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The phone rings in the middle of the night. What time is it? I answer it and try to drag myself from the blanket of sleep. It's my client. She woke up to some contractions. We talk for a while as I slowly wake and answer her questions and concerns. Her questions revolve around is it time now? And how will I know? We talk some more. The contractions seem to be mild so I recommend she goes back to sleep and we will talk again in the morning.

I hang up and look over at my husband. He didn't even flinch when the phone rang. Phone calls in the night just mean a client is due. He mumbles a question. I pat him and say no not yet.

As I breathe myself back to sleep, I think of all the families I have helped over the years. I have helped couples find their own way to birth. I have helped them laugh their babies out, use hypnosis, water births, first time moms, second or more time moms, VBACs, c-sections, no interventions, or many technologies needed. It is all so individual. I always find it hard to describe what I do. The thing that is the same is that they are all looking for security and confidence.

I call my client in the morning and find that it was Braxton Hicks. She is not in active labor. We talk and I assure her that it is absolutely no problem to call me in the middle of the night. That's why I'm here.

We talk several times over the week. Then one evening I get a call from her husband. He's not sure if it's labor this time. So many times the contractions went away. No question in my mind. My client wants to go to the hospital. I say I'll meet them there. This is it. My client was unable to talk on the phone. Her contractions were calling her attention.

Normally I go to my client's home and then move with them to the hospital, but this mom wants to get to the hospital now. I have learned in my years of practice that the mother always knows best. I grab my bag and leave the house.

During the labor, I help with positions, back support, conversation, shower, food, and hydration. We walk the halls. We talk about babies. We talk about hopes and dreams. We talk about fears and concerns. Yes we'd talked about these things before in the prenatal appointments. A lot of things are cleared and concerns met at that time. Sometimes things surface in birth and become suddenly important.

I have learned that my vocation is not just about knowledge of birth and position changes. I am part best friend, part doula, part psychologist, part sister, and a dash of mother all mixed together.

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