Best food/drinks for getting you through labour?

[IrishMaeve]

Hi,

what foods have got you through labour? I'm due a week tomorrow with my first and have some slow-release foods, e.g. oat cakes already in my bag. I keep hearing about glucose tablets but don't know where to get them. Would welcome any suggestions of what food / drinks worked for others!

Thanks

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I had cartons of apple juice and cereal bars both times. Got very sick towards the end and pushed DS out (first-born) powered by two polo mints that my mum had in her handbag.

Fluid important tho - make sure you have a sports bottle or something with a straw to sip between contractions.

Good luck

[balismum]

pre sliced and chilled mango. green and blacks (unlimited!) good luck.

[juuule]

I drank bottles of Lucozade.

[bigchris]

same as someone else, I took in cereal bars to give me energy but tbh spent a lot of time throwing up
was ed when in the middle of labour a hot dinner was wheeled in
luckily dh was there to eat it

[MegBusset]

I found that I could not face the thought of solid food at all while in active labour.

Instead I sipped at chocolate milk all the way through.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Nothing because you vomit!

Ice cubes were really lovely though.

[juuule]

I didn't vomit. It's not a pre-requisite

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

My best friend had just brought me a slush puppy!!!

[juuule]

Not fair sometimes, is it, fluffybunny

[HensMum]

Whatever you do, don't have an NHS cheese and coleslaw salad. It's even worse coming back up.

Don't forget snacks for post labour too, if you are giving birth in hospital. I missed breakfast as I was catching up on sleep so I was glad that I had a couple of cereal bars hanging around.

[NancysGarden]

gas and air (and pethadine too I imagine) can make you feel nauseous so it might be worth limiting the food - see how you go, I had light snacks like rice crackers. But the best thing I found was energy drinks - you know the isotonic lucozade drinks, non-fizzy, really kept me going: just little sips. I think I got through about 3 in a night/ morning.

Best of luck

[19fran76]

I had a bowl of cornflakes with ice cold milk & sugar. It tasted damn good after labouring all night .

[weaselm4]

Hi Maeve, I've got 2 packs of glucose tablets in my cupboard that I didn't use while in labour with my daughter if you're interested ...

I think I bought them in Sainsbury's.

I had some mixed nuts (unsalted) - quite good for energy without being too bulky (in case of throwing up!).

The isotonic drinks sound like a good idea too.

Hope all goes well for you x x

[walkingwomb]

Malt loaf - the only thing i could bear

[MrsTittleMouse]

Boots sell glucose tablets - you can find them in most chemists. I also like Ribena - hospital water doesn't always taste that great and my taste buds were especially sensitive. I had cereal bars in my bag too, and they were great for DH. Do not give your birth partner their own choice of snacks as they will choose cheese Kettle Chips and make you sick!

[AnotherFineMess]

I had toast with DD1, and about a million liquorice allsorts with DS2. I was never sick, nor even felt it, so pack whatever you like and hope for the best. I do remember packing a Rowntrees raspberry jelly with DD1 - I didn't get chance to eat it during labour but it was the first thing I ate afterwards - must have needed the sugar or something but it was a gastronomical delight, I'll never forget the taste of it

[IrishMaeve]

Lots of ideas, thanks everyone.

weaselm4, I'll check out Sainsburys and Boots for the glucose tablets, thanks for the offer!

[LittleWhiteWolf]

I will be labouring in a hospital next door to a 24 hour Sainburys--good planning, eh?

In my labour bag I have cartons of ribena, boiled sweets, hobnobs and Kendal mint cake for energy. I plan to add Lucozade to that and something for DH, although he'll be happy with the biccies. My reasoning is I'd rather take too much and have lots of choice then end up taking something in that turns my stomach on the day and not have any alternatives!

[Boobz]

I was in latent labour from Weds night until Sat night and all I ate was a bowl of tomato soup during the lunch times and lots of sugary tea in the evenings. When I was finally in established labour (4cm dilated) I could only manage chopped 1cm cubed banana and apple chunks. And only about 4 of those. Couldn't eat a damn thing. Too much shouting going.

[minouminou]

Soda water and bananas.

[mrswill]

Cant say i was bothered about food, although my mother and auntie carted in a buffet full mid labour, salmon sandwiches and a trifle was a hit with the midwifes! What i found really invaluable was the sports drinks with the squirty tops, that you could just squirt into your mouth between contractions, you can get more fluid in than just sipping. I think i was more keen on getting the gas and air back in my mouth, and wanted a drink fast.

[SOLOisMeredithGrey]

Could not eat with Ds but chicken(or turkey?was Boxing day )and mayo sarnies and fruit and nut chocolate with Dd...don't remember drinking much tbh.

[bladders]

Isotonic lucozade was the only thing i could stomach and I had a 2 day labour, it worked a treat. Not the fizzy one though, that made me chunder. No glugging, just sipping!