Hesperian Health Guides
When to go to the birth
HealthWiki > A Book for Midwives > Chapter 9: Getting ready for labor and birth > When to go to the birth
You should go to the mother when any of these things happen:
- labor contractions begin
- the bag of waters breaks
- the mother feels she needs you
If you go to a birth and find the mother is in very early labor (and you live nearby), it is usually OK to go home for a while. Ask the mother to call for you when labor gets stronger. But before leaving, consider these questions:
- Is this a first baby? Labor is usually longer for a first baby.
- Were the woman’s past births fast or slow? If a past birth was fast, she may have an even faster birth this time.
- How far away is medical help?
This page was updated:24 May 2023