10 things to pack for your birth bag
Doesn't birth bag sound much happier than hospital bag?
In this dispatch: How to “shaktify” your hospital bag: it’s a birth bag! A sacred container that brings the most ancient ritual of humankind (birthing), womb empowerment and practicality together.
The 1st Ingredient: Your Playlist
It gets you in the mood before your portal, carries you throughout the journey and heals you after birth.
I remember the last 4 weeks before my due date. Mister Man wanted me to pack the so called hospital bag. Just hearing that word would be enough to tie a stubborn knot in my stomach.
Hospital. Bag.
Nah-ah. Not me. My plan was not to give birth in the hospital and so I wouldn’t do it. Then came the day that Christine (director of The Sacred Window) shared a hospital bag with the group. “If even she thinks this is a must do, I will need to find a way to look at this differently” — my heart told my head.
What makes a Playlist a Birthing Playlist?
My “bag” started with choosing the music I wanted my birthing self to be exposed to during labour. Every night I would start a new “radio” on Spotify based on a song that’d make me feel in my body, so I could add on to my birth list. Uplifting songs like Kare Nanhasi at the start (Nova still comes running to dance to this song whenever I start it), step by step moving to slower songs like Laidu and finally drums like this track from Honduras. Since my birth took 38 hours I’m also happy I saved longer playlists, like this one by Mose. We also changed to plain piano music at one point, which we continued to listen to for weeks after Nova was born.
These are just the songs that happen to bring me very close to my essence, lift me up and keep my mind from chatter. When creating your playlist I encourage you to find the ones that bring you to this good place to be.
What’s so great about building your playlist is that you’re subconsciously “planning” your blessing way. You’re already connecting the birthing process to the frequency you love. By conditioning these tunes as the sounds that relate to bringing your baby Earth’s Side your mindset will slowly shift into the ideal mindset before birth: out of the head and into the body. Your playlist will also help you heal after birth. It celebrates the fruit of your labour - whichever route this birth has taken - and confronts you with any feelings that need to be processed.
+ 10 things that go into your actual bag
Or suitcase, or birth lodge.
Where-ever you envision yourself giving birth, it’s always good to have some sort of “container” that holds the tools you will need for you. This can be the generic bag or suitcase, but it might as well be the boot of your car, a designated cupboard, a few picknick baskets or a wooden box. I personally made 2 versions. A designated cupboard as well as a packed suitcase. I had doubles of everything (and I ended up using all of it too). You can tell who-ever you feel needs to know where your birth container is so they can take care of it when you will be busy pushing a baby out.
The items are partly practical, partly ceremonial. Most importantly, each one of these things are meant to honour you and how you feel in your environment.
Essential Oils for the birthing process. Clary Sage, Chamomile, Rose and Geranium. You can place these in your Oil Diffuser and massage them onto your lower back, belly and thighs topically. For skin contact, I’d recommend to prepare a 200ml bottle of Carrier Oil like Pomegranate Seed (celebrated for it’s uterus toning benefits) mixed with Plain Sesame (in Winter) or Sweet Almond Oil (in Summer). If you work with an Ayurvedic Doula she can help you with Marma Points, so you know which energetic points to stimulate as to sooth pain or promote labour.
Essential Oils for after birth. Birthing brings about so much adrenaline! Amongst a 1000 other feelings. To sooth that buzzing mind and give yourself an oxygen boost after birth I’d recommend packing up an essential roll-on (rub into to the forehead, temples, behind the ears and next to the nostrils) like this one or this one. The last one (with Frankincense) can also be used to anoint your baby’s fontanel before his daily massage session. (Sesame oil and just 1 drop of diluted Frankincense, so this roller is perfect for that purpose)
Candles. Have a pack of 8hr tea lights ready. Both Selenite and Himalayan Salt Tea Light Holders are great too. Other things to help you set the atmosphere are fairly lights or a USB Moon Light like this one (a wonderful edition to your baby’s room after birth too!).
Your Charged Crystal. In my Ayurvedic Birth Portal Prep Sessions I often share a little ritual around birth intentions that involves charging a crystal. It’s safe to keep this crystal with your other birthing tools from Week 36 onwards. The magic you worked on it will be vibrating in that birth bag, shining a light on all of your other birthing tools too.
A Robe You Love. Giving Birth is such a raw, real, intuitive experience. It’s a powerful thing to have garments available to quickly cover up or uncover whenever you wish to do so. A Robe, Kimono or long loose maxi dress are examples. Choose Earthy tones to stay grounded, or a colourful robe for celebration-like feelings. Be sure it’s a fabric you can breathe in. You may no longer be able to wear this piece after labour, which is helpful to keep in mind whilst choosing your garment.
Your preferred birthing tool. I.e. a birthing ball. If you need a transfer, you can’t always be sure they have your favourite option available/functionally working.
Powders for your herbal latte. Shatavari, Wild Yam, Cardamom, Rose Petals, Cinnamon, Clove… Experiment with flavours well before your birth portal and create a jar with your favourite blend. All what will be left to do is mixing it with your warm milk (or hot water) of choice when you need an energy boost. During or after birth.
Herbal Tea Bags. It’s important to have a cup of comforting, warm, herbalised drink after birth for plenty of reasons. For one, it’s likely you will be (very) chilly. Besides, your digestion has just been exposed to a major challenge - you want to keep your digestive fire warm with spices and don’t want to rely on last minute guess work. Both Pukka and Yogi Tea have blends specifically designed for mothers as well as for the digestion. Chamomile and Rose will sooth your nervous system.
Coconut Water. Highly hydrating! You may also add some lime. This is maybe not suitable to pack up yet - so just have a few bottles of stash in your fridge and put a reminder note in your bag to pick it up from the fridge so whoever’s taking care of your birthing tools will be reminded you want this to be available to you. Please note that Ayurveda suggests to drink all drinks on room temperature, as a cold drink would be a shock to your digestive fire which needs to stay put throughout birth.
Practical stuff: heavy flow menstrual/postpartum pads (you may opt in for bamboo ones so you can wash and reuse them), cotton boyfriend fit underwear, your baby’s first diaper, water based baby wipes, clean loose fitting lounge wear, a swaddle blanket and beanie for baby, a shirt designed for baby wearing, peri bottles with Yoni Herbs to wash after urinating, gentle & all natural soap bar (shea butter or beeswax based) to take a heavenly shower after birth. PS: I advice to wait at least 4 hours before you shower. Your body needs lots of nourishment, so an oil massage with the oils mentioned at step 1 and 2 are helpful.