What type of food to have on hand for my birth team?

[sattygirl99]

I'm 37 weeks and starting to think about this... I don't have a lot of money (things are really tight since I got put on bedrest my last 2 weeks of work and lost nearly $400).

I've got frozen bagels, cream cheese (it's opened though, should I buy an new package?), lots of bread and rolls, tuna, peanut butter and jelly, eggs, bacon, bottled water, various fruit (at the moment, a ton of bananas, a few peaches and apples), carrots, ranch dressing (again, opened), frozen cheese pizzas and some various meals that I've pre-made (but are really meant for post birth so they are smaller portioned for my family. Oh and lots of cereal, oatmeal...

I see people talk about things like fresh veggies and hummus and dips and all and I just can't afford to buy that stuff and have it go bad if I DON'T go into labor for another 6 weeks. Can I make due with what I have? I have brownies I plan to make in early labor (hopefully) and we have things like cheerios treats (think rice krispisies treats with multi-grain cheerios instead) on our list.

Just want to make sure my birth team is fed! I've seen posts about midwives and assistants being upset there wasn't anything for them to eat at a long birth and I certainly want to ensure my birth team is happy! But we're a 1 income family struggling after a series of illnesses and missed work time this year and can't afford to have a huge selection of food.

Thanks ladies!

[redpajama]

What you have is plenty. I'm an apprentice, and while it's always a nice surprise when a client has something for us to eat, I don't expect it, and I would never, ever feel put out because they didn't. I take responsibility for eating before I come to a birth, or grabbing something to bring along if I don't have time.

That said, I would typically want something that didn't require a lot of preparation--bagels and cream cheese are good, but I can't imagine fixing myself an egg or bacon while someone labors in the next room. Fruit, vegetables, bagels--all good.

[annettemarie]

Sounds like a feast! When I was in early labor I put a corn and potato chowder in the crock pot. After the baby came, my DH made a run to the local brew pub for homemade chips and he took orders from the midwife and her apprentice as well, LOL!

[sattygirl99]

The eggs and bacon were more of an 'after baby' thought... For some reason I'm thinking eggs, bacon and toast as a post baby meal... I guess because it's cheap and easy and I've already got it here! I'm glad to know that my mix match of what I've got should work!

I will probably whip up the tuna in early labor or have DH do it so it'll already be ready in the fridge. I LOVE tuna so even if none of my birth team eats it, it'll be there for me later, lol.

The PBJ's are quick and easy so I was figuring they'd be good for anyone who got hungry or wanted a protien filled snack. We always have those types of things in the house and have several loaves of bread frozen in the freezer that I'll pull down when I'm sure it's time.

I thought about the probability of ordering in something or sending someone out after the birth BUT if I have a very late night or early birth, the options are a lot more limited so I want to make sure there's something meal worthy hanging around..

Thanks ladies!!

[Jane]

You're fine. I am happy to have access to some toast and butter. Jam is awesome. Cream cheese is fab.
S'all good.
I only get offended if the MIL makes a starbucks run and forgets to ask me what I want. I'll even pay for my own drink, but I can't leave, you know?

[sattygirl99]

OH! Should I have coffee on hand? I've got tea bags... But we don't have a coffee maker... We'll have to do it the old fashioned way and pour boiling water over a filter filled with grinds... LOL.

[homemademom]

It all sounds great! Eggs and toast is usually my go-to postpartum meal, too I'm sure they would appreciate if you had some things made for them, but I think it's perfectly acceptable to show them where your pantry is and tell them to help themselves. Whatever you do, DON'T get stressed by the hostess role. That's not your job!

[forumyonly1]

i made and froze a bunch of muffins.. not sure if that's something they'd want but it worked really well for me.. we don't have a bunch of money right now either.. baked goods are easiest for me since i have most of the ingrediants and i can freeze them.. i am making some banana nut bread and some of the lactation cookies to freeze too.. they will be welcome to have them if they want. i was thinking abotu having some protein bars or something like that on hand for quick energy for them.. but i dont know! i didnt have any food for my midwife last time.. well.. i had food.. but it was just whatever was in the fridge!

[Twinklefae]

This is very interesting - food for birth team is actually on the midwives list! So I'm taking notes!

[OurLittleNest]

I am going to thaw some homemade chicken noodle soup and put it in the crock pot.

[Jane]

I haven't met a midwife that doesn't take tea or coffee if that's all there is - well, some don't do caffeine at all. I prefer tea, but I'll drink coffee. I bring my own tea in case, too.
We all bring food for emergencies...clif bars, canned soup, gummy bears, etc.
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[kobee]

For our last birth I had baked oatmeal raisin cookies and made an easy moosewood restaurant casserole which i froze until labor -then took them out and they thawed pretty quickly for my midwives.
While I was laboring, my mom made a great big lemon chicken and rice soup (that's what I requested for after the birth) and there was plenty for everyone. We made sure to have tea and lots of drinks, but my midwives took turns running out to get coffee before I really needed them.

My birth is coming up in a couple of weeks (or any day?! ) and I'm planning on baking more yummy/healthy cookies that thaw quickly, getting a bunch of single serving yogurts, mixing up some tuna (that's a great idea) and having other easy sandwich fixings on hand. If mom makes it from out of town, I'm sure there will be another big pot of soup. Yum!

I'm sure that anything you do will be great and that your midwives will appreciate it and find it thoughtful.
Blessings on your birth!

[AshleytheIslander]

Hmmm, something else I hadn't thought of with a homebirth!

Well, my DH will be playing host then.... he's good at that anyway. Good to have things on hand though since the time of day will be a surprise.

Tea and bagels sounds fine!