Doulas - What do you carry in your birth bag?

[laneysprout]

Just curious...
If you carry a bag to births, what's in it?

[mamabutterfly]

I noticed my bag got lighter over time - I took things out that I nver seemed to use much. Mostly massage gadgets as I used my hands for counterpressure, etc most of all. These are things I used the most:
-Large microwavable hot compress (with a washable cover I made)
-great smelling lotion for foot rubs (also have unscented oil but this peppermint/chamomile one is great)
-small massage tool
-rebozo
-stop watch with second hand
-notebook for notes on the birth for birth story
-pump for birth ball
-eye patches for napping -me or the mom
-Labor Progress Handbook (Penny Simkin, pocket size)

Then really it was mostly stuff for me... snacks, water bottle, toiletries (like something for breath!), extra clothes, cell phone charger, money, etc

I noticed over time I used mostly just words & hands.

[Beccadoula]

I haven't been to many births...the only time I needed ANYTHING from my bag was a birth where the mom's back was absolutely killing her and dad's hands and arms were giving out...I had the perfect massager for the job, but my bag was sooo full of all the things I might need that I couldn't spare the time to dig it all out and find the massager!!! So, I'm cleaning mine out...a simple little bag is starting to make much more sense than brining everything you can think of that you might need.

Oh, food is a good thing to have...that is for sure!

-Rebecca

[BirthIsAwesome]

This is what I have in my birth bag:

-Watch with a second hand
-Microwavable cherry-pit-pack
-Various massage oils/lotions (be careful about almond oil; if a client/nurse/doctor is allergic it could be really bad!)
-Peppermint, Jasmine, Lemongrass, and Lavendar essential oils (to add to massage oil or to put on a cotton ball for mamma to smell during a contraction)
-Rebozo
-Yoga mat, Birth ball, and pump
-Red Rasperry Leaf tea, honey, and Emergen-C
-Clients chart
-Emergency birth kit
-CPR mask just in case I have to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (if there was an emergency at home before we went to the hospital)

The only items that I would say are indispensable and that I have used at EVERY birth so far are: massage oil/lotion, the cherry-pit-pack, and the birth ball.

At homebirths, I sometimes am asked (by the mom or midwife) to step into a non-doula role, so I bring rubber gloves and my fetoscope just in case.

[SalmonBayDoula]

Adding to the list

Many good ideas already listed, and I bring those items too, but here are some things that have not been mentioned yet that I like to have....

herbal tea called Throat Coat (sometimes mom strains her voice during vocalization or pushing) http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/?id=28&pid=75
a rubber garden pad to kneel on (me or mom)
clif shot blocks (quick energy for me or mom) http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_shot_bloks/
A couple of pieces of swim noodle (helpful in the birth tub)
A bath pillow for the birth tub
change of clothes for me
tampons for me (nothing brings on my period like a good long birth!)
hand mirror for mom to see when pushing
small camping headlamp (for me to read, take notes, when room is dark) Midwives have often borrowed this at births
something to read for me
some good birth music in case parents forget and are not at home
camera
water bottle for me
high protein drink for me
bendy straws (OOH birth kits seem to have only two!)
slippers for home births
business cards
pda with all my contacts, calendar, resource lists...etc
rubber gloves ("borrowed" from the last hospital birth, when I am at an OOH birth and need to clean up something with body fluids...etc)
antibacterial gel for water free handwashing
I bring way too much stuff, but feel like I would rather drag it than want it...I honestly use about 10% of what I bring.


Sharon

[MidwifeErika]

I really bring almost nothing. I bring a camera and extra batteries, deodorant, mints, and a cup of coffee.

I have more available that I CAN bring, depending on which hospital I am heading to and what they have available. I have a cd player, birth ball, relaxing cds, aromatherapy stuff, massage oils, etc.... but lots of the hospitals around here provide those items so I don't have to bring them with.

I really use so little and I think that is how I, personally, need to work. I was getting distracted at the first few births wondering when I should pull out whatever gadget to use. Now I feel more centered and more focused on the emotional aspects. YMMV

[April422]

What I use most:
Journal for birth notes/pen
Camera
Ziploc bags to make hot or cold packs (for hot packs, use 2 hospial wash cloths, wet with hot water and microwave and wrap in a pillow case or towel)
Birth Ball/cover and Pump
Doula uniform (which reminds me I need to get this back IN my bag after the last birth I did)
Water Bottle for me
My ID Badge

Other thigns I have but don't alwyas use:
Labor Progress Handbook
Self care kit for me (toothbrush/paste, tampons, nail clippers, lip balms, hair ties, etc)
Microwavable soup
3 or 4 massage tools I've never used
12 inch section of pool noodle, great for back counterpressure when mom is stuck in bed.
tennis balls in sock
inflatable tub pillow

[rnchrista]

I, like others have said, don't take a lot either. I keep weaning it down to less and less. I like to have my unsecented massage oil and essential oils, along with a rice sock. The other stuff I can take or leave. Extra hair ties for the laboring mom and a toothbrush for you are other good ideas. Oh, and an extra pair of underwear lol. When I'm at a birth for a couple days, there is something to be said for at least being able to put on clean underwear.

