It’s time to find your doula. You google, “questions to ask a doula”. One question inevitably always gets asked, “What do you bring to a birth?” “What’s in your doula bag?”
Great question! In my birth bag you will find items to sustain me. Supporting births can be a few hours or LOTS of hours. Only baby gets to decide. So I pack for the long haul: cliff bars, nuts and IV hydration packets. And being the mom of three that I am, applesauce squeezies too! Everything else needed to support you comes from experience or resources from your birthing place. I can MacGyver just about anything to suit your needs from turning a wash cloth into a icy feeling cooling rag or a sheet into a sifting machine or a tug of war tool. With experience, I’ve found that it’s not all the fancy birth balls or rice socks that brings the most comfort, it’s that ability to hold space and create an environment that reduces fear and increases comfort. Yes, there can be comfort even in birth!
So what is ACUALLY in the bag?!
A mask for hospital and birthing place policies
A change of clothes
Extra contacts/ solution/ glasses
Protein rich snacks
Hydration packs
Charging cord
Hair ties/ HELLO HEADBANDs
A book or my latest knitting project for times of rest during early labor
So whether your doula decides to bring everything and the kitchen sink, or the bare essentials for nutritional needs, finding someone you jive with that can help you find comfort and reduce fear is KEY in making your doula choice.