What's better? Emergen-C/Gatoraid/Recharge

[Satori]

It just occurred to me I should probably have something on hand to drink during labor, I can't stand any of the above and I hear labor-aid is pretty awful too. Are any of the above better during labor then the others?

[CryPixie83]

I had gatorade on hand at my first birth and the first sip made me want to yak I couldn't stand anything with artificial anything in it, so I drank nothing but a TON of water.

This time I intend to have a nice jug of my pregnancy tea (recipe just posted on the red raspberry tea tride over in pregnancy) made up to drink, very strong.

[Peppamint]

I had Recharge on hand since it's more natural than Gatorade. I also had EmergenC on hand too, but forgot about it.

[Teensy]

I would have a variety of things you like.

With my first L&D I didn't drink anything and I think I was dehydrated by the time I finally gave birth. Not good.

So I asked DH with my other L&Ds to remind me once an hour to drink something. I had a bunch of drinks on hand (and in a cooler at the hospital) - gatorade, apple juice, cranberry juice, ginger ale, etc. I also had a cup with a lid & straw so I could drink in the shower (where I spent most of my labor).

[zoe398]

I agree, I'd have a couple of different options available. When I'm attending births, I drink water and also Emergen-C...but I'm not the laboring mama!!

[provocativa]

The good thing about emergen-c during labor is the minerals, and the potassium for your fluid balance. There's potassium in recharge. I did read a snippet on natural childbirth.org about excess vitamin c increasing bleeding which questioned midwifes recommending it (mine does). I am trying to have emergen-c, recharge, and a wide assortment of other beverages as I will be picky. I wanted to make my own labor ade but am 5 days overdue and too tired. and of course dd wants to drink all the recharge. . .

[faeriewisp]

warm water with a bit of honey and sea salt in it it has electrolytes and minerals

so maybe that'd suit your tastes

but plenty of water should be fine, especially if yer constantly careful about drinking lots of water towards the end.

[beansavi]

Mmmmmm. Purple Gatorade ruled during my labor at home. With ice chips. Yum.:nana: My midwife even recommended it.

[grace's voice]

I vote for Emergen-C, healthwise speaking. I don't like the way it tastes though.

[Snowdrift]

grape juice with seltzer in. I don't remember how much of this I ended up drinking during my labor but I lived on it for a couple of days afterwards. I had a very hard time eating and drinking in labor. I threw up a lot. But the grape juice was soothing to my sore throat (it was sore from moaning and from vomiting) and had some calories--so important during and after my long-ish labor when solids pretty much grossed me out. They say too that if you do vomit, grape is one of the best things to have had--it is less acidy and doesn't taste terrible even the second time around.

[bradleybirth2mom]

None of the above

Here's the recipe for laborade---you may want to try it before you turn it down. You can find the recipe on page 213 of The Birth Book by Sears and Sears. It is supposed to be good to keep you from getting nauseous and throwing it up, which tends to happen with Gatorade. I thought it was OK. If you don't like it, you can always try juice.

"1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup mild honey
1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda [to neutralize stomach acid]
1-2 crushed calcium tablets

Add water to make one quart. Another 8 ounces of water may be added for a milder flavor, or you can flavor with your favorite juice."

If you feel hungry, eat pastas, light soups, gelatins and crackers that will digest easily. Happy birthing!

[bradleybirth2mom]

Originally Posted by faeriewisp

warm water with a bit of honey and sea salt in it it has electrolytes and minerals

so maybe that'd suit your tastes

but plenty of water should be fine, especially if yer constantly careful about drinking lots of water towards the end.

that's what laborade has in it, too

[ckhagen]

I went ahead and bought the Recharge since that's what my m/w reccommends. But, I think I'm also going to buy the Vitamin Water "revive". I know I like the taste of that (it also has potassium), so incase I don't like the Recharge, I'll have a backup.

[sevenkids]

Anything you enjoy and can keep down is the best. My philosophy is ladies have been carefully eating right all through pregnancy, in labour they can have whatever they want, iced tea, juice, soda, popsicles, whatever they desire. If it doesn't stay down or you don't like it, it's not doing you any good sitting in your fridge. Have a variety of things you enjoy, and someone willing to run to the 24 hour 7-11 if you change your mind and develop a craving for something else.