[mamabella]

Anyone out there have any suggestions for snacks to bring to a birth center during labor? I know they say to eat like a toddler at my birth center - but I am having trouble being creative here and this is my 1st baby so I don't know what kind of food laboring women might like.

Also, if anyone out there has any other good ideas for things to bring to a birth center for comfort measures or to pass the time, I'd appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks!

 

[ramlita]

I'm a big fan of Lemon ReCharge. It tastes like mild lemonade, and is made to be a natural/fruit juice version of Gatorade. It's made by Knudsen. I like that it's not too sweet or strong, and I use it now to settle my stomach. It digests well, and keeps your energy up. See if you like it, and bring a few quarts along.

Other than that, I say bring what you like, keeping in mind whether you'll want certain things to be certain temperatures... and if you have to chew too much, it might not be a good idea.
I had a crowd of people offering suggestions for food when I was in labor, and ice cream was the only thing that appealed to me. Was Ben and Jerry's CoffeeCoffeeBuzzBuzzBuzz the best thing to eat right then? I'm not sure.

But I liked it.

Oh. Part of the consideration for things that need chewing: many of us vomit at some point in labor, often around transition. So the better you can digest your food, the less graphic and upsetting it will be if you see it again.

I was a support person at a labor recently, and the mom had many small meals of Echo Farm rice pudding. Worked for her...

 

[17754]

Generally pack for long labor, then you can have a short one...

Recharge was a good suggestion. Pick a few drink flavors cause what tastes good at 3cm will be nausaeting at 8cm. Emergen-C electrolyte.Vit c drinks are good.

Also, real fruit popiscles are good. Buy a variety of flavors. Bring Ice if your center doesn't have a good ice maker.

Frozen fruit for smoothies- frozen bananas, strawberries, milk, protein powder, and honey for a good smoothie. Also good mix is banana, date, walnut, milk. Good stuff.

LABOR FOOD: Yogurt. Cheese and apples. Peanut butter and apples. Miso soup. orange slices.

Some people find a spoonful of honey or jam is good for quick energy in pushing. Dates are good for that too.

Bring food for DH as well, and any support peopel. Make a casserole for after the birth and bring a few servings for you and supprt folks in a tupperware thing. Maybe a breakfast/egg thing and a dinner thing, in case lasagna doens't sound good at 3 am after birth you can have an breakfast thing. Eggs and potatoes, egg casserole, or for dinner meals chicken/rice, lasagna, or something like that. A pot of tortilla soup, or my postpartum favorite to make for frinds is mossewood p-nut stew. In lots of cultures, post birth food is warm, liquidy, and then full of good fat and protein like nut meat things.

Also for comfort- a sock filled with dried rice, warm socks, a robe if you want to walk around near support people but not be naked, sport bra if you want top covered in pictures while in tub, a camera or video camera and a aperson who knows your wishes about photos (don't make pics a dad job!), tooth brush, nice hair and body wash for after, essential oils for aromatherpy ( www.demetria.com has essential oil sprays and lotions), a phone/card for long distance calls, phone list, and good CDs.

Have all things dad/support person needs, toiletries, chang eof clothes, swim trunks if he wants to get in tub before or after.

I am a birth center midwfe, and I pack for four meals when i go to a birth center birth of a first time mom, if that gives you perspective on how long it can take!

Heidi