This question makes us smile everytime we get it… Short answer? No, not usually. But the longer answer is actually more interesting and more practical, so let’s talk about it.
First things first, doulas are not medical providers. They are not nurses, midwives, or doctors, and wearing scrubs would suggest that they are, which is something most doulas actively want to avoid. Part of the role of a doula is being a distinct kind of presence in the birth space, one that is warm, non-clinical, and clearly not there to perform procedures. Wearing scrubs can blur that line in a way that does not serve anyone.
That said, what you wear to a birth absolutely matters. You are going to be on your feet for potentially many hours. You might be on the floor, in a tub room, doing counterpressure, helping with position changes, or catching a nap in a chair at 4am. You need to be able to move freely, stay comfortable for a long stretch, and not stress about your clothes getting messy because birth is a beautiful and also very biological event.
ProTip: We do want to note that there are some scrub tops that doulas get branded and wear because the front pockets can be a life saver and they look professional with your brand, name, pronouns and ‘doula’ embroidered on the front.
So what do most birth doulas actually wear to a birth?
Comfortable, professional, and dark coloured is key. Most experienced doulas land on something like stretchy pants or leggings, a comfortable top that allows full range of movement, and layers because hospitals are either freezing or weirdly hot and sometimes both in the same room.
Closed-toe shoes that you can stand in for hours are non-negotiable. Do not learn this lesson the hard way at hour 18 of a labor. A lot of doulas keep a dedicated pair of shoes for birth work and leave them in their doula bag so they are always ready. We highly recommend a Birki or something like a closed toe Croc like this.
Not only are they great for splashes and fluids of all sorts, they are easy to sterilize, and they protect your toes. We had a student who had open toed Crocs and when the client’s water broke, the amniotic fluid went into a cut on the side of the doula’s foot. A massive infection spread because the client was Group B Strep positive and the doula almost lost her leg. Yes, they were considering amputation to stop the spread of the infection! This was a good reminder that open toed shoes, sandals, or mesh front running shoes are not going to protect you in the way you need.
Dark colours are practical for obvious reasons. Black, navy, deep grey. Something that you will not be precious about if things get messy.
Homebirth note for birth doulas: we strongly recommend you wash and sterilize your hospital shoes and wear them for homebirths too. Bianca, our founder, wore her Ugg slippers to a birth and was supporting her client and she stood up suddenly to push and a bunch of amniotic fluid and blood dropped all over her feet and the expensive suede slippers were garbage. Rubber or anything wipeable is your friend here!
Some doulas have a specific outfit or set of clothes they use only for births, which creates a kind of ritual around going on call and coming home. Bianca calls it getting into doula mode. You put on your birth clothes, you show up, you come home and change, and that physical transition helps signal to your nervous system that you are moving between roles. We talk about the importance of those transitions in our blog on unwinding after a birth here.
Bianca, who is a super germaphobe, also strongly recommends that when you are changing your clothes, you do so before getting into your car and especially before walking around and sitting in your house. There are fluids all over you and the hospital is a very dirty and germy place. Protect the people you live with and strip by the door and get your stuff right into the washing machine.
Some birth doula protips for what to wear for births
When you are packing your birth bag, take a change of clothes in case you get really wet or sweaty or your client throws up on you. Birth can get messy. If it goes long, you may feel better putting on a fresh shirt. Extra socks and undies can also be a game changer for long births.
Bianca keeps a small drawstring bag with all the things for her, like the change of clothes, undies, 2 pairs of socks, deodorant, toothbrush, face wipes, and moisturizer. They live in her birth bag and she checks to make sure it doesn’t need a restock occasionally. But typically if she uses something from it, she replaces it when she gets home from her birth.
What about for postpartum doula shifts?
Postpartum work, including overnight shifts, calls for similar thinking. Comfortable, easy to move in, practical. If you are doing overnight shifts you want something you can sit in for hours, potentially nap in, and layers are your friend! When you are tired, you get cold, so make sure you bring sweaters, a cotton scarf you can tie around your neck, long sleeve tee in your bag as well as a short sleeved tee shirt.
We have super cute doula swag in our shop and 100% of the proceeds go to the doula scholarship fund. You can also grab your water bottle there because hydration is key for doula care!
Postpartum doulas, especially folks who do overnight care, lean toward soft, cozy clothing that matches the energy of the work, which is warm and gentle and low stimulation. Think of cuddling babies against your clothes… the trick is always comfort and practicality.
A few things to avoid as birth and postpartum doulas
Strong perfume or scented products of any kind. Birth spaces are intense sensory environments and a lot of laboring people become extremely sensitive to smell. This is one of those things that matters! Leave the perfume at home.
Long or dirty nails are a hard no go. Keep your nails short, scrub under them with a brush and soap and make sure you remove chipped nail polish before doing client care. You are a wellness professional and you want to reflect that in everything that you are doing.
Anything with complicated fastenings, dry-clean only fabrics, or that you would be sad to ruin. Birth is unpredictable and your clothes might encounter amniotic fluid, blood, or the remnants of a very enthusiastic water birth. Dress accordingly.
Noisy jewellery or anything that dangles and clanks or can catch on anything. Also, babies love to grab at jewelry, so be mindful if you are doing postpartum care, especially for slightly older babies.
Does what you wear affect how clients perceive you as a doula?
A little bit, yes. Showing up looking intentional and professional matters, especially for clients who may not have worked with a doula before and are not totally sure what to expect. You do not need to be in business attire but you do want to look like someone who takes this seriously.
First impressions happen at consults and the prenatal visits too, not just at the birth. Showing up to meet a potential client in something clean, comfortable, and put-together tells them something about how you approach your work before you have said a word.
We cannot say enough about this. You do not have to have fancy or expensive clothes on, just make sure they are clean, well put together, and you don’t have any strong scents.
We recommend having a couple consult outfits that you only wear for client interviews and then 2 or 3 client outfits that you only wear for prenatal appointments, births or postpartum shifts.
The bigger picture for your doula business
What you wear is a small part of a much bigger conversation about how doulas show up professionally and sustainably in this work. If you are thinking about becoming a doula and want to understand what the work actually looks like day to day, this is a good read: https://bebomia.com/doula-training-101-what-doulas-actually-do-day-to-day/
And if you are building your practice and thinking about all the pieces that go into showing up well for clients, from contracts to pricing to your post-birth routine, we talk about a lot of that here: https://bebomia.com/how-do-i-start-my-own-doula-business/
No scrubs required. Just comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, and a doula bag packed and ready to go.
If you want to chat about becoming a doula, we would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and let’s talk.
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