Labor food - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[DesertSunsets]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninetales 

It may be the cynic in me, but I read that statement as "do not eat anything once you go into labor because we do not want to clean up vomit or poop."

I really think it's because it's easier for them, nothing to do with you.  It makes no sense otherwise.

 

I'm just frying to think of foods that aren't the worst to throw up.  If I get sick because I ate, fine, but I know I will get feel awful if I don't eat so its worth it.  

[iixivboots]

I agree with your guys about their reasoning, I just think it's weird to get that message from the doctors when the nurses say to go ahead and eat, because you know it's not the doctors that will be cleaning it up!

[Sol_y_Paz]

I have food ready in a bag: huge bag of homemade granola, lots of lara bars, lots of real fruit leather, nuts, 2 or 3 different type of crackers and peanut butter packets, bag of dried fruit

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by bootsvalentine 

It's weird, the "late pregnancy" sheet I got from my doctor said "do not eat anything when you go into labor, it will only make you sick later." This is contrary to everything I've heard and even with the L&D nurse who did our hospital childbirth class told us, she definitely recommended eating and drinking a lot while doing early labor at home.

Aside from what everyone else has already said personally, if I'm gonna puke I'd much rather have something in my stomach to puke up rather than dry heaving.  I vomited twice last time in labor, so I'm kind of expecting it, but I still planning on eating early on.

[Lizbiz]

Yep, puking and pooping are two things I generally do during labor :).  Can't be helped!  It's pretty much a whole-body kind of experience, that's for sure.  But trust me, when you're in the midst of it, you don't even care... You're way too on another planet to worry about whether or not you're pooping.  And generally, you can't even tell you're pooing, because at that point you're pushing - which is basically all that lies between you and meeting/getting your baby out of you, and ain't NOTHIN' gonna stop you.  

And I'd favor eating over no eating.  You really need all of that fuel to propel you through labor.  Even if you puke some of it - you still absorb a lot of that energy.  

But I'd skip curry or anything spicy as a last meal :).  That kind of stuff's no fun coming back out.  

[NewMumJoy]

Originally Posted by Lizbiz 

Yep, puking and pooping are two things I generally do during labor :).  Can't be helped!  It's pretty much a whole-body kind of experience, that's for sure.  But trust me, when you're in the midst of it, you don't even care... You're way too on another planet to worry about whether or not you're pooping.  And generally, you can't even tell you're pooing, because at that point you're pushing - which is basically all that lies between you and meeting/getting your baby out of you, and ain't NOTHIN' gonna stop you.  

Those 2 things are my biggest dread about labor - far more than the pain itself!  And yeah everyone I've spoken to about it agrees that it just happens... I'm still trying to brace myself for that....   

[pennywhistle]

It was explained to me like this: Imagine a tube of toothpaste with no cap on.  Now imagine rolling a bowling ball across it.  Some toothpaste is just going to come out, no way to stop it.

[SomethingAnonymous]

Originally Posted by Lizbiz 

Seriously, I would sue over something like this! :) WHAT????!!!! You just gave birth - dang hospital should have at least the ability to scramble some eggs and throw in some toast for you.  3am or 3pm... shouldn't make a lick of difference.  That is INSANE.  I would seriously lose it over this ;). 

Food is really important to me.  That would be a total deal breaker and I might have just walked to the nearest Taco Bell myself!! :)  

 I think this is pretty common, after my hospital births all they had available was like, gross canned chicken broth, jello, juice, etc

[SomethingAnonymous]

Originally Posted by NewMumJoy 

Those 2 things are my biggest dread about labor - far more than the pain itself!  And yeah everyone I've spoken to about it agrees that it just happens... I'm still trying to brace myself for that....   

 I guess it's always good to be aware it can happen and to be prepared mentally for it, but it doesn't happen to everyone. Neither has happened to me for either of my births. I always get diarrhea at the start of labor, so maybe that explains that part of it. I was nauseated last time but didn't actually throw up.

[sallyrae17]

Originally Posted by NewMumJoy 

Those 2 things are my biggest dread about labor - far more than the pain itself!  And yeah everyone I've spoken to about it agrees that it just happens... I'm still trying to brace myself for that....   

I never got to the pushing stage, but I also had diarrhea and threw up at the onset of labor. I'm pretty sure my body expelled everything it could in order to focus on the labor itself. I've also read that if it *does* happen, you don't even know it happened (the pooping part, that is).

[Sol_y_Paz]

Originally Posted by Lizbiz 
Food is really important to me. 

My thoughts exactly! That is why I am stockpiling my bag, I can't imagine being caught without something decent.  I joked with DH I want to bring a cooler and stock boiled eggs, cheese sticks, cold beverages, and amy's frozen dinners!  LOL

[DesertSunsets]

mmm... cheese sticks... I may have to get some of those.

[srtacoche]

Originally Posted by Sol_y_Paz 

My thoughts exactly! That is why I am stockpiling my bag, I can't imagine being caught without something decent.  I joked with DH I want to bring a cooler and stock boiled eggs, cheese sticks, cold beverages, and amy's frozen dinners!  LOL

I'm the same way!  The old saying comes to mind "it's better to have and not need than to need and not have" and is one of the few times I agree with that sentiment.  Right now, I have food everywhere because I don't do well when I don't have good food when I need it. There are granola bars and nuts in all cars, granola bars in my bedroom closet (would be at the night stand if it weren't for the dogs), and in my possession every time I leave the house.  One of the top reasons I am choosing to birth at the birth center is so that I can eat and drink as needed.  I might forget to bring other things for birth, but there will be food (including popcorn)!

[Mama Chickadee]

With DD, I had a really big lunch out with DH, and birthed by 6:30, so I didn't miss a meal. With DS, I had a big dinner out, and birthed him before breakfast, so again, didn't miss a meal. Hmm.... I'm sensing a pattern.... eat out a meal, have a baby.... 

I drank gatorade during both labors, and had some dried apple with my second labor, maybe some granola bars? Can't quite remember. But, it was nice to have some food on hand. DH really appreciated it too! He gets terribly cranky when he gets hungry, so I'll make sure I've packed enough to keep him a happy labor companion! 

Most people who I know who have birthed at the same hospital as us rave about how good their food is. We've never stayed long enough to really appreciate the food, but I guess at least its not horrible! 

I think I will pack:

dried cranberries, fruit etc

protein bars

pretzels

gatorade

Thinking also about making some pumpkin bread cupcakes and freezing those. Someone mentioned cheese and hard boiled eggs, and now those sound good, too! I'm getting hungry.... 

[Tizzy]

DH has strict orders to never mention anything about pooping during labour. If it happens, it happens, but we just won't talk about it LOL