1. According to the Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 330:1), a woman is considered to have the status of being in labor halachically after she is either: 1) Sitting on the birthing chair, 2) bleeding from the uterus, or 3) can no longer walk on her own. After that time (whichever comes first; Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 330:3), Shabbat may be violated on her behalf for anything she needs. Poskim discuss the precise definition of this time today, with some suggesting that it is reached when her contractions are a regular 5 or 7 minutes apart, while others explain this to mean that she is actually in the final stage of labor and the baby is about to begin emerging (see Nishmat Avraham, O.C. 330).

2. Nevertheless, any activity that must be done in advance of the above time on behalf of the woman giving birth may be done on Shabbat even earlier than that, even if it violates Shabbat. For example, a woman that wishes to call someone to help with the birth may violate Shabbat to do so long before she is considered in labor, since otherwise the person may not arrive in time. Likewise, she may call an ambulance or be driven to the hospital on Shabbat at whatever time she feels she needs to go to ensure that she arrives in time, even if it is earlier than the times given above (Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchatah 36:8). Medication may also be taken at whatever point she feels it is needed.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.