Who to call when in labour: your ready list

Make your list in 2 minutes

Add names and phone numbers. Mark who looks after your children or pets: they come right after the maternity unit. On the day, tap to call, text or send a WhatsApp message.

The right order on the day

1. Your maternity unit or midwife. Follow their advice. The contraction timer shows when the NHS advises calling.
2. The person caring for your children or pets. Labour often starts at night, so they need time to come.
3. Your birth partner and your lift, if they are not already with you.
4. Family and friends, later, when you are ready.

Always have a backup person

Add a second person for each job: childcare, pets and a lift to the hospital. Agree now who calls them if the first person cannot come.

If the baby is coming fast

In the UK, if you cannot reach your midwife or maternity unit, call 111. If the baby is coming now and there is a strong urge to push, call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Elsewhere, see urgent help for your emergency number.

Private by design

The list is saved only on this phone. We never see names, numbers or messages.

Questions people ask

Who do I call first when labour starts?

Your maternity unit or midwife, so they can tell you when to come in (NHS). Then the person who will look after your children or pets.

When should I call the maternity unit?

The NHS advises calling when contractions come every 5 minutes or more often, and straight away if your waters break, you bleed or the baby moves less (NHS). Follow your own unit’s advice.

What if I cannot reach them?

In the UK, call 111. If the baby is coming now, call 999 (NHS). Elsewhere, use your local emergency number (see urgent help).

What if my childcare person cannot come?

Add a backup person for each role now, and agree who calls them. Labour often starts at night. The caregiver card helps them on the day.

Who tells the rest of the family?

Choose one person, often the birth partner or a grandparent, so you can rest.

What should the labour message say?

Short and clear: that labour has started and that you will send news later. The tool writes a message you can change.

Is my list stored online?

No. It stays on this phone. We never see names or numbers.

Sources

• NHS: Signs that labour has begun · checked October 26, 2026