An inclusive community for doulas and their supported families. A place to discuss, support and share resources regarding birth, postpartum, loss, fertility care and other doula work.
Hey everyone, I took a client who was due May 2nd with her first and I had to schedule a flight to visit a sick family member for the 17th which is technically 15 days post her due date. She texted me today saying that she met with the midwives and they based her due date originally off her a regular 28-day cycle, but she said that they took into consideration today that her Cycles were maybe 35 days long, and therefore they pushed her due date back to May 6th. Only 4 days, but now my travel period is basically within that two week window of her due date which I specifically planned the visit to my sick family member outside of her due date window. I can find a backup, but she feels very close to me and I know it will crush her knowing there's a possibility that if she doesn't go into labor within the next few days, that I won't be able to attend her birth. I'm just wondering, with this new information of them pushing her due date back, how do I tell her that I leave next Friday to visit a sick family member? She's currently -1, 1cm, and 70%. I'm reallllly hoping this babe comes by Friday morning!!
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For her sake I’m glad they pushed her guess date back because that gives her longer to have a baby without being pressured into an induction. Moving guess dates this late though is wild. But also…people have babies at 42 weeks and I don’t know about how you work as a doula but I wouldn’t want to leave my newly postpartum client without follow up. Feels like you should have had a back up this whole time and ideally the client could have met them so they didn’t feel like a stranger. What her cervix is doing means nothing for when labour will start, but I’m hoping for both of your sakes that she births before you leave.
Always have a back up! I missed one birth in 12 years when a client went over 42 weeks. I was up front with the client from day one. She called me when the friggin pee stick was still wet. I knew a year in advance about my vacation, so I told her if she went at full term,.I could be there, but postdates would be no man's land for me. My back up went in for me with no issue (other than the client being in denial about a health situation).
Back up. Back up. Back up!
Scheduling a flight that close to a due date without prior backup is very poor planning and highly unprofessional. As a Doula, I am available at least 3-4 weeks in either direction from their estimated due date and wouldnt feel traveling is appropriate at this time and/or I wouldnt have taken the client if unable to mentally focus and be physically present with sick family.
I feel this would be in poor taste to make your client's problem. You're just going to add to her stress level when you inform her about these plans. Get a backup for this birth and stop taking people's money if you can't ensure the support. Births very commonly take place in a wider window than what you're planning on. Otherwise, you can inform people AHEAD of time you're only guaranteeing support within two weeks of their EDD.