Best snacks for labour

[pacific407]

Apologies if there has been a thread like this recently, but I am planning to do some shopping this weekend for my labour bag, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for food/drink for labour.

I'm hoping to have my baby at home but am of course going to pack a hospital bag, so I need stuff for the bag and stuff for the cupboards...

Someone told me to get glucose tablets (you know the energy thingys) they were disgusting, made me vomit and if I ever taste one again I may die, so I wouldn't suggest those!
I was quite sick throughout my labour so didn't eat a lot, but I would have lots of carb related high energy foods not too much sugar. In reality you will eat what you fancy so just stock up!

If you have an epidural or have any other type of complications/potential for intervention the midwives won't let you eat anything in case you need c section! I starved during my first labour and really needed the energy boost. For the second labour I ate Haribos when the midwife was out of the room. I wouldn't have wanted anything except juice or sweets to suck for the energy. To be honest the need for food was greater afterwards because if you go into labour outside hosp meal times/hosp shop times the most you can get to eat is toast from the hosp kitchen. Also DH will starve if hanging around for a long time (and they won't make HIM toast) so take snacks for him. I also managed to miss the meal rounds after delivery so lived off mini cheddars from my suitcase. I also took some juice cartons as fruit juice gives a quick energy boost without being too sugary and unhealthy.

I had haribo and jaffa cakes. In fact it was the energy I gained from stuffing a couple of jaffa cakes down me that enabled me to finally push DD2 out!

What is more important is food to eat as soon as you have given birth. I was starving hungry after both deliveries and couldn't get food down me quickly enough!

I had bananas. (its not a pun) They're great for giving you some energy, and seem healthier and lighter than starchy things...

I brought all kinds of nutritious snacks, and forgot to bring the bag...

And anyway, I arrived in the hospital vomiting, and was vomiting a few times (midwife happy as apparently this indicates a speedy labour).

second one I vomited too.

It is quite common apparently, as is diarrhea (part of the "things they do not tell you").

Sorry, just thought I'd share!

good luck. just bring a few cereal bars, but don't think you'll fancy eating, you'll be too busy!

I agree with the ceral bars and carbs suggestions.
I have my hospital bag packed as I'm due any day now with my second. I've got Tracker bars, hard boiled sweets, a chocolate bar, Lucozade and ready salted crisps. I was planning to stop at the petrol station that has an M&S in it on the way to the hospital to grab some packs of pre-cut fruit and bananas (if I have time!).
Obviously all this will take up a lot of room in your hospital bag so I am taking a seperate heavy duty shopping bag that will fit my pillow in and will put all the food & drinks in that.
On another MN thread people have recommended putting a couple of bottles of water in the freezer and taking them with you so you can still have a cold drink hours into the labour.

take something savoury as well - you might get fed up with too much sweet stuff. and you need to keep your salt levels up - it's bloomin' hard work and you will sweat! fruit juice or squash is a good idea for when you get fed up with just water. and stuff that can be given to you in small mouthfuls for you to sneak when the MW isn't looking if you are officially nil by mouth but are desperate for something to eat. i took loads and didn;t eat much during labour, but was in for a night, the food was awful so i was really pleased i had loads of things with me to eat on the ward. good luck!

We packed jelly beans, cereal bars, nuts and fruit. And TBH, the best thing i had was the frozen capri suns. By the time i got round to drinking them they were cold....and i was just so thirsty throughout labour! I must have finished a big box pack!!

cardamomginger, I think that "sneaking" in food when you are nill by mouth is not clever in any way, as if you DO need emergency anaesthetic (emergency C-section for example) it buggers up the anaesthetic!(or worse, you cannot have one)

People keep recommending Jelly Babies to me (makes sense as I also eat them on long distance runs) not quite sure if they're the most appropriate food for labour though

Whether or not I end up packing them in my hospital bag, I am suddenly having a craving for tracker bars! Thanks for that recommendation Roarybear!

I think I'll pack plenty of stuff in the hospital bag, but probably more as a substitute for hospital food than for snacking if I'm nil by mouth.

Are you nil by mouth automatically when you go to hospital?

IIRC hospitals tend to discourage any eating or drinking during labour. However if you are low-risk pregnancy, I don't see why not, especially in earlier stages of labour. Towards the late stages you probably would be using all your energy to cope with the stronger and more frequent contractions and won't be really feeling that hungry, but thirsty maybe, if you do sweat a lot then. Sips of water or ice cubes should do the trick then. I ate and drink during labour for my 2 home births, but didn't for my hospital birth.

This webpage might explain a bit more in detail for you :

pregnancy.about.com/cs/laborbasics/a/eatinginlabor.htm