what to eat?

[AZgirl2207]

My DH asked me last night what food I was going to have on hand for me during birthing time. I drew a total blank. This is going to be my first HB (first was hospital) and I have a whole list of things for the birth team but nothing for me.

What did you eat during your birthing time? Thanks!

[dogmom327]

I snacked on normal food but at the end (about an hour before transition) I wanted applesauce and pretzels. Weird but it worked (probably because it was straight carbs). Afterwards, my friend brought over Chinese food for everyone but I only had some fried rice. I was pretty out of it. Next time though I'll make a big pasta salad (pasta spirals, sliced olives, diced mozzarella cheese, anything else that sounds good mixed up with Italian/cheese salad dressing and Parmesan cheese). :

[janasmama]

I ate pizza during both of my early labors....funny because it's what I always crave during prenancy. But I also had carrots and mostly just drank a lot of fluids. What do you have for the birth team? I would make the list up to also contain things that I would like/want so that too much food making doesn't have to happen.

[robertandenith]

I am hoping to eat exclusively raw foods, and hoping I have the strength to make myself a green smoothie which is what I am craving all the time, yum!!!!

[HannahsMomma]

I'm going to have snack foods that everyone can help themselves to. I'm thinking: muffins, veggies and dip, deli tray with buns, cheese and crackers and yogurt. I'll also have juice, tea and coffee.
Oh and I like robertandenith's smoothie idea. I'll definately ask dh to make those too !

[ElkMtnsMama]

High protein things like almonds and cheese really helped keep my energy up during my long labor, as well as tons of water, and grapes and celery were refreshing. Afterwards, I ate an egg, then later pizza, which we had kept in the freezer for the occasion.

[Mama Poot]

I woke up around 5:30am with contractions, had a piece of toast and some orange juice around 7:30am and didn't eat after that. I just didn't have any appetite. However this kind of bit me in the butt because I was totally whipped and weak and my blood pressure went way low because I wasn't hydrated enough either. After the birth I had cheese and crackers, fresh oranges and irish soda bread my MIL made. The soda bread was wonderful!!! I want to tell you to just eat whatever you want, but I'd also advise you to tell your midwife or your DH to encourage you to eat if you're not eating much. Keep things around that you enjoy eating and that give you lots of energy.

[Gray's Mommy]

I made a huge stockpot full of soup & munched on that for quite some time during labor. Afterwards, everyone was eating pizza & I had some crackers with cheese & some ham. Greasy pizza sounded gross!

[holothuroidea]

I was going to make sandwiches and salads before hand and keep them in the fridge. I've been avoiding deli meats since I got pregnant (listeria), and I am anticipating how good that mid-labor ham and cheese sandwich is going to taste. : I've been craving subs so badly the whole pregnancy, every time there's a subway or blimpie commercial on TV I start weeping.

[Peony]

I stocked the fridge with veggies, sandwich fixings, I had made a huge pot of veggie soup the night before. All that food, and we ended up ordering a pizza.

[Mama Poot]

Originally Posted by holothuroidea

I was going to make sandwiches and salads before hand and keep them in the fridge. I've been avoiding deli meats since I got pregnant (listeria), and I am anticipating how good that mid-labor ham and cheese sandwich is going to taste. : I've been craving subs so badly the whole pregnancy, every time there's a subway or blimpie commercial on TV I start weeping.

Go ahead and make yourself a ham sandwich now! Your chances of getting listeriosis from deli meat is extremely small, and its not like it couldn't happen with other foods. I eat blue cheese, sushi, rare steak, you get the picture here. The key is freshness and safe preparation.