Calling labour and delivery: what to say and what to ask

Call before completing the checklist

Keep your maternity care provider's or labour and delivery unit's number handy. Contact them if you are worried or think labour has started; do not wait for a complete record. This checklist supports a conversation, not a decision about assessment. Follow the care plan provided by your own team.

Begin with why you are calling

Give your name, how many weeks pregnant you are and your main concern. Explain when it began and what has changed. Mention any instructions specific to this pregnancy. If a support person joins the call, agree who will describe your experience. Ask for interpretation if you need it.

Describe what you have observed

Explain contractions, fluid loss, bleeding or changes in your baby's usual movements in your own words. Say when you are unsure. NHS guidance recommends urgent contact for your water breaking, vaginal bleeding, reduced movements or suspected labour before 37 weeks. These examples do not cover every reason to seek help.

Offer the log as context

If helpful, read recent entries from Birth Companion. Specify whether a number describes contraction duration, the pause from the end of one to the start of the next, or time between starts. Mention missed records. The log and optional PDF summary cannot diagnose labour; do not delay contact to complete or export them.

Confirm what to do next

Ask what to do now, where to attend if assessment is needed and when to call back. Repeat the instructions in your own words and note them separately. If you think the baby is coming now with a strong urge to push, call local emergency services. Do not wait for an app alert. General information, not personalized medical advice.

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