIRTH Online Childbirth Education Course! With 10 educational and empowering videos, and many additional bonus materials, it is everything you need to prepare yourself for the birth YOU want, to feel confident and empowered for however your birth unfolds, and not only ROCK, but also LOVE your journey. I have a whole section on what to do if you have a precipitous labor and birth that occurs before your provider arrives or before you get to your birth setting. The section is devoted to you and to your partner about this topic in much more depth, so that you are both prepared for the most exciting adventure of a lifetime. Learn more here.

In adjunct to my course, get my Natural Birth Secrets book second edition - your best childbearing reference for the entire journey to having a baby…..from holistic modalities to common discomforts to in depth discussions on hot topics.

Precipitous or Rapid Birth

What is precipitous birth?

Precipitous birth is medically defined as a birth that occurs in three hours or less— from the onset of regular labor pattern to baby being born. Sometimes, though, it can happen much more quickly than that — two hours, one hour, even 30 minutes! It tends to happen more often in second and subsequent births, but it can happen to a first-time mama too! A mama can also be in earlier stages of labor but rapidly progress to later stages and pushing.

Is it dangerous?

There are some potential risks, which is why it is important to get help; but in the vast majority of cases, the outcome for mom and baby is good. Normal, natural births are not considered emergencies. Precipitous birth is a variation of normal and natural, it’s just crunched into a smaller time frame than usual!

What do I do if it happens to me?

First and foremost, stay calm! There is no need to panic. Take a deep breath and feel yourself grounded on the surface you are on. Remember your body knew how to grow your baby, it knows how to give birth, and your baby knows how to be born. Connect to the divine, to the spirit of your own understanding, and know you and your baby are guided and protected. It never hurts to say a prayer for the wellbeing of you both. You can act more effectively when calm and it is ideal to bring baby into an environment that is peaceful and gentle. If you were planning to go to a hospital or birth center, but you are feeling like you’re ready to push, don’t get in the car. It is safer to have the baby at home than on the side of the road. Instead, find a comfortable spot to labor in and have your partner call 911, and then call your care provider. Ask your provider to stay on the phone until help arrives. If you were planning a home birth but haven’t called the midwife yet, call your midwife, and keep her on the phone or Facetime until she arrives. Then find your comfortable spot, and ask your partner to put water proof padding under you, such as a flannel backed table cloth, comfortable flannel side up, or even a shower curtain, with Chux pads or cloth versions of them on top.  Remove your pants and underwear. Your care provider will hopefully stay on the phone with you and guide you as you birth your baby. Have your partner gather clean blankets and towels for the baby.

Are precipitous labor sensations much different than those of a longer labor?

This is subjective, some mamas love their fast birth and are grateful for the surprise and that they were not in labor for a long number of hours. Some mamas can find themselves overwhelmed by a labor that ramps up quickly with little warning. It might seem harder to cope when she hasn’t had time to process what’s happening. It is helpful for the partner to remind her that things are progressing quickly because everything is going right. Helping mama into a side-lying position or hands and knees can help slow things down slightly and give her a better sense of control. Help her tap into her slow deep breathing to keep her relaxed, and when pushing, pant through pursed lips to not only help slow things down, but prevent tearing as baby is emerging. Tension and fear not only don't help anyone, they make things worse. It is important to stay calm, take some deep slow releasing breaths, feel yourself on the ground or whatever is beneath you. Find your center. And remember, birth works the vast majority of times or we would not have survived as humans; it really is an instinctual process - mamas's bodies know how to give birth and babies know how to be born; we just need to get our minds out of the way. As renowned midwife Ina May Gaskin says..."Let your monkey do it."

PPhoto credit: @marivette8

Is there any way to predict if I will have a precipitous birth?

There is no real way to know if you will have a very fast labor, although it is more common in mamas who have given birth vaginally before. If you had a fast labor with previous babies, it is more likely you’ll have another fast labor, and you should prepare for one. If labor begins and contractions are quickly close together (i.e. every few minutes for a first time mom or approximately every 5 minutes for a subsequent vaginal birth), lasting 45 seconds or longer and feel intense enough that you can not talk through them, make sure you don’t wait to contact your care provider. Also, keep your provider updated with changes in a “normal” or fairly typically progressing labor, and definitely if your main bag of water breaks and the amniotic fluid releases.

Image by Megan Hancock Photography

What else can I do to prepare myself?

Don’t forget to check out my LOVE YOUR BIRTH Online Childbirth Education Course! With 10 educational and empowering videos, and many additional bonus materials, it is everything you need to prepare yourself for the birth YOU want, to feel confident and empowered for however your birth unfolds, and not only ROCK, but also LOVE your journey. I have a whole section on what to do if you have a precipitous labor and birth that occurs before your provider arrives or before you get to your birth setting. The section is devoted to you and to your partner about this topic in much more depth, so that you are both prepared for the most exciting adventure of a lifetime. Learn more here.