It had been a few years since my Doula bag has had any re-organization, let alone a major clean out. I noticed that I was spending more and more time searching through my bag to find things. And really the last thing a laboring mom needs is a doula loudly rifling through her bag in search of an item. It was time for a complete Doula bag makeover.
The main problem with my bag was that I wasn’t keeping the items organized and easy to find. In hopes of solving this problem, I decided to employ the use of smaller zipper pouches inside my bag. I had used a few bags in the past, but my old zipper bags where nearly worn out. I wanted to freshen up my bag with new fun doula themed zipper pouches.
For my makeover, I used two small sized pouches and three larger sized pouches. I grouped like items into the zipper pouches and gave them a name based upon the theme. (naming your bag is totally unnecessary, but oh so fun) These pouches hold the majority of my items. The remaining items are organized and stored in the front and side pockets that are found in my backpack. I have pared down my bag and have learned exactly what is working right now for me. My doula bag contents have changed over the years and as you’ll see below three of the five bags are mostly dedicated to my personal needs as I work as a doula.
Bag #1: “Stay Fresh” Bag
All items below are packed in a small “I’m the Doula” zipper pouch
• Travel size toothpaste and toothbrush
• Allergy medication
• Deodorant
• Colgate wisp disposable mini toothbrushes
• Lip balm
• Unscented hand cream
• Spare set of contact lenses
This bag is dedicated to personal hygenie and all around staying fresh. Fresh breath I always drink coffee before I leave and/or on my way to a birth. This means that I need to freshen my breath with a quick trip to the restroom before I meet my clients. If we are meeting at their house I take a quick trip to the bathroom before I get started. I use these at every single birth. The wisp mini toothbrushes are great when a bathroom isn’t easily accessible, or I need to freshen up super quick. I have often grabbed a wisp when we drive from my client’s home to the hospital and do a quick tooth brushing in the car.
The deodorant and lip balm are used as needed (no explanation necessary there). The hand cream is essential as washing my hand over and over again at a birth can really dry them out. It is important that I use unscented lotion so that it will go unnoticed and not bother my clients.
I bring allergy medication in case I am laboring with a client at their home and they have cats. I have a pretty serious cat allergy and no one needs me blowing my nose next to them in labor. This lesson was learned the hard way.
The spare set of contacts in a life saver for my eyes when the birth goes long. I also try to throw in my glasses before I leave so that I can have that option as well. {there as been a delivery of glasses and contacts by my husband in the past when both of these weren’t packed}
Bag #2: “Quick Change” bag
All items below are packed in a large Doula World zipper pouch
• Scrub pants
• Doula T-shirt
• Pair of socks
• Underwear and bra
I bring an extra set of clothes but do not pack an extra hoodie as that’s just too bulky. If I need to change clothes and my hoodie gets wet that’s just the way goes. I also don’t bring spare shoes for the same reason I guess you could say I like to live on the wild side.
Bag #3: “Start Here” bag
All items below are packed in a large “Doulas Celebrate Labor Day Every Day” zipper pouch
• Rebozo
• Two battery operated candles
• Two combs for acupressure
The bag was named the “Start Here” bag because I want it to be my first go to when I arrive at a birthing location. One of the first things that I do when we arrive at the hospital is to put them in the bathroom to set up a magical laboring cave. The battery-operated candles are used every birth.
My rebozo isn’t your typical Mexican rebozo, but it’shttp: the one I’ve used for years and absolutely love it. It is actually a Bara Barn brand woven wrap/sling that I used with my two boys. Having it in my bag brings back so many lovely memories for me while I work. It is a very strong woven material with a little give and I find that it works perfectly for various uses in labor.
The two combs for acupressure are used more rarely. When clients are needing to try a new technique sometimes I will get these out. I’ve had mixed success with them, but when a client falls in love with them I am always glad I have them in my bag.
Bag #4: “Lots of Tools” bag
All items below are packed in a large “Doulas Celebrate Labor Day Every Day” zipper pouch
• Tennis ball
• Plastic fan (mine is from the SupportingHer online class for partners)
• Portable ice bin
• Rice sock
• Limp and loose in labor card
• Labor progress handbook
The two items that I use most out of this bag are the portable ice bin and the limp and loose in labor card. I get both of these items out when we arrive at the hospital. I add ice and water to the portable ice bin then drop in a few washcloths so that I will have cold washcloths at the ready at all times during the labor. This bin does not leak which is an amazing quality! I keep the the limp and loose in the labor card out on a table in the room so that we can look at some of the easy techniques for staying nice and relaxed. The plastic fan is also used quite frequently as clients warm up in labor.
My labor progress handbook is quite old. There have been two editions published since this one has been released, but it has been my trusty helper in some difficult labors and I just can’t seem to part with my original copy.
The tennis ball and rice sock are used occasionally as I have a need. They are bulky, but are nice to have.
Bag #5: “Nourish” bag
All items below are packed in a small “I’m the Doula” zipper pouch
• Assorted power bars
• Almond butter packet
• Honey sticks
• Dum dum lollipops
• Pack of almonds
I’ve tried different snacks over the years but what seems to work best for me is keeping an assortment of tasty power bars and different types of nuts. Walnuts are my favorite and if we have some at the house I’ll pack a quick little bag and add it to my snack bag on my way out the door. The pack of almonds is a staple.
Honey sticks are a quick pick me up which I offer to my clients as well. I keep the dum dums for my clients, but store them in my snack bag so they’ll be easy for me to find.
Backpack pockets
For the items that don’t fit into the themed bags, I use the handy packets of my backpack. The lower front pocket holds a small leather business card pouch with my business cards. This is also the pocket that has a key Fob which makes keeping my keys easily accessible.
The top front pocket has a padded area which I use to hold my essential oils. I bring peppermint and lavender essential oil. I do not use these oils topically, rather I put drops on disposable paper towels which can be used to change the scent of the room and often my client’s mood. I also keep spare emesis bags in this top section. I do not steal these from the hospital, but if my client has opened one up for labor and ends up not using it, I put it in my bag rather than send it off to medical waste. I like to have them very quickly available in my doula bag in case we are laboring at home and my client feels sick or we are at the hospital and I don’t have access to any yet.
My backpack has two side bags. In one side bag I keep a spare phone charger and earbuds and a bag of feminine hygiene products. In the other side pocket I put my spare pump and a water bottle.
Doula Bling
Not quite as important as the contents of my bag, but quite fun is the bling that turns my dull red backpack into my doula bag. Right now I have an “I’m the Doula” button, a 100% Doula button, a doulalife button and a Uterus Pin. This might be excessive to some or maybe others of you are wanting me to have 15 pieces of flair.
What have I missed? Please leave a comment below or leave a comment on the video and let me know if there are essential items that you think that I have missed.