Did you eat and drink in labour?

[Snaf]

I'm writing a literature review on eating and drinking in labour and thought it would be interesting to find out about MNers' experiences.

This is completely informal, btw, and will not be used for my essay in any way, I promise! It's just for my own interest as there doesn't seem to be much qualitative research around the subject

So...did you eat and drink freely in labour?
Did you want to? Where you told you couldn't? If you were told you couldn't, what were the reasons given? Do you think it made a difference if you had e.g. a homebirth?

Any thoughts, very much appreciated!

hell, yes!
When I thought I was getting going - waters had started leaking, twinges a bit- we went out for