Food for dh

[tams13]

I'm after a bit of advice/inspiration about what food might be worth packing for dh for when I'm in labour. I've found some posts about what food I should take and probably not eat but I'm struggling to find much about food for dh. Does anyone have any advice?

I would be very tempted to tell him to sort himself out! He's an adult who knows what he likes. And you'll be busy enough!

But basically just things that are easy to eat without plates/cutlery and more importantly not too smelly. If you're stuck in a hot delivery room for hours, the last thing you need is dh chomping through a greasy burger or stinking blue cheese sandwich. And if you're going to be there a while, nothing that is going to need a fridge.

So fruit, crisps, sandwiches, flapjacks, cakes, chocolate etc And don't forget drinks. If your labour ends up being quite long, there may be time to send him off down to the hospital shop/café/vending machine anyway.

Thanks for the reply baskingtrout. To be fair, he's been doing a lot and is happy to sort himself out. We've done most things together so we're trying to think of food that he likes but doesn't smell to strong!

Will definitely need to take lots of drinks for him then and some snacky bits. He normally drinks a lot anyway so will be much more if it's hot in there!

I just packed the same thing for both of us, which was cereal bars, crisps, still lucozade, sweets etc. Not the healthiest...

Thanks dixiechick. We went to Tesco today and picked up some cereal bars and juice for both of us. Think we might make some pasta for him to eat cold or throw together some sandwiches on the day. Think a day of unhealthy eating is probably ok when you're in a delivery room in the middle of summer!

Take things for him! I had a nightmare birth and couldn't even hold my daughter initially. DH left holding her for hours, couldn't get himself any food etc as no cot provided by hospital to leave her in for a few hours as so busy(!!!)

He was very hands on for the labour and birth (even if he hadn't been up for it, my screaming at him to do x y z and not leave for 1 second was pretty convincing) and so was also hungry!

He was doing everything as I was completely incapable for first day and our baby was very demanding shall we say but strictly no food would be provided for him by the hospital.

Hopefully you won't have issues like we did but it doesn't hurt to go prepared in my opinion. Carby filling food would be useful.

Things he likes and can get easily, and not all sweet - DH got a bit sugered out. I'd suggest stuff like nuts, peperami, crisps, crackers etc. An drinks. Don't let him eat your food!

Take sugary drinks for you - fruit juice was my savior, wish I'd taken more.

Good suggestions above. I would put something into your hospital bag in advance even if you plan to make some sandwiches. We planned to make something on the day but forgot as things happened quite quickly!

I'm not sure whether I think this is a bit barmy or absolutely adorable

You'll have enough to be thinking about without making pasta salads before you go into hospital. And more than enough stuff to be lugging around already.

Just take change for the vending machines.

Thanks for some more great ideas - hopefully it won't be so quick that he can't make a sandwich.

Change for vending machines seems like a great idea but I'm not sure whether there are any in our hospital. I've certainly never seen any while we've been there. There are a couple of coffee shops doing sandwiches but they're the other end of the site and it's a complete maze so we're better off taking some food with us.

We'll have to pick up some crackers and things junosmum. So far we've only got small sweet things like cereal bars.

When are you due? Is this really something people plan in advance? He is a grown up and could probably forage for himself at the vast array in the hospital cafe/shop

I think we took a 6 pack of Mars bars for some reason. I can't remember whether any got eaten though.

I was glad dh had chucked some food in the bag. There wasn't really an opportunity for him to leave me and find something with either of my labours so he would have been very hungry if we hadn't got something lurking in the bag to make up for forgetting to sort something before setting off to hospital!

I think it's a good idea. I went into hospital at midday and delivered DD at 9pm the following day. Luckily for DH there was a cafe and I sent him there for breakfast on Day 2, and I had packed myself some cereal bars that I didn't want. It can be a long old slog for the birth partner and not all hospitals have facilities.

I would suggest buying flapjacks, cereal bars, trail mix, and cartons of juice - non smelly stuff that doesn't go off. If he can be arsed to make a sandwich to bribe he's a better person than I would be.

DC1 - I went on syntocin drip at noon and once I was comfy DH went and had a roast dinner in the hospital canteen.
DC2 - arrived within 15mins of getting to hospital, no time to move car to car park let alone eat.

I don't think i ate much during either labour. First time around i couldn't keep anything down, second time was so quick (& early) that i hadn't even bought in supplies!

Luckily our hospital was in walking distance of a decent M&S so we had sandwiches once both babies were born.

I think if we'd planned ahead i'd have bought trail mix, cereal bars & chocolate. Neither of us are fans of warm juice so we just opted for water.