"Who do we call if your water breaks?"

[vegasgrl]

Someone I work with just asked me that. How on earth do you answer it? What I tried:

"Um, why would you have to call someone?"
"So, when my water breaks, am I going to be immediately incapacitated for some reason I'm unaware of?"
"Don't you think I'll have some time to make it home, and maybe call my midwife on the way?"

Not to mention that water breaking to start labor only happens in 1 out of 5 pregnancies. And even then, it most often happens when you're relaxed and comfortable...like in bed, or at least at home.

My favorite was "If we don't know who to call, we're going to have to call 911 and that will totally ruin your homebirth plans!" Like 911 is going to MAKE me go with them.

People are funny. But I did give them the number for my doula and my midwife just to ease their minds.

[frogautumn]

Tell them to call George Clooney...if people seem to think it goes down like it does on TV.

[beebalmmama]

People are so funny. I went out for a walk the other day and had some guy yell to me that he hoped it wouldn't send me into labor. If it were only a few days later I would have replied "That's exactly what I'm hoping for".
What does he think I'll get six blocks from home, go into labor and drop the baby on the sidewalk!!

[jess5377]

That's funny, it's like they're expecting you to drop into a seizure or something, rendering you totally incapable of speaking, moving or functioning (if that did end up happening though, I hope they actually do call 911 )

[BeckyBird]

Tell them to call you a cab before they call 911! If you can't drive, and you have to get home, then an ambulance is the last thing they should call!

[frogautumn]

Hmm...who do I call if my water breaks? Because it did.

[Mommy2Haley]

Didn't you know that your water breaking means baby will fall out within 5 minutes?

If they call 911 or something just leave. They can't follow you and MAKE you go with them

I like the George Clooney recommendation. If you're and ER fan you could mention Clooney or Anthony Edwards ... or Noah Wyle. They'd be my top picks for an emergency doctor ... oooooooh or John Stamos.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by beebalmmama

What does he think I'll get six blocks from home, go into labor and drop the baby on the sidewalk!!

I think people really think it's like on TV. Even those who have been through it!

[Juliacat]

They sound like my co-workers, who have also suggested calling 911 in that situation. I think taking me home would be more in order...! It's not like I'm going to say, "Oh, I'm in labor but let me finish cataloging all the books on this cart first," and then push the baby out between teen fiction and mystery, right?

[beebalmmama]

[belltree]

Originally Posted by Youngfrankenstein

I think people really think it's like on TV. Even those who have been through it!

I was warned Friday before going into labor, that I really need to go the hospital right away when my water breaks. My water didn't end up breaking before I entered the delivery room.

[mommy2two babes]

Originally Posted by jess5377

That's funny, it's like they're expecting you to drop into a seizure or something, rendering you totally incapable of speaking, moving or functioning (if that did end up happening though, I hope they actually do call 911 )

I can't see it actually happening at work or during the day but I woke up to my water breaking and had DS in my arms about 50 minutes later.
Labor was so fast and furious that I was slightly incapacitated of sorts.
No reason to call 911 though

[marie1080]

I would just laugh at them. Seriously. Ha ha.

My labor did start with spontaneous water breaking this time though, which I thought was pretty rare

[kcparker]

I would tell them to call the custodian, and tell him to bring a mop.