My Postpartum Doula Bag - What's in it?
What’s In My Postpartum Doula Bag – and What Isn’t
One of the questions I get most often from new postpartum doulas is about what they should bring to an in-home postpartum doula visit.
The postpartum doula bag is a staple of the job, and everyone brings slightly different items with them. My philosophy is that the most important thing you can bring is yourself – your heart, your hands, and your ears.
But I do have some postpartum doula bag essentials that are always on hand to make visits go smoothly.
Doula Bag Essentials
My doula bag is an old Coach diaper bag that’s nearly old enough to attend college – but it’s the perfect size, easy to carry, and has a lot of different compartments. The kind of doula bag you choose doesn’t matter so long as it holds the items you need!
Postpartum Doula Bag Must-Haves
Paper Files
I know many doulas use software to track their clients, and that can be great. Even with an online system, I like to bring paper copies of all their files with me. Their doula intake form, contract, payment history, and any other documentation I have is in a labeled folder and comes to visits. If something happens like my phone dies or my signal isn’t strong at their house, I can reference all their information and jot down notes as needed.
Especially for doulas just starting out, I recommend paper files as a management system. Software may be handy once you have too many clients to remember, but early on, paper copies are simple and effective. And free!
Letterhead or a Notebook
Something to write on is a critical part of my bag. I have letterhead printed with my logo and contact information, but a regular notebook and pen will do just as well. I may write notes for myself, but more important are notes to leave with a family. These may be a log of what baby did while the parents napped or follow up instructions based on our conversations, but it will leave something to reference once I’m no longer there.
I love to leave an encouraging note at the top of each page on my letterhead. No matter what I’m writing- something as easy as saying “you’re doing a great job” can leave a lasting impact on a new mother!
Resources to Share
As a postpartum doula, you’re networking with a number of other professionals and sharing referrals between yourselves. If you have any professionals in your network, from photographers to sleep consultants, keeping flyers and business cards in your bag gives you easy access to their information. It can’t hurt to keep your own marketing materials on hand, either, just in case your client wants to share.
Over the years, I’ve also put together my own printouts on common topics like newborn sleep or breastmilk storage guidelines and try to always have these on hand in addition to marketing material. These can also be branded so they serve an extra purpose!
Samples
The exact samples I bring with me can change, but I like to have small packets of products a family may find helpful. The most common is nipple cream or lanolin for the early days of breastfeeding- many moms don’t think to buy this and showing them how to use it and how it helps can be a gamechanger. I also like to keep Bio Oil on hand- while it’s marketed for c-section scars, it’s great for any postpartum belly skin. You can often contact these companies for some free samples if you let them know you’re a postpartum doula, or you can purchase them yourself. I like to buy lactation tea in bulk and leave a few bags with each family as an extra gift!
Crochet Boob
Even if you aren’t a lactation counselor, you’ll likely spend a good part of each visit talking about breastfeeding. For a mom who hasn’t done it before, it can be difficult to explain exactly what position you’re describing or what a latch should look like. A good quality crochet breast is invaluable in these lessons- you can find them on Etsy and through a lot of other small businesses. I had a friend make mine and I use it all the time!
Personal Items
Don’t forget yourself when you pack your bag. Choose a compartment of your bag and fill it with gum, a toothbrush, bandaids, pads and tampons, phone chargers, chapstick, and anything else you might want on a postpartum doula shift. The last thing you want to do is rummage through a client’s medicine cabinet or have to wake them up to ask for simple needs!
Why Not More?
Many people are surprised to learn that the list stops here. Shouldn’t a postpartum doula be carrying a lot of baby-related items? In my experience, the family will have everything the baby needs- and if they don’t have it, they won’t be using it when you’re gone, anyway. You can take the time to get used to their swaddles, their carriers, and their soothing items for the baby instead of trying to bring your own. In the long run, this helps parents make use of what they have and not rely on you and your bag for the foreseeable future.
No doula bag must have is more important than bringing yourself, ready to listen and help, to a postpartum family. The bag is just there to make the job easier and ensure parents have all the resources they need.
