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