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Here is a list I have compiled from many
doula's suggestions of what they carry in their birth bags. Please note
that you don't need all of these things! Pick and choose between
what you feel you need and then add extra's as you require. If you have
any questions about a particular item and it's use, please e-mail the
question and one of us would be glad to explain.
Aromatherapy
scents most used in labour
Snacks
(for you and client)
Cold pack ideas
 | cold wrap or cloth from freezer |
| two soda cans (to drink, for
cold and as counter-pressure) |
| ice pack |
| rolling pin
(Tupperware’s© hollow one filled with ice and water) |
| cooling leg gel
(also for massage) |
| cold pack-small cooler size |
| ice in a small
garbage bag, in a pillow case |
Hot pack ideas
| Rice sock/Flax sock, a new one for each mom |
| Sock made
specifically for the mom with her choice of fragrances |
| heating pad (at home only) |
| hot
water bottle with cover |
| soft-shell hot water bottle |
| towels out of the warmer or warmed with hot
water (for moist heat) |
Massage ideas
| wooden or acrylic massagers (various) |
| tennis balls in the sock (two sets) |
| oil, massage
oil, olive oil, canola oil (put them in small squirt bottles) |
| lotion or massage oil for massage (unscented and/or scented) |
| baby powder, cornstarch |
| electric massagers....they are hand held and
pressure-activated and fairly powerful |
| "Noodle" (12-inch segment of
kids foam noodle, for counter-pressure) |
| two small black combs
(mom grips them for pressure to palms-gate control) |
| small paint
roller (great for back massage) |
| rolling pin (Tupperware’s© hollow one
filled with ice and water) |
Other
| Birth Ball & Birth Ball Pump |
| Birth Ball Cover or Carrying Strap |
| Polaroid
camera with film or disposable camera to take pictures and give to
mom |
| camcorder (mine films in complete 100% darkness...comes in
handy!!) |
| camera (with extra film) |
| assorted batteries |
| candles/lighter (at home use only) |
| Polly Perez's Labor Support Cards |
| a copy of their birth plan |
| water bottles (for you and your
client to drink from) |
| honey (different flavors in individually sealed
straws) |
| hard candies (preferably on a stick for mom) |
| two tubes
of cake frosting/frosting gel (quick energy for Mom during pushing) |
| a
new pair of socks, a pair of "grippy" socks, wool socks for mom |
| new
wash cloths |
| Vaseline, lip balm (for lips) |
| Indiglo© or other watch with a
second hand |
| CD's or cassettes, both quiet, soft music, and upbeat music, relaxation tapes |
| cassette player/radio |
| a
hand held fan, cardboard fan, small table top fan (battery
operated) |
| latex or non-latex gloves |
| knee pads or gardening kneel-cushions to save knees |
| water spritzer
bottle |
| extra hair scrunch |
| Potpourri crock pot for hot compresses |
| large mirror
with a handle so Mom can see her baby crowning if she wants |
| terry-cloth headband to hold back her hair from her sweaty brow |
| concentrated breath drops (for doula breath) |
| Labor Progress Handbook |
| colorful goggles |
| big T-shirt |
| a big blue chucks
pad |
| large towel |
| playing cards |
| Labourade, Electrolytes,
Sport Drink, etc. for mom |
| Bach's Rescue Remedy© |
| Menstrual pads with witch hazel added and frozen
which are great for that swollen perineum. |
Recommended Books to Bring
| Special Women by Perez and Snedeker and/or The Nurturing Touch at Birth by Perez |
| The Birth Partner by Simkin |
| Mother Massage by Stillerman |
| Easing Labour Pain by Lieberman |
| Optimal Foetal
Positioning by Sutton and Scott or Sit Up and Take Notice:
Positioning Yourself for a Better Birth by Scott |
| The Labor Progress Handbook by Simkin and Ancheta |
| A breastfeeding book for Mom such as Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to
Breastfeeding by Newman and Pitman or Nursing Mothers
Companion by Huggins |
| Tricks of
the Trade, Vol. 1 and Wisdom of the
Midwives, Vol. 2 by Midwifery Today |
Aromatherapy Scents
| Almond Carrier Oil (to mix your scent or
combination of scents with for massage) |
| Bergamot |
| French Lavender (most common) |
| Jasmine |
| Citrus (Grapefruit, Tangerine) |
| Ginger |
| Peppermint (very common) |
| Rosemary |
| Vanilla |
| Ylang-ylang |
| Pre-mixed aromatherapy blends in both relaxing
or refreshing combinations |
Personal Items
| toothpaste |
| mouth wash |
| tooth
brush |
| sanitary products |
| deodorant |
| lip balm, chap stick for
personal use |
| mints, gum, hard candy, breath drops |
| Aspirin©,
Tylenol©, Naproxn©, etc. |
| Tums©, Pepcid© |
| Echinacea, goldenseal,
vitamin C (for those long nights!) |
| comb, brush, hairspray, extra hair
scrunch |
| change of clothes, extra scrubs, clean socks |
| sweater,
scrub coat |
| shorts, T-shirt, bathing suit for shower |
| change (for
pay-phone calls, food, parking) |
| calling card |
| books, magazines to
read |
| pen (on a cord for around my neck) |
| notebook, clipboard |
| IV, masking or paper tape for quick charting |
| contact case, solutions,
eye drops and extra glasses |
| client's chart or file |
| Certification forms |
| hospital ID's, DONA pin, name tag |
| handouts |
| cell phone and/or pager |
| extra brochures and cards |
| anti-bacterial hand wash, Iso© gel (hand cleanser/disinfectant that
doesn’t need water) |
| Band-Aids (in case of broken
skin) |
Snack Ideas
| bottles of water, water bottles to fill |
| fruit juice, coffee bags, tea bags (herbal and other) |
| sealed cups,
one containing instant ice tea, the other containing packages of sweet 'n'
low and a LARGE bottle to mix it in |
| fruit |
| nuts |
| mini bagels
out of the freezer |
| 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 |
And thanks to Polly Perez,
Monitrice extras
| sphygmomanometer |
| urine dip sticks |
| Doppler or stethoscope |
| KY jelly |
| ultrasonic gel |
| thermometer |
| un-sterile gloves |
| sterile gloves |
| cord clamps,
nasal/oral bulb syringe - just in case |
Copyright Mother Care 1999. Compiled and written by Connie Banack.
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