What to eat during labor?

[new2texas]

I'm assembling my birth kit for our first homebirth, I still have 4 weeks to go but I like to be prepared and I have a feeling this one might come early. Probably just hopeful/wishful thinking. I had my first 2 babies in the hospital and I was "allowed" to eat during labor, I remember having toast and not having enough time in between contractions to chew and swallow a full bite so I gave up trying to eat. But now that I'll have the option to eat whatever I want I have no idea what might be appealing. So for those of you who have been the there and done that what did you like and not like to eat?

[Belle]

Originally Posted by new2texas

I'm assembling my birth kit for our first homebirth, I still have 4 weeks to go but I like to be prepared and I have a feeling this one might come early. Probably just hopeful/wishful thinking. I had my first 2 babies in the hospital and I was "allowed" to eat during labor, I remember having toast and not having enough time in between contractions to chew and swallow a full bite so I gave up trying to eat. But now that I'll have the option to eat whatever I want I have no idea what might be appealing. So for those of you who have been the there and done that what did you like and not like to eat?

During both my labors, (one home, one hospital) I was partial to fresh pineapple and grapes. The grapes were like the best thing ever in my hospital birth. I also had some cashews and eggs during my homebirth. The cashews I liked. The eggs, not so much. They didn't taste good in labor. I did have several eggs after the birth though.

I also had on hand several quarts of recharge. (Like gatorade but made with juice instead of HFCS) I don't know how many of them I drank but my glass was refilled several times. Be sure to have bendy straws on hand.

[kcparker]

You never know what you'll want, but here are some things that might be good:

fruit popsicles
jello (if you aren't vegetarian/vegan)
soup or broth
smoothie made with fruit
honey (easy to eat, good energy)
fresh fruit
toast/crackers/bagel

I have heard that some women like Emergen-C during labor, or laborade.

I had one client who ate nearly a whole can of Pringles chips, a slab of meatloaf, and a huge scoop of mashed potatoes during the middle of her labor though, so go with whatever appeals to you!

[Mrs.aLifeofReilly]

My plan was for fresh fruit, mixed nuts/trail mix, granola/protein bars, recharge, juice, etc.

I went into labor on the 4th of July and when I was in early labor DH went outside and grilled us some burgers. By the time he was finished grilling I was in very active labor, but still managed to wolf down a cheeseburger with barbeque sauce between contractions. Baby came 2 hours later and I never even vomited it up!

[moonglowmama]

I liked yogurt and juice (the really thick Jumex ones- really high sugar count) and protein shakes (banana & pb was my favorite). In early labor I ate mexican in my first birth and fried eggs and bacon in my most recent one. Of course, early labor you can hold down anything, but once it starts getting heavier, I tend towards things i don't have to chew too much and won't mind throwing up in transition, just in case.

[SalmonBayDoula]

protein and complex carbs
anything you don't mind "seeing again"
comfort food that you might eat when you are sick

yogurt
scrambled eggs
toast with peanut butter
fruit
cottage cheese
grilled cheese
chicken noodle soup
tofu
mac and cheese
grapes
watermelon
any melon
blueberries
strawberries
bolthouse perfectly protein drink 40 gms of protein
recharge (natural gatorade product, no corn syrup, no dyes)
miso soup
chocolate
herbal teas
emergen C
nuts
almond butter
diluted juice
tea with honey!

small bites frequently and sips of something with calories (diluted juice?/recharge diluted etc?) after every contraction when you are not sleeping.

use a nice wide mouth water bottle so ice can fit in with a sports cap, so you can drink in any position!

Enjoy!
Sharon

[~Kristina~]

I like to keep items with protein in the house to eat while in labor, toast and peanut butter, probably hummus this time, protein bars, and stuff like that. Fruit is also good for energy.

[mpickens]

I have:
popsicles, gatorade, crackers, trail mix, hummus, carrots, rustic wheat bread with olive oil, nutella and graham crackers, honey sticks and cheese and apples on hand..not sure what I will feel like if any of these things but like the options of all the munchies..and good for midwives, DH, etc

[zonapellucida]

I muched on apples and peanutbutter, yogurt, fruit popsicles, and drank lots of juice

[lindsayjean]

Both my labors were so fast that all I did was drink a little vitamin water, but that was it. I think I may have eaten some frozen grapes... but I can't remember. YUM, I love frozen grapes... tastes like a grape slushie to me

[Peony]

I didn't eat during my first two labors, I just was not hungry and when I tried to eat, I couldn't. I was so hungry during DS's really short labor that I did manage to choke down some fresh pineapple. It was the only thing that I could eat.

[JamieCatheryn]

During my homebirth I ate:
Spaghetti and tomato sauce
Granola Bar
Turkey sandwich
Mixed nuts
Graham Cracker
Chicken, carrots, and penne
Triscuits and cheese
Klondike Bar

I drank lemonade with electrolytes and dilute grape juice, and water

I was in labor 28 hours and never lost my appetite until pushing, actually ate more than usual and pretty normal food. During second stage DH offered to get me more crackers, our midwife and I laughed at that.