Labor mode is the most important feature in Cradled's messaging stack. It lets mom or her partner declare "we're in labor" with one tap, which dramatically changes how their next messages reach you — even if your phone is on silent.
Who triggers it
Mom or her partner. There's a 🚨 "I'm in labor" button in the message thread on their mobile app. Tap → confirmation modal → confirm → labor mode is active.
What it does to your phone
Once active, subsequent messages in that thread send as Critical Alerts on iOS and high-priority notification channels on Android. Both bypass Focus modes, Do Not Disturb, and silent switches. Your phone will make noise even if you've muted everything else.
iOS Critical Alerts requires you to grant permission once. Cradled prompts for it on first launch as a CP who's been on call for any client. If you missed the prompt, go to Settings → Notifications → Cradled → Allow Critical Alerts.
When it activates
Only when you're currently on call for that mom. The trigger button is hidden in the thread if you haven't set an on-call window covering today. This prevents false alerts from clients who aren't actively under your labor-support contract.
When it auto-ends
Three ways labor mode shuts off:
- Mom flips "Baby is here" in her postpartum onboarding — automatic.
- You manually end it from your inbox or thread (false alarm, transferred care, etc.).
- 72-hour timeout — Cradled auto-ends labor mode if it's been on for 72 hours without resolution, as a safety valve against forgotten state.
In all three cases, a system message appears in the thread noting the change.
What happens to your other clients
Other clients keep getting normal-priority notifications (or quiet-hours suppression as configured). Only the mom in active labor mode is escalated.
Privacy + audit
Every labor-mode trigger and end is logged with a timestamp and who triggered it. Visible in the thread as system messages so you, mom, and partner can all see the timeline.