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What to Carry in your Doula Birth Bag

Doulas will find that some or all of these things useful to a laboring mom. The contents of your birth bags will, of course, vary. You'll stock your own birth bag with whatever is most useful to you in your circumstances. These supplies can be gained over a period of time, the only things you really need at a birth are your two hands and loving support, the “tools” just come in handy every now and then. Most doulas use a large canvas bag or a small to medium suitcase on wheels. It depends on how much you will be carrying and how you feel comfortable carrying it!

These suggestions were largely contributed by:

•Connie Banack, C.D., C.B.E. AND   •Joni Nichols  Thank You!

This List should print in five 81/2 by 11 sheets, if you would like to print it for Reference.

Books

• The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook, by Polly Perez
• Special Women , by Polly Perez and Cheryl Snedeker
• Mother Massage , by Elaine Stillerman
• The Birth Partner , by Penny Simkin
• Breastfeeding, or Nursing Mother's Companion; (for mom)
• Midwifery Today Tricks of the Trade #1 and #2
• Optimal Fetal Positioning
• Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn , by Penny Simkin
• Easing Labour Pain
• The Childbirth Kit , by Hale and Chalmers

Cold packs

• Two cans of soda (to drink, for cold and as counter pressure)
• Ice pack
• Tupperware rolling pin (hollow, filled with ice and water)
• Ice wrap
• Cool "gel packs"
• cooling gel (also for massage)
• Cold pack-small cooler
• Ice in a small garbage bag, in a pillow case

Hot packs

• Rice/Flax sock, new one for each mom
• Rice Sock made specifically for the mom with her choice of fragrances
• Terry cloth removable covers for rice bags
• Heating pad (at home only)
• Hot water bottle with cover
• Soft-shell hot water bottle (such as used for headache)
• Towels out of the warmer or warmed with hot water (for moist heat)
• Small heater/fan (to warm babies or cool off room-- $49.99 from
• Improvements in Hanover. PA.
• Glass lined pump thermos (for ready supply of boiling water)

Massage

• Baby lotion
• Baby powder/cornstarch
• Massage cream
• Wooden "Happy Massager"
• Wooden massagers (various)
• Two tennis balls in a sock (two sets)
• Oil in small squirt bottles (massage oil, olive oil, canola oil)
• Massage lotion (unscented or scented)
• Electric massager (hand-held, pressure-activated, fairly powerful)
• Foam pool "Noodle" for counter-pressure (can be cut into 1 foot sections)
• Two small black combs (mom grips them for pressure to palms-gate control)
• Small paint roller (great for back massage)
• Tupperware rolling pin (hollow, filled with ice and water)

Aroma Therapy Scents

• Lavender – soothing, calming for tension/stress
• Tangerine – ?
• Jasmine – Uplifting, Balancing
• Orange – soothes, restores and uplifts the spirit
• Ylang-ylang – soothing, relaxing
• Rosemary – energizing, stimulating (should not be used in pregnancy or high B/P
• Bergamot – Calming, Balancing, tension/stress
• Vanilla – balsamic

Snacks

• Hard candies
• Drinking cup with straw
• Bottles of water or water bottles to fill
• Fruit juice, coffee bags, tea bags (herbal and other)
• 2 Sealed cups, one with instant ice tea , the other with sugar packets (and a LARGE bottle to mix it all in)
• Fruit
• Nuts
• Mini bagels, frozen
• Bananas
• Raisins, dried fruit, fruit leather
• Whole grain breads
• Cashew butter (for the bread)
• Trail mix
• Yogurt
• Pretzels
• Baby carrots
• Crackers
• Cheerios
• Granola bars
• Power bar
• Small fruit-snack cans
• Crackers and cheese or crackers and peanut butter snacks

Personal & Other Helpful Items

• Client File
• Clip Board
• Extra Blank Paper for Labor Notes

• I.D Badge
• Light Jacket Or Sweater
• Breath Mints
• Business Cards/Brochures
• Extra Money
• Bathing Suit
• Change of Clothes (at least a second shirt or set of scrubs)
• Brush
• Hair Ties/Scrunchies
• Pens
• Camera
• Extra Batteries
• Gloves
• Chucks Pads (used at home, or in the car on the way to the hospital)
• Demonstration Tools – Example: Charts on labor progression, mini pelvis & baby
• Lip Balm (for you and your client. Use a new one for each client)
• Important Phone numbers (Ex. Back up doula pager number, instructor etc...)
• Tylenol (for personal use, long labors can lead to headaches)
• Bendable Straws
• Safety pins
• Contact lens case (if mom forgets hers and wants to remove lenses)
• Men's swimming trunks (if dad forgets his)
• Razor blade (cuts cord in an emergency)
• Written visualizations
• Stretchy newborn baby caps
• Postcards or pictures, for visualization
• Soapless Hand cleaner
• 2" Masking tape for notes. Tape a long piece down the leg of your pants for making quick notes when you don't want to leave Mom's side, works great with a pen on a string)
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste (thanks suzi coleman for this suggestion)

Some More Suggestions ~

Terry Emrick suggests: “ It is helpful to put in a book/journal for your own personal reading, or some type of puzzle book, or hand craft work that you can do. There are times when only the Doula's presence is needed in the labor room, and she is not being asked to actually participate in any physical activities.”

Wondering what you need to pack? Then go to Packing For Birth by Beautiful Beginnings. This is a list especially for parents-to-be.

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Last Updated on October 15, 1999