What is in My Birth Doula Bag?

Want a sneak peak into what I bring with me to every birth? This is the bag that sits ready by the door at all times. Ultimately, my hands, brain, and heart are my most used tools, but that doesn't mean that some of my other items aren't helpful, too!

Important guiding principles for what makes it into my bag:

• Everything is organized and in easy reach

• Unmedicated birth and also long induction often benefits from having a few surprise tools and tricks when the going gets tough - keep those available even if lesser used

• Nothing that clients can do better themselves (ex. comforting objects)

• If I haven't used it in several births, it comes out

  • but usually as soon as I take something out I immediately need it at the next birth... lol

• I love the earth, and/but during birth it is ok to use stuff that is easier and more disposable

I am constantly editing what stays and what goes in my bag, so this is just a snapshot of my right-now stuff. Read all the way to the end for a look at my original doula bag and how it has changed.

The actual bag is a travel backpack, which feels right as a lover of travel. I really like that everything is visible and also contained in zippers. I can open this on the floor of a room and quickly see what I need without a whole lot of digging. I think the brand is Eagle. And it's black because that's the color of my East-Coast-forever soul.

Snacks

I generally stock both the ones that I love and also things that I know are helpful in labor and postpartum. Sometimes I don't get a chance to go to a cafeteria or pop out for food so it's all about high calorie density.

• Electrolytes: a midwife taught me that you always want to have easy-to-convert calories (aka sugar) so I go for things like Liquid IV or coconut water over some of the low-sugar options (that are great for pregnancy, just not labor)

• Red Raspberry Leaf tea

• Cliff Bars, RXBARs, Split Nutrition, Muir Energy

• Nuts in small servings, Justin's nut butters

• Noka smoothies are an all time fav - shelf stable and with 5g protein!

• Broth protein powder

• Honey sticks & mints

• Bendy straws

Keep in mind that most people in really active labor or pushing don't want to eat anything, but usually need a little fuel. Usually they don't want to chew anything, which is why I carry lots of liquid calories. My rule of thumb is, if you'll have a bite, I'm happy.

A current hit is broth. Hospitals often have the salty flavor packets - but they are just salt. I bring my own broth protein powder and mix the two together so you get the yummy flavor and salt while also getting 20g of protein. I've also had people make and bring their own bone broth!

Vibes

• LED candles, battery operated twinkle lights, glowy things

• Mantras and birth cards (though these aren't often used unless birth is medicated because no one reads in labor); I love this one, which is inclusive and diverse

• Lightweight speaker

• Electric fan

I usually encourage my clients to bring a comfort item from home for a longer hospital stay. Something like their own pillow or cozy blanket.

Toiletries

• Fancy body wipes

• EXTRA fancy Ursa Major face wipes that are as close as I can get my post-birth clients to the facial they deserve

• Wisps disposable tooth brushes, floss

• All the hair options: ties, headbands, bobby pins, clips

• Poo-pourri for partners in a one-bathroom situation

• Tissues

• Wet Wipes

• Tylenol and tampons for myself

Electronics

• TENS unit: MY MOST USED ITEM! The TENS machine attaches to your back and delivers small electric impulses to encourage the release of endorphins and distract from the pain of early labor. You can get these OTC from the pharmacy for as little as $25, but mine is a fancy one designed for labor specifically.

• Long charger cords

• Electric pump for birth balls, peanut ball, and the camp mat I keep in my car

• A continuous light for birth photos, much less distracting than a flash

Homeopathy

I have the Helios kit and use this most often at home births. If you are unfamiliar, the philosophy is that "like treats like." You take something that would cause the symptoms you want to alleviate in an extremely diluted form (1/200) dropped onto a small pellet of sugar. Since the biggest criticism is that it could be too weak to even do anything, it feels very safe to use in pregnancy and labor. I received some training from Juli Tilsner at Cornerstone.

Recently, I had a client who had the foresight to request Zofran after a tough first birth with a lot of nausea and puking. Unfortunately, the Zofran worked until it didn't. We were getting pretty desperate since she couldn't keep water down and was not hooked up to an IV. We tried the ipecac homeopathy and it worked almost instantly.

There are options for helping get labor going and for restlessness. There is even one for a malpositioned baby! I also love arnica for postpartum soreness. If you're curious about using homeopathy, please let me know. I love to incorporate it in my practice for clients that are interested.

Essential Oils

I keep both florals for relaxation and citruses for energy. I always have an alternative or two for lavender because that is a love-it or hate it scent. I honestly probably carry too many, but I like to have the just-right one. I most recently used clary sage to help with dilation in a stalled labor.

Used most often to set the mood, relax in the tub, or settle into a room

• lavender

• jasmine

• rose (gifted to me by a client!)

• geranium: cost effective alternative to rose

Used for those moments of exhaustion, nausea, and doubt

• mint: also helps people pee postpartum!

• lemon

• orange

Just In Case Pouch

• Change of clothes, though I go back and forth on this

• Disposable cooler in case I don't have my regular placenta cooler

• Vomit bags, gloves, and chux pads for those intense moments at home or on the way to the birth spot

• Unused sleep masks

• A garden kneeling pad

Optional Add-ins for Special Circumstances

• a collapsible, plug-in kettle for hospitals and inductions so I can help get warm liquids into you quickly

• peanut ball for epidural births; most hospitals have them but only in one size so I carry a less common size

• Flashlight clipped to the outside (which I've used to find things in a dark room, and also to give midwives more light while they are stitching my client up)

Stuff I Bring that Doesn't Live in the Bag

• Coffee

• Fresh fruit or a hot meal

• Big ole' placenta cooler for placenta encapsulation

• A second pair of shoes

I feel that I have truly achieved elite status now that I change my shoes. I've turned it into a ritual. I start the birth in my Cloves and at the 12 hour mark usually my feet are starting to scream. Makes sense that shoes made for nurses are only good for 12 hour shifts. When there is a quiet moment during the birth, I slip out to my car and swap my shoes for my Calzuros. It feels good to mark and honor the time, and also keeps my feet from really screaming and distracting me.

My First Birth Bag

I learned that many of the things I thought were a good idea, actually weren't as helpful. Grippy socks are location-provided in Chicago. Most people won't use a birth comb for the first time in labor. My old speaker was big and heavy. I used to carry a birth ball and a whole bunch of massage tools which were too much space and weight for how often I used them. Plus almost every birth spot in Chicago has birth balls. I also used to carry teaching tools with me to birth because I just didn't realize the learning ship has SAILED. I waffle back and forth about my DSLR since my iPhone captures great birth photos.

Honestly, I feel like I could show up to a birth now with nothing but myself and some comfortable shoes and fully support a client. So the stuff is all just bonus these days.