Must haves for doula bag

[gentleheartdoula]

I am working on building my doula bag. Are there any must haves? How often do you actually use stuff from your bag?

Any tips would be great!

Thanks.

[DoomaYula]

How often do I pull stuff out of my bag? Rarely. Just being a positive presence with helpful words seems to be the most important thing I have with me!

In my bag for me -- triage at our local hospital takes FOREVER, so I could be sitting in the waiting room for 2 hours
pad (I always get af during births)
iPod shuffle
Soduku book
$5 in singles
granola bars
water bottle
travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and deoderant
hairband
gum
notebook

In my bag for clients
copy of Pregnant Woman's Bill of Rights
copy of her birth plan
tennis ball for counter pressure
back scratcher thingy


I encourage clients that if they want a particular scent or EO or moisturizer to bring it themselves in their birth bag and I'm happy to help them apply it or massage or whatever.

But honestly, I rarely bring out anything for clients. I've never had anyone be very into scents, and counter pressure usually works best with the dh's hand and my hand together.

[Jane]

Not a doula, but a student midwife. In the spirit of YumaDoula's list:
For me (usually in my trunk):
Full change of clothes, down to the undies and socks
Warm sweater
Morning pills
Clif Bar
Hair Tie
Knitting
Pad
Deodorant
Diet Soda (warm is still caffiene)

For moms:
Little, itty bitty pelvis and tiny baby for demonstration
Rice Sock

[gratefulmama2isaac]

Amen to the warm sweater. I swear, so far this is the only thing I've truly needed. I don't know what it is about hospitals, but they can be COLD. Food for me/food for the mama - Soup at Hand. Also, there's something so nice about peppermint oil, besides that it can help with nausea. Just one of those small things that can give the room and energy a lift, I think.

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by gratefulmama2isaac

Amen to the warm sweater. I swear, so far this is the only thing I've truly needed. I don't know what it is about hospitals, but they can be COLD. Food for me/food for the mama - Soup at Hand. Also, there's something so nice about peppermint oil, besides that it can help with nausea. Just one of those small things that can give the room and energy a lift, I think.

Lol, I always get hot in the hospital! I must be the weird one.

Must haves for me:
*client notes/birth plan
*an extra change of clothes
*deoderant
*toothbrush and toothpaste
*chapstick (the circulated air dries me out really badly)
*snacks that don't have a strong odor
*something to read or do like crossword puzzles
*The Labor Progress Handbook. Its saved a client from a c-section.

Must haves for my clients:
*Unscented lotion for massage
*Combs for acupressure
*Peppermint candies and peppermint eo on cotton balls for nausea
*Pieces of a cut up swim noodle to place between the Mom and the bed while she is on her back. It really helps.

I make hot and cold packs as needed at the hospital.

Not a must have, but a nice extra:
*A fluffy beach towel if Mom plans on using water. Hospital towels are usually too small and don't absorb worth a damn.

But don't worry about "stuff," what you really need is your heart and your hands, thats it.