[laneysprout]

Thanks for all the replies!

Originally Posted by mamabutterfly

I noticed my bag got lighter over time - I took things out that I nver seemed to use much.

I noticed over time I used mostly just words & hands.

This is what I found after I had been involved with birth work for a few years; Then my daughter was born 10 months ago and I took break. I have a birth coming up next month and I feel like a "virgin" again,

Originally Posted by SalmonBayDoula

tampons for me (nothing brings on my period like a good long birth!)

SO TRUE!!!!!

Originally Posted by April422

What I use most:
Doula uniform (which reminds me I need to get this back IN my bag after the last birth I did)

What is your uniform?

[birthangeldoula]

I have a ton of stuff in my doula bag.. and as many PP had said.. you use almost none of it. I need to pare mine down a bit, because although it's nice to have gadgets and massagers, the only thing I really use on a regular basis is the rice sock, the aromatherapy oils, and the music I bring. I have a toothbrush and deoderant and a change of underwear too. My bag is heavy, and I know I could get away with making it much smaller since much of the stuff doesn't get used.

[BrooklynDoula]

My bag is light and small. I carry a mirror in case clients want it (used it once), a hot water bottle (never needed it but who knows), straws (used every single time), candies (this keeps my breathe nice so I usually have 1-2 during a labor), Labor Progress Handbook (never used but I like to read it when I have down time), unscented massage lotion (used often), rebozo, and wash clothes (used every time - I buy new ones for each client).

And them for me: deoderant, toothbrush, lipbalm, hair ties, tampons, breast pads, cash for the car ride home, journal and pen, wallet, cell phone, keys and sometimes a novel.

[hipmummy]

I started bringing the whole house with me. Towards the end (I have not done a birth since ds was born) I had my clients bring the oil and socks etc. I showed up with a pillow for me or them if they forgot theirs, toiletry kit,$$,gloves,extra set of clothes,pads,notebook,client chart, cliff bars, an extra chapstick and mama teas ooh and arnica too. I always bring my own ball. My clients loev it because it is red and they always use it as a focal point.

[BrooklynDoula]

I have a birth ball but I never bring it with me (I am sitting on it now while typing). I can get them wholesale for $13.30 so I always tell clients that if they would like one, I'll happily order one for them at cost so that they have their own ball for the birth. Some of the hospitals have them available also.

I also forgot the Cliff Bars. I always bring at least one Oatmeal Raisin usually.

Also my camera often comes with me for births. Some clients want no pictures (like the Orthodox couple I worked with over Passover, for example) but others are really happy to have you offer to snap a few shots here and there. I don't include photos in my service (so no one is upset if I have my hands too full or counting on me as their only birth picture person) but I usually do take some and then I digitally enhance them at home, make them into black and whites and email them to the parents. Close ups of feet and hands are always popular.

My last birth was a c-section after a qucik labor where they kept up in the waiting room until 10 cm! No pictures there but I could get a shot of the baby to show to the mom while he was on his way to the nursery.

[SalmonBayDoula]

Originally Posted by hipmummy

ooh and arnica too.

Great idea on the arnica, I bring also some rescue remedy for me, others in attendance and mom if she wants it!

Sharon

[April422]

Originally Posted by laneysprout

What is your uniform?

Black drawstring scrub pants and a purple tshirt. I also have a purple scrubs jacket with my name and business name on it, but I rarely take it since my grandmother made me an awesome jacket out of a sweatshirt that is super soft and comfy.

The scrubs pants don't look like scrubs but since they're scrubs they don't stain, don't wrinkle and are suuuuuuuper comfy.

[courtenay_e]

Originally Posted by rnchrista

I, like others have said, don't take a lot either. I keep weaning it down to less and less. I like to have my unsecented massage oil and essential oils, along with a rice sock. The other stuff I can take or leave. Extra hair ties for the laboring mom and a toothbrush for you are other good ideas. Oh, and an extra pair of underwear lol. When I'm at a birth for a couple days, there is something to be said for at least being able to put on clean underwear.

Tee-hee! The four day birth I was at last month with the Amandas involved a conversation between the four of us (their apprentice was there as well) about the fact that we might have to go down to the basement and put in a small load of underware. We were alllll on our last pair. Luckily the baby was born that evening! (the things birth workers end up talking about...)

Yes, I bring an entire extra change of clothes, but then also add anOTHER pair of undies and socks. Because with my luck somebody would "sploosh" all over me and then I'd start my period early and would be out of luck!