are you going to sneak food at the hospital?

[spu]

If you're planning a hospital vbac, are you going to sneak food and drinks? I'm delivering with midwives, and they said the hospital's policy (not necessarily the midwives' views) is no fod or drink for vbacs, but I got the impression I could feed myself discreetly... what would you eat/drink that would digest easily and give you energy? Do you havea snack bag packed?

[warrior mama]

I'm hoping for a homebirth but if I did have a hospital VBAC I would definately take a bag of light snacks just in case. I'd say they were for my dh if anyone asked. In labor for my first there was no way I wanted to eat and drink though.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

yeah, I'll have a snack bag packed but not planning to use it during labor (usually I'm nauseous as heck so don't want to eat anyway!) But it'll have granola, protein bars, dried fruit, and then some herbal teas

[stayathomecristi]

Planning a homebirth here too, but I packed snacks last time for my hospital VBAC. If I was going to a hospital this time, I would do the same. Only thing is that I've become so militant, that I might not be sneaking

If someone "catches" you eating, you could always say, "I'll take your suggestion under advisement." and continue doing what you think your body is telling you to.

The reason they don't want you eating (which I'm sure you know) is that they don't want you to aspirate in the event that they need to do an emergency section. My argument is that I would rather have food that might stay in my stomach than to aspirate plain, old, stomach acid which would burn my lungs. I just found out that at our local hospital they don't all ANY mamas to eat during labor. I think that's sad.

If you stay home as long as you can before you go in, you can eat and drink at will without having to sneak. By the time you go in, you probably won't feel like eating anyway. KWIM?

I wish you well on your VBAC by the way!!!!

[channelofpeace]

I had my vba2c a month ago and had a foley catheter induction. I went in at 7 in the morning and they told me not to eat from midnight on

I didn't listen Which turned out to be a good thing because i went in at 7 on a Thursday and didn't have him til 2:50 am Saturday. Good Lord, i would have been hungry. I had applesauce, muffins, lots of liquids, some cafeteria food that my hubby shared. I just did it when they were out of the room and made sure there were no poppy seeds from the muffin in my teeth when they came back

[RosesArePurple]

If you want to keep yopur stash small or hidden, you could make LabourAid and put it in a water bottle. What would they know?

You could bring energy gel. Like Clif Shot which is organic. That takes no room in your bags, and would give you a good energy boost without freaking the hospital out.

[MommytoTwo]

It wasnt a vbac but with my first I went in to be induced and the rule was no food or water. So I went in 7 am Tuesday and the baby wasnt born till Wednesday at 5 pm. Can you imagine. I snuck some food and and I was also stealing tomatoes off food trays in the hall.

[KKmama]

I think one important thing is to make a serious effort to stay hydrated and nourished while you're laboring at home. I did this with both of my VBACs (Z and L)... It's good for your laboring anyway, but if you know they are going to deny you once you get to the hospital...

And yes, I did eat and drink in labor, both times. The first time, I had a really long labor (a good portion of it at the hospital, because I needed some pain relief after the first 24 hrs or so), and my doula was giving me energy gel when the nurses were out of the room. The 2nd labor was much quicker, and I arrived at the hospital at 9 cm, so it wasn't an issue.

[oregonbound]

I brought crackers and I did start feeling hungry when I was at the hospital so I would have my husband sneak them to me while the nurse was out of the room. I also had lemonade but it left an awful taste in my mouth. What is Labor Aide?

Minta
mom to 2 and 1 on the way!

[roadfamily6now]

That is a wonderful idea. Especially if you are there for a number of hours.
I never understood the reason behind starving a laboring women!

[richella]

Where I had dd, no one was allowed to eat, but I could drink as much water as I wanted. I sneaked food in and at one point I ate half an energy bar and nearly vomited it back up. I would have been really embarrassed if that happened. fortunately by the time I did vomit it must have been completely digested, only green bile came out. But starving was one of the reasons for my c/s, after 35 hrs of no food, I couldn't imagine that I would have the energy when it came time to push.

[RosesArePurple]

Originally Posted by oregonbound

What is Labor Aide?

Minta
mom to 2 and 1 on the way!

From Dr. Sears

Laborade:
* 1/3 cup lemon juice
* 1/3 cup honey
* 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Salt
* 1/4 tsp. baking soda
* 1-2 calcium tablets, crushed,Add enough water to make one quart. You can add an additional eight ounces of water for a milder flavor, or you can flavor this blend with your favorite juice.

It's the same or nearly the same as what my midwife's office says.

[GoodMomma]

While in labor with my son, I wasn't allowed anything but ice pops and juice. After more then a day of hardly progressing, they allowed me a meatball sub. It was yummy!!! Right after they inserted cervidil so everything went really fast after that and I ended up puking it up. : So if I was able to eat small snacks throughout the whole process, that probably wouldn't of happened.... so yes I'm sneaking food this time.

[Mihelinka]

You CAN refuse just about anything at a hospital, including the NO food thing. I'm taking food for both myself & dh. Ener-G packets for me to put in water, some type of gatoraid dring, crackers, protein bars, snacks for dh.
I'd rather eat/drink a lettle than have to get a glucose IV if i'm depleted

[lexbeach]

I'll be allowed to eat/drink during labor at the birthing center/hospital I'm going to, but my PLAN is to not get there until past the point in labor where I would want to eat anyway. For vbacs, I think it's especially important to try to labor at home as long as possible.

If I was in your situation, I would sneak food if needed. My doula said that she's seen a bite of yogurt do a world of good. The only thing I would avoid would be nuts since they are really no fun to aspirate (this happened to a friend of mine in labor. . . and to my son (obviously HE wasn't in labor at the time)). And take small bites so as not to overwhelm your system.

But, basically, I think you should stay home past the point of wanting to eat anything.

HTH!

Lex

[Turkish Kate]

I had a hospital induction (Pitocin) with my daughter, 13 years ago. I went to the doctor's office in the morning and then stopped at home on the way to the hospital for the induction. While at home, I had some nice tea with toast and jam. When I was completing the admission paperwork and the nurse asked when I last ate, she was so angry that I had the nerve to eat something when I knew I was coming in for an induction. While I was in labor, a friend of ours snuck in some candy for me, was "caught" by the nurse, and summarily ejected from the labor ward. (Nice, eh?) Later, when I hit transition and was nauseous, this same nurse had the nerve to say something like, "I bet you wish you hadn't eaten anything now!" Needless to say, I had a few choice words for her, which would definitely violate the UA here. I hated her at that moment. Come to think of it, I'm not terribly fond of her 13 years later, either.

[maxmama]

Don't have to sneak food @ my hospital. We feed all the early labor patients, and actives as they want. The only exception is if they get a block. So I may not get to labor (long story), but damn it, I'm going to eat!

[Pandora114]

Not a VBACer but I'll chime in

Go ahead and eat. WTH are they gonna do? Snatch the food out of your hand and pump charcoal down your gullet to make you puke it back up?

Bah.

[MommyDOK]

I had a hospital vbac w/out any problems. My doctor told me I could eat throughout labor.....but there was one problem, I forgot to bring food and I dislike "cafeteria" food. So don't forget to bring your food!!!

[15yrsbetweenboys]

I don't plan on taking anything with me-but then again, I don't plan on actually going into the hospital until I am close to transition LOL. I am going to labor as long as possible on the grounds (I live 45 minutes away-so I figure once I am there I can walk around and enjoy the pretty grounds while progressing) and will drink to thirst while I am doing it-and if I get hungry by golly I will eat

I got my butt chewed royally with my last one though-I ate 3 chocolate covered donuts (those little bitty ones) in the car on the way to the hospital and they acted like I had eaten an entire pizza! They said if my cs had not been a true emergency they would have postponed it until the donuts had time to digest............I was like-WTH??? If somebody is in an automobile accident and has just eaten, they still do surgery on them-what the heck is the difference??