[Punchy Kaby]

My reflux is really bad and has been getting worse for the past couple of months. I am 38+weeks and the baby has not dropped, perhaps if it drops I will get some relief, but who knows? Today I aspirated on some of my reflux during a nap. Sometimes just drinking water during the night makes the reflux worse. I am almost thinking that I don't want to take a chance at eating during labor. I threw up a bunch during my last labor, before I even reached transition.

Anyone go through something similar? did your reflux go away during labor as the baby moved down?

 

[Astrogirl]

It depends. My first pregnancy, the reflux got worse and worse, culminating in THE worst during labour. It was horrible, all I wanted was some milk and there wasn't any available (this is germany - very few adults drink milk here

). I ate (toast i think) but then barfed and didn't attempt it again.

My 2nd pregnancy, I again had back reflux but somehow it disappeared right before labour. I ate and ate and ate during labour, only stopping a little bit before transition. I ate apples and shortbread cookies, maybe a yogurt (can't remember) and drank labourade. It was great for fuel - no reflux, heartburn or vomiting.

I don't think you can ever predict, so best to prepare just in case you want something and can't get it (i.e, my milk situation)

 

[HappyMommy2]

It is different for all of us. I had a hard and fast labor - and food was the last thing on my mind! I had eaten guacamole for lunch and kept burping it up - GROSS!

I was complaining that I had made the worst choice ever, but my mw said I would think that no matter what I had eaten (i.e. no matter what I would be burping up.)

I agree with pp to prepare with your favorites. PLUS - you will want your favorite comfort foods around for right after the birth anyways.

 

[Pumpkin_Pie]

I had a very hard, fast 6.5 hour induced labor. I definitely didn't think about food, but I was INSANELY thirsty. I bought three flavors of all natural sports drink, and those were pretty fabulous.

As soon as DS was born, though, I felt like I could have eaten enough food for an army. I ended up having a piece of toast with peanut butter that my nurse brought in, and it was the best thing I had ever tasted in my life.

 

[an_aurora]

With DD1 I ate grapes and crackers in labor.

With DD2, her birth was so fast I barely had time to drink water

. Right afterwards my mom made me french toast and it was so awesome

 

[Punchy Kaby]

I cannot wait until after the birth, I remember how starving I was, and my reflux was instantly gone. BUt even now all the sports drinks give me reflux

, there is really nothing that doesn't give it to me. At night I have to not eat for 3 hrs before going to bed and I still get it, and I am taking zantac, which I hate to take. I am afraid in labor I am not even going to want water. Grrr.

 

[Champ1437]

I was starving with my first and wanted to eat so badly because I was in labor for so long, so when laying there with the epi. I was feeling how hungry my stomach was.. bu I got past that fast when it stopped working for me and pain took over. My second I didn't want to eat at all. Early labor at home I muched a little because I worried I'd be hungry when I got to the hospital but I wasn't. Dr's wouldn't let me have anything anyways as I ended with a section for the first and the second was a vbac that ended in a section.

 

[the_lissa]

I couldn't stomach anything in my first labour, but made sure to try and eat in my second labour, and my second labour went so much better even though I threw up. I would just choose foods you don't mind throwing up.

 

[Astrogirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nolansmum I cannot wait until after the birth, I remember how starving I was, and my reflux was instantly gone. BUt even now all the sports drinks give me reflux , there is really nothing that doesn't give it to me. At night I have to not eat for 3 hrs before going to bed and I still get it, and I am taking zantac, which I hate to take. I am afraid in labor I am not even going to want water. Grrr.

Thats how i was too. Luckily, i AM in Germany and the doctors and midwifes are very big on giving you "healing earth" to drink. Its amazing and works when the medications don't. Its just a clay that absorbs all the acid.

 

[cinnamongrl]

In my one experience;
I had bad reflux the night that I went into labor, but didn't notice it during labor at all.
I also did not even think about food during labor except I'm grateful for my SIL who gave me bites and drinks occasionally. I think it's good to have on hand and have someone else be in charge of "thinking" of these things for you. Especially if you have a long hard labor.

 

[dogmom327]

Horrible reflux during pregnancy last time but nothing during labor. I ate and drank until about 3 hours before DS was born (I laid down and woke up in transition). I can't imagine not eating and drinking during labor--labor is hard work. In fact I was crazy thirsty while pushing and was sipping water in between contractions.

 

[mamadelbosque]

I don't think I ate much during labor - my water broke, literally as I sat down to eat dinner... so I ate and then cleaned up and went to the hospital.. DS was born 13-14 odd hours later (8ish am the next day). Mostly I think I just drank water and such... and then ate waffles or pancakes or something right after he was born

 

[Pernillep]

I had pretty bad reflux as well and food was the last thing on my mind.
I had a nice dinner then went into labor early morning. The reflux seemed to get better after I vomited in mid labor but I still didn't want to eat cause all I could think of was throwing up.
I was however starving right after and the reflux was gone as was the fear of it coming back up.

 

[mamatolevi]

my reflux never went away - and the baby had a head full of 1.5" long hair to prove it! I did want to eat durring early labor and I'm glad I did. I doubt I would have made it through the day as I get nauseated & dry heave when I go too long w/o food.

It's much easier to throw up something than to dry heave for hours w/no relief. I was not allowed food durring my first labor and the constant dry heaving was painful and weakened me more than if I'd been able to have something to throw up. Just make sure it's something easy to get down and come back up. Chicken and rice soup is good for that - it's also quickly digested.

If you do have reflux or vomiting issues durring labor there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON they can't give you something for it.

There's also no reason not to eat durring early labor. drs say not to b/c they are worried re: surgery & GA. modern intubation methods make the risk of aspiration very low nowadays.

 

[Mal85]

I think it definitely depends on how your labor goes, but having some snacks nearby just in case would be a good idea. I labored all through the late night and middle of the night, she was born very early in the morning. I had eaten kind of a late dinner around 8, but by 1 or 2 in the morning I was starving! Between every contraction, my stomach was growling. I was so used to eating dinner and usually having a snack before bed at that point in my pregnancy, going that long without food was torture.

Once transition set in, food was the last thing on my mind. But then during pushing, my stomach was again growling between contractions. It was strange! I was in the hospital so they wouldn't give me anything but a popcicle. It helped a little, but didn't quite cut it. I wish I'd snuck some snacks with me in my bag.

 

[mags]

I have hospital births and get stuck with an IV (but no meds). I've never felt hungry during labor. However, I tend to just not eat much in general while pregnant (hyperemesis). Now, AFTER I have the baby, I could eat enough food for five ppl... I seriously have knew what true hunger was until after I had both of my babies. It was like my body was yelling, "FEED ME" after starving for 9 mo.

 

[mamatolevi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mags I have hospital births and get stuck with an IV (but no meds). I've never felt hungry during labor. However, I tend to just not eat much in general while pregnant (hyperemesis). Now, AFTER I have the baby, I could eat enough food for five ppl... I seriously have knew what true hunger was until after I had both of my babies. It was like my body was yelling, "FEED ME" after starving for 9 mo.

LOL about 30 minutes after I had my last one I was asking for dinner.

 

[Punchy Kaby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamatolevi LOL about 30 minutes after I had my last one I was asking for dinner.

I don't even think it took me that long to ask for food after DS!

I cannot wait to be starving and eat a big meal again, I loved the nursing days of pigging out!

 

[foxsmama]

The hospital I had DS at was fine with me eating during labour. I was hungry and thirsty! Ate mostly jello and crackers, but ended up vomiting during the transition phase. I stuck with fluids after that.

 

[lilbsmama]

I had reflux my whole pregnancy. It was awful. I ate. I threw up, too, but I'm glad I ate, because I got the energy boosts I needed after having a 38 hour labor. I think it depends on how you feel, and definitely how long your labor is. Some women find that the idea of food is repulsive during labor, some can't get enough. I would have easily digestable, as well as easily regurgitated foods available if you need it.