Mānuka's Superpowers

Honey in Your Doula Bag: A Natural Companion for Birth and Beyond

Madeleine Hartmann

Published at: July 22, 2024
Updated at: April 1, 2025

9 minutes

Executive Summary:

Manuka honey's high carbohydrate content helps sustain energy, further helping maintain stamina and endurance during labor.
Manuka honey's natural compounds support the immune system, which may aid in recovery post-childbirth.
Including Manukora Manuka honey in a doula bag ensures a holistic approach to childbirth and can help you help your clients in the best way possible.

The Doula Bag: What's Inside?

As a doula, you know how important it is to be well-prepared for every birth. Your doula bag is like your trusty sidekick, filled with all the essentials to support your client through labor and delivery. Yet, have you considered adding Manukora Manuka honey to your toolkit?

Surprisingly, Manuka honey could be a fantastic natural addition to help mothers during childbirth. A spoonful of Manuka honey has so much to offer; it can contribute to sustained energy levels and support overall wellness.

So, let's take a closer look. Here are a few reasons why you should add Manuka honey to your doula bag!

The most powerful tools in a doula's bag are often the simplest ones - those that honor the natural wisdom of the body while providing gentle support during one of life's most transformative journeys.

Why Honey Belongs in a Doula Bag

Honey has been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. It's been a natural remedy in many medicinal systems. In other words, there's a good reason we refer to honey as liquid gold; it truly has so much to offer—and can be a great addition to any doula bag.

Since honey is composed primarily of carbohydrates, particularly glucose and fructose, it provides a quick and efficient source of energy. Yet, despite its high carbohydrate content, honey has a relatively low glycemic index compared to other sweeteners. This means it releases energy more slowly and steadily, helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels and preventing sudden energy crashes.

This can be particularly beneficial during long hours of labor. As many doulas (and mothers) know, childbirth occurs when nature intends it to. This means that labor can extend throughout the night and day, which makes having a quick and easy energy source that much more important.

Manuka honey's nutrients also offer antioxidant properties. This can support overall health and potentially contribute to a smooth and healthy post-birth recovery. Other nutrients in Manuka honey, such as MGO, further support the immune system—giving your clients an additional source of support when they need it the most.

Lastly, Manuka honey contains prebiotics, contributing to a healthy gut microbiome. When your gut is happy and healthy, so is the rest of your body. In fact, gut health spills over into almost all aspects of health, including immunity, hormonal balance, and mental health. As you can probably imagine, this can have more than a few positive impacts when it comes to childbirth and the post-partum period.

For instance, the hormonal drop after birth is one of the biggest hormonal changes in the human body. Yet, by helping your clients support their gut health with Manuka honey, you can ensure they stay on the right path toward recovery.

Selecting the Right Manuka Honey Grade for Birth Support

When adding Manuka honey to your doula bag, understanding the different MGO grades can help you choose the most appropriate option for your clients:

MGO Grade	Properties	Best For
600+	Rich, smooth texture with a balanced flavor profile	General energy support during early labor
850+	Fuller flavor with increased MGO content	Active labor and transition phase
1000+	Our highest MGO content with a robust flavor	Postpartum recovery support

All Manukora honey is 100% raw, traceable to source, and free from glyphosate, antibiotics, pesticides and GMOs. We recommend having at least two grades available to offer options based on client preferences and specific needs throughout the birthing journey.

The Benefits of Manukora Manuka Honey for Childbirth Support

Manukora's Manuka honey is packed full of natural nutrients that give way to various benefits during birth and beyond. So, what makes Manukora's Manuka honey a Honey With Superpowers™? Let's break this down a bit further.

Provides Quick and Sustained Energy

Honey is a carbohydrate that has easily digestible sugars. This means it can provide immediate and long-term energy. During labor (and even afterward), energy demands are very high. However, adding honey to your client's regime may help support adequate energy production and lead to a smoother birth and recovery.

Supports Immunity and A Quick Recovery After Birth

Manuka honey is composed of many natural compounds that have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These properties may aid in the recovery phase post-birth.

Natural, Chemical-Free Ingredients

In a world with plenty of additives and contaminants, finding all-natural ways to support health and wellness has taken center stage. Manukora's Manuka honey takes this into account every step of the way.

For instance, our beekeepers ensure the bees are disturbed as little as possible. This means we don't move our hives and wait until our buzzing friends finish the honey-making process before we harvest. We also make sure to leave enough for the bees, taking only what we need.

On top of this, our products are chemical and additive-free and contain zero GMOs. At Manukora, we believe transparency is key. This is why each jar has its own unique QR code, which provides information regarding the beekeeper who harvested your batch and the third-party testing your batch underwent. That way, you get authentic and delicious Manuka honey every time!

Supports Proper Hydration

Manuka honey may also support proper body hydration, which is essential for not only every process in the human body but also any stressful event like childbirth. This type of honey also contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, and sugar, which help the body balance out electrolytes.

Electrolytes and water are both important when it comes to maintaining hydration and pH levels in the body. Thus, adding a teaspoon of honey to your client's regime during or post-birth might be suitable to support this outcome.

Birth partners need sustenance and support too - their endurance and presence matter tremendously during the birthing journey.

Supporting the Birth Partner with Manuka Honey

While much focus is placed on the birthing person, birth partners also need nourishment and energy support during what can be a lengthy and emotionally intense experience. As a doula, having Manuka honey options for partners can help them maintain their stamina and emotional resilience.

Simple ways to support birth partners include:

Offering honey-infused herbal teas during quiet moments
Preparing small honey-based snacks that can be consumed quickly
Suggesting honey stick packets they can keep in a pocket for quick energy
Reminding partners to nourish themselves regularly throughout the labor process

When birth partners maintain their energy, they can provide better physical and emotional support to the laboring person, creating a more positive birth experience for everyone involved.

Practical Tips: Using Honey During Childbirth

If you want to plan to have a honey-based snack or drink available for your clients' labor or post-birth recovery, here are some suggestions:

Refreshing fruit-infused water with honey
Fruit smoothie with honey
Hydrating honey lemon tonic (water, honey, lemon, and salt)
Cut fruit like apples, bananas, or berries with honey
Yogurt parfait with granola with honey
Peanut butter toast with honey

Honey is also delicious in warm or cold herbal tea, and plenty of therapeutic herbs can complement the health benefits of Manuka honey when consumed together. However, when preparing a warm honey drink, ensure the liquid is no more than 40 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, the delicate compounds and nutrients in Manuka honey become depleted at high temperatures.

Manukora honey is even great on its own. We also have convenient single-serve stick packs available, so you can bring your honey on the go and easily add it to your doula bag.

Labor and Postpartum Recipe Guide

Below are simple recipes specifically formulated for different stages of the birth journey that you can prepare ahead of time:

Early Labor Electrolyte Drink

1 cup coconut water
1 teaspoon Manukora MGO 600+ Manuka honey
Pinch of sea salt
Squeeze of fresh lemon Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a bottle that can be sipped throughout early labor.

Active Labor Energy Bites

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup nut butter
1/3 cup Manukora MGO 850+ Manuka honey
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional) Instructions: Mix ingredients, roll into small balls, and refrigerate. These can be eaten in one bite during active labor.

Postpartum Recovery Tea

1 cup warm (not hot) water
1 teaspoon Manukora MGO 1000+ Manuka honey
1/2 teaspoon dried red raspberry leaf
1/2 teaspoon nettle leaf Instructions: Steep herbs in warm water, strain, and add honey once the tea has cooled slightly.

Manuka Honey: Supporting Wellness From the Very Start

Including Manukora Manuka honey in your doula bag supports labor and childbirth through its complementary nutritional properties and active compounds. It can help maintain energy levels and support recovery post-birth.

In a world filled with synthetic chemicals, all-natural and holistic alternatives have never been more important than right now. By filling your doula bag with all-natural tools, you can continue to support your clients in the best (and most natural) way possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manuka honey safe during pregnancy and labor?

For most people, Manuka honey is safe to consume during pregnancy and labor. However, always recommend that your clients consult with their healthcare provider before introducing new foods during pregnancy or labor.

How much honey should be consumed during labor?

We recommend 1-3 teaspoons as needed. The amount can vary based on individual preference and energy needs, but small, frequent amounts often work best during active labor.

What's the difference between regular honey and Manuka honey for birth support?

Manuka honey contains unique natural compounds like MGO, which aren't found in the same concentrations in regular honey. It also offers a richer nutrient profile that can better support energy and wellness during the birth process.

Can Manuka honey help with energy levels during a long labor?

Manuka honey provides both quick and sustained energy through its natural carbohydrates. Its lower glycemic index compared to other sweeteners means it can help maintain more stable energy levels during extended labor.

How should Manuka honey be stored in a doula bag?

Manuka honey is best stored at room temperature. Our stick packets are ideal for doula bags as they don't require refrigeration and are individually portioned for easy use.