How does a doula prepare for a birth?

When I know the birth process is beginning for one of my families I…

Plan my day.
Whenever I get the call that things might be brewing, I have to take a look at what I had planned for the day. Do we still go to gymnastics, or do we make alternate arrangements? Do I cancel that appointment preemptively, knowing I may have to leave at a moments notice? Do I still go on that long walk knowing I may be on my feet for the next 18 hours? Have I informed my childcare that a dropoff is needed?

Gas up.
I always make sure my car has enough gas to get from Squamish to Vancouver, just in case!

Stay nourished.
When I know one of my families is in early labor, I’m like the very hungry caterpillar. I get very snacky, and eat small frequent meals throughout the day. This ensures I am fueled to support their birth!

Stay hydrated.
Especially if the family is planning a hospital birth. Hospital air has a special knack for being extremely dry. You may notice yourself feeling quite thirsty and sometimes a bit headache-y if you spend awhile in a hospital.

Be mindful of what I eat.
I avoid consuming any foods that contain a lot of garlic or other potent ingredients. The last thing somebody needs in labor is for their doula to have horrible garlic breath!

I also avoid eating any foods that may cause increased digestive activity…if you know what I mean!

Pack snacks.
I always make sure there are easy snacks in my doula bag in case I need an energy boost. I bring things like oatmeal packets, miso soup packets, protein bars, squeeze pouches (yep, the toddler kind!), cheese, or a sandwich if I’m able to make one in time!

Get my doula bag handy.
My doula bag is a lifeline during times where I’m called to a long birthing process. It contains everything I need to stay comfortable for 24+ hours away from home.

Again I bring snacks, but also a change of clothes. I am still breastfeeding my toddler, so I also bring a manual pump (shoutout to the Medela Harmony!) with me in case any engorgement starts to build.

I bring headache remedies, any medications I may need, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste.

I don’t bring a ton of tools to use on the birthing person, but I always have a Saje Peppermint Halo roller handy, as well as electrolytes, bendy straws, combs, extra batteries for the TENS machine, and even a roll of plumbers tape!

Suds up.
Whenever possible, I make sure I am freshly showered before heading to support a birth. It’s probably not a good look to show up with my toddler’s breakfast in my hair, and BO. Teeth brushed, too!

Lay out my clothes.
There’s nothing worse than rifling through dresser drawers looking for a bra in the pitch black! I like to lay out my outfit near the door so if I get a call in the middle of the night, I can sneak away from my sleeping family and get ready without disrupting them. This also eliminates the need to think about what outfit might be comfy to wear for who-knows-how-many hours!

Get horizontal.
I spend as much time resting as possible. Even just laying on the couch with a good book and trying to doze for 15 minutes gives me a bit of extra rest.

If time permits, I will hunker down for a full on nap

Charge my phone.
I need to make sure my families can reach me immediately, so it’s important that I never let my phone go without batteries. I carry a large battery pack with me everywhere. Birth usually happens slow and steady, but sometimes not! I never want to leave a family panicking because things are picking up and they can’t reach me.

Cook something for my return.
Often when I arrive home from a birth, I just want to eat something and lay in bed for awhile! If I’m able to prepare something for when I get back, it keeps the next day feeling a bit more smooth, and helps my recovery.

Be mindful of my energy.
When a family requests my presence, I am with them, and with them alone. It is very important to me to be able to walk through the door to a birth, whether it’s at a hospital, or in somebody’s home and know that I have put my own life aside so I can best serve my families while this magical, wild process unfolds for them. That is why I put so much thought into my preparations!

I also wrote this to show that I practice what I preach, because everything above is what I tell my birthing families to do in early labor!

Photo taken by Gabriela Le of Gabriela Le Photography