food for the birthing group?

[transylvania_mom]

this is one item on my HB list (that is recommended but not necessary); I wonder if this means some snacks for the midwifes? For my HB, the only people there will be me, dh, midwife and possibly my ds. Do you prepare something to eat for the midwifes?
I feel silly asking this question, but I'd really like to be prepared

[Astraia]

I had a lot of snacky stuff for labour that she (and 2nd midwife) could have eaten, but they didn't.

There was also a big tub of stew in the fridge that could be heated up- and stuff like bread, apples, muffins, etc.

She was there for about 8 hrs and didn't ever eat anything, even when it was offered to her.

If you have your normal stuff at home plus something more "prepared" (be it a TV dinner or something you plan to eat after the baby is born or last nights left overs) then I'd say you're good to go.

[Peony]

I've always had food prepared, soup in fridge, that type of stuff, but no one has ever eaten it. The last two times we ordered a pizza, just what sounded good after having a baby!

[phathui5]

My midwife and her assistants all brought their own food.

[Pookietooth]

I was wondering too, because you never know when it will be, so it's not like you can have extra stuff around every day. Hm.

[momofabby]

I've been thinking about this too. I figure the house will be pretty well stocked with quick grab foods(sandwich fixings, fresh produce, etc.) as I'll want those available the days following delivery too. I also plan on asking a friend if she would be willing to prepare and bring something over when I go into labor. That way there will be food available but I won't have to worry about it. I am considering it from the perspective that I will want something available for ME either during labor or immediately after without any work on my part and so we'll just make sure there is enough for everyone. If no one eats it, leftovers will be appreciated the next couple of days!

[JennTheMomma]

Attending our homebirth should be Midwife and her assistant, DH, my mom, MIL and DS. We will have snacks available and possibly something in the crock pot that everyone can have if they get hungry. I will like to keep sandwiches, yogurt, different kinds of crackers, veggies, fruit and plenty of fluids around for everyone, including me. I will probably have a non-spicy/hot chilli or cheesy potatos in the crock pot. If its like my last birth, I didn't care at all if people were eating in front of me. If its not the same, then they can excuse themselves to the kitchen or anywhere that I'm not.

[MamaAthena]

I have been thinking about this a lot as well. I generally get pretty anxious when it comes to feeding other people and so I already worry about this one 5 months in advance lol. My initial thought was to have things on hand to make a nice soup and that can be a task for my best friend who other than being a generalized gopher will be taking some pictures/video. She is a great cook and it just seems like something up her alley. I also more think of it as something for ME as soups are so comforting for me. I suppose after the birth it may be the last thing I want but we can always save and reheat later.

I also worry about the diets of my birth team as I'm pretty certain one of them is vegan, etc.

I saw someone post in a thread about preparing for a homebirth that their midwife seemed a bit irritated that they didn't have food for her ... that really got me to realize oh wow we probably do need food for these people lol!

[nummies]

I plan on having things like cheese and crackers, fruit, bread, granola, etc. Simple snacks that don't take a lot of prep work. After the births I will just have someone fix or order whatever sounds good to me at the time.

[lynsage]

I made a huge batch of chili and had a big pot in the fridge for the midwife and doula to heat up if they got hungry...my labor was only 4 hours and they didn't get there until I was about to push the baby out so we were eating chili for a week after that!

[ShwarmaQueen]

I'm not stressing about this at all. We keep snacks around (nuts, fruit, cheese, etc.) and if that's not good enough (like in case my labor is long) well DH can cook or make a run for take out, call for pizza, etc.

[chi_mama]

I had fruit, cheese, presto, nuts and bread on hand.. which we ate and replaced regularly b/c I was prepared at 37 weeks but went to 41, it was actually nice b/c lunch/snacks were prepared during that last month when I was more tired. Also it provided snack stuff for after ds2 came for me.

I made several frozen pp meals that could have been eaten. I asked the mw and apprentice what they'd like on hand and they made some simple beverage requests.

[Comtessa]

nak

My mil and mom both showed up for my birth bearing more food than anybody could eat. Half of mil's chili ended up in the next-door neighbor's freezer. We ate it to celebrate DD's 2-month birthday!

One birth-support person's job should be feeding everybody, it's good to know it's taken care of and you don't have to bother with "hosting" anyone (you won't feel up to it, trust me!).

[MommaSomeday]

We asked the midwives if there's anything they'd like - they only asked for coffee and to have some quick bite things that would sound good to me, so I kept eating and drinking. We had bagels, some drinks and simple stuff like that.

[aramat]

I think doulas & midwives will usually carry some snacks with them, but, especially if the labor goes long, it's good to have at least sandwich-fixings on-hand, and water, maybe tea/coffee. They probably aren't going to want to take a new mama's food, so just easy, cheap stuff, and let them know you intended it for them. Certainly not mandatory, but a very nice thing to do and would surely be appreciated.

[ilovejeff]

my sisters will be at the birth and one of them is in charge of preparing food. The other is making a stop at the store for sandwich fixings (I already gave her a list.)

[pjs]

We're going to have bagels and cream cheese, fresh fruit, chips and guacamole and salsa, cheese, etc. I'm also planning a crock pot meal for after the birth (take it out of the freezer and put it in the pot while I'm laboring). I'm also planning on a celebratory drink of some sort, after dd it was champagne, this time I'm not sure what it'll be.

[Bromache]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

Last time around, we had no car and DS came early, so we were ill-prepared food-wise, with no quick, easy snacks available. (We had a frozen lasagna that DH kept offering to cook, but the midwife turned him down.) This time, I had planned on sandwich fixings, cheese and crackers and probably cookies and/or muffins, but I love the idea of bagels and cream cheese and chips and salsa as well. Thanks!

[Mi_LuBelle]

My Mom and one cousin are our support people and are in charge of the 4-legged kiddos and feeding everyone. They're already planning on having soup in a crockpot on the counter... some veggies cut up and breads/bagels, cheese and fruits. Our MW actually puts on her list of items tea and honey w/ cups Which is funny because that's constantly on our counter for me anyway.

[athenalove46]

Yes, this is one of the requests of my midwife. I plan on making a bunch of little finger snacks (graham crackers, muffins, etc) and I will have MIL there so if they request something she can whip it up!