Kind of stupid question about calling midwives

[yamilee21]

When you are contacting midwives that you do not know for the first time, is it best to call during "regular business hours" or are most okay with evening/weekend calls?

[Defenestrator]

All of my regular clients are programmed into my phone. If somone not on my caller id calls, I always have the option of not answering and letting it go to message. The only time I found a call really intrusive was when someone called at 1 am, once. She apologized profusely when I answered, though. I think she was just trying to get an answering machine and assumed that no one would be "in the office" at that time.

So, no, I don't mind calls on nights or weekends.

[MsBlack]

I understand that with working or student parents, sometimes the only time they really can call is eves/weekends. So no, I don't mind...just not on my cell ph if you have my home #, and definitely not after about 8pm (or before 7am). Only paying clients get to call me 'whenever', and use up my cell ph minutes! I've started to tell clients NOT to share my cell # with new ppl they are giving my info to. (Only exception being the Old Order Amish folks who live so far from a phone that there's no way I can call them back, and just getting to the phone is a chore for them--they get to use my cell anytime, even for first contact, because they have to be able reach me in one call.)

[bobandjess99]

I would say that, just out of pure courtesy, if you CAN call during normal business hours, you certainly SHOULD. I would reserve after hours calls to emergency, or at least urgent situations, and "Hi, my name is jane smith, I would like to interview you." just doesn't qualify, IMO. If you have some sort of extenuating circumstances, like work hours which make it impossible to call during normal hours (which even that is....somewhat shaky, IMO, I mean, come on, you don't get a break or lunch or anything?) or some very unusual situation like the Amish thing, I guess it would be okay, but I think most people should call during business hours.

[rnchrista]

Originally Posted by yamilee21

When you are contacting midwives that you do not know for the first time, is it best to call during "regular business hours" or are most okay with evening/weekend calls?

I do answer my business phone after hours but I prefer to be called during regular business hours if it's not urgent. Every midwife is different, but for me, because my schedule is so unpredictable, I do try to save most of my weekend time for my family, unless I have a birth.

[yamilee21]

Okay, a follow-up question, now that I have waited to call during business hours: how many days to wait for a response? Or, if a midwife doesn't respond to e-mail and does not return a call within a reasonable time limit, assume she is unavailable to new clients, or try a few more times?

[courtenay_e]

No silly questions, to start!

Then, I often get calls during the six to eight pm window. That's fine with me...as Stacia does, I have the clients programmed into my phone, so if we're seated at the dinner table or I'm with another client doing a prenatal, childbirth ed class, etc, and it's not a number I recognize, I let it go to message and I call them back the next day.

As far as how long you should wait...well...you could be calling just as they're on their way in the door to a LONG birth. When _I_ get home from a LONG birth, especially one that included a large amount of sleep deprivation, I sleep for a long time. So, it could reasonably take three days for me to get back to you...if it's a one and a half or two day birth. They don't happen often, but I'd go with the thought that it's definately possible. Then, if you don't hear back, I'd give them one more call...just in case the number you have is their home number and an errant child or husband accidentally erased your message from the voicemail. It's happened, I'm sure. After that, I think I'd assume that it's time to move on down the list.