Expect the unexpected!

This was taken from my very first labor support as a baby doula.

The Importance of Preparation

I remember when I was expecting the labor of my first doula client. I knew it could happen at any moment, and I wanted to be prepared! For a few weeks I carried my doula backpack everywhere; school drop-off, the dentist, the park. I brought it with me in anticipation of my first birth support!

As a doula, being ready for labor support is the foundation of professionalism. You’ve packed your doula bag, filled the gas tank, charged your phone, arranged childcare and pet sitters, and confirmed a backup doula. Having these provisions in place allows you to take a deep breath and trust your readiness. All that’s left to do now is show up and support someone through labor…

Having your bag packed and your logistics handled lets you walk out the door free from distractions. These are the basics of birth support. Whatever energy you bring into the birth space shapes the tone of labor. Your client chose you because they trust you to hold space, to curate calm, and to bring your full focus to them. This is one of the most important days of their life, and they deserve your full attention.

Grounding Yourself Before Labor Support

Think of preparation as an act of self-care. Supporting yourself so that you are able to show up completely for your client.

Because I never know if it’ll be a “rush out the door” situation or a “make tea for the road” kind of day, I’ve created small rituals to ground myself when I know labor support is near. I keep two or three playlists I rotate through to help me find my rhythm. My pump-up playlist helps when the caffeine hasn’t kicked in yet, and my calm playlist helps when the adrenaline is running too high. These rituals center me before stepping into a birth space.

Birth rarely follows a plan, and neither does my preparation. I remember once going for a walk with my dog and accidentally leaving my phone behind. In those 30 minutes, my client’s water broke prematurely, she was only 32 weeks along, and my entire day changed. Our on-call schedule hadn’t even started yet, so my doula partner and I had to decide on the spot who would attend. I was able to drop everything and go because I was ready for the unexpected. Bag packed, gas in the tank, and a network in place to care for my daughter and pets.

Doula Bag Must-Haves

Toothbrush and toothpaste: With so much of labor support focused on breathing, you’ll want fresh breath.
Change of clothes: For long labors or unexpected messes.
Phone Charger: Stay connected with your partner, sitter, or doula partner.
Snack and water bottle: Fuel your body. You’ll burn energy fast, and a lightheaded doula is an ineffective doula. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. (You’re not the only one emotionally attached to your water bottle.)

Optional Items to Pack

Sanitary products: I always keep a few menstrual discs or pads on hand.
Acetaminophen or vitamins: In case you need them.
Extra layer: Hospitals can get chilly. I usually pack a cozy vest with pockets.
Lip balm, deodorant, and hair ties: Feeling comfortable and confident helps you focus on your client.

Other Considerations for Birth Support

Keep an extra pair of shoes in your car (you don’t want to show up in flip-flops).
Bring a copy of your client’s birth preferences, just in case.
Carry cash for parking or vending machines.
Encourage clients to bring their own support tools, like massage oil, heating pads, or preferred scents. When they bring them, they’ll have them for postpartum too.

The Tools You Can’t Pack in a Bag

What about the tools that can’t be packed in a bag? Anyone can show up with a backpack full of supplies, but why did your client hire you? Maybe it’s your calming presence, your attuned listening, or your breadth of knowledge. Maybe you felt like an old friend right away. That skill, your presence, cannot be packed in a bag, but it’s the most essential tool you bring.

After the Birth: Self-Care and Community

When a new family is ready to cocoon into their newborn space, and I return to my own, I always carve out a moment for self-care. Sometimes that means sitting in my car to breathe, calling a doula friend to debrief, or scrolling TikTok for a few minutes. When I have the time, I’ll treat myself to my favorite meal or a massage. Sleep is always a top priority. Even “short” labor support can leave you emotionally and physically drained.

Self-care = sustainability.

Community is another form of support we can’t overlook. Doula work can be isolating. We don’t have offices or lunchrooms where we can process the highs and lows of our work. Finding community (or building it yourself) matters! Birth work can be heavy, transformative, and profound. Having other doulas you trust to share it with makes all the difference.

Finding or creating doula community is essential to the work.

Final Thoughts for New Doulas

When I was preparing for my first birth, I wish someone had warned me about the adrenaline. It can sweep you away if you let it. Grounding techniques aren’t just for clients; doulas need them too.

Imposter syndrome can sneak up, even years into the work. When it does, I remember leaving my first ProDoula training and knowing deep down that I’d found my calling. When doubt creeps in, I hold on to that truth - I am meant to do this work. You are too. You’ve taken the training, you have the tools, and when you feel uncertain, lean on your own support team to lift you up.

If you’re preparing for your first birth, you’re already doing the most important thing; showing up with intention.

How to Prepare for Your First Birth Support