Suggestions for vegan snacks to bring to hospital birth?

[somegirl99]

I'm trying to get prepared for our upcoming birth. We're planning a hospital birth (live too far from paramedics / ambulance / hospital for either of us to feel comfortable with a home birth).

Anyway, the hospital we are going to allows/provides light foods / beverages during active labor, things like broth, tea, jello, popsicles, hard candies.

Although they supposedly can accommodate special diets, I'm not going to count on it...I figure I should plan bringing some snacks with me both for labor and for afterward. At some point later I could probably send DH out for some kind of real food (although not a lot of great options in the immediate area around the hospital) but I'd like to have something on hand.

I'm not sure we can count on having a fridge to store things in, so if anyone can suggest some non-perishable ready-to-eat foods or things that I can add hot water to, that would be great. Since this is my first, I'm not really sure what kind of foods I would be in the mood for either.

thanks in advance for any help!

[maciascl]

I'd bring some of the miso soup packets, dried fruit and nut mixtures, Lara bars, oatmeal packets, and maybe a brought from home pb&j with fruit.

[Sayward]

Originally Posted by maciascl

I'd bring some of the miso soup packets, dried fruit and nut mixtures, Lara bars, oatmeal packets, and maybe a brought from home pb&j with fruit.

That's what I was gonna say, plus young coconut water for electrolytes.

[somegirl99]

Thanks mamas, those sound like good suggestions!

[GoGoGirl]

My doula suggested cream of wheat and fruit nectar to eat and drink during labor. I didn't have the cream of wheat (I ended up not wanting to eat in labor). I know I drank the fruit nectar in labor, but I don't remember it. After birth, though, we mixed it with seltzer and it was the most delicious thing I've ever had to drink.

I've heard people say that in labor, you'll have food aversions like you did in the first trimester. What were the foods that you could handle in the morning sickness days? Those might be something to consider.

And for right after giving birth, I would pick your most favorite meal of all time and figure out how to bring/pick up that. That first meal after birth REALLY hits the spot. Actually, it would probably be delicious no matter what you choose.

[somegirl99]

Originally Posted by GoGoGirl

I've heard people say that in labor, you'll have food aversions like you did in the first trimester. What were the foods that you could handle in the morning sickness days? Those might be something to consider.

And for right after giving birth, I would pick your most favorite meal of all time and figure out how to bring/pick up that. That first meal after birth REALLY hits the spot. Actually, it would probably be delicious no matter what you choose.

Thanks, that's great advice. Oatmeal and miso soup have been standbys for me the whole time so I think they will be good for labor too.

I'll have to think about the favorite meal of all time!

[pinksprklybarefoot]

After I gave birth, my midwife made me pb toast at the nurses' station and it was the best thing EVER.

We brought along Clif Bars, trail mix, and crackers. And Gatorade. The Gatorade was lovely. We left about six hours after the birth because I knew that there was no way the hospital could feed me (coupled with the fact that I just wanted to be home anyway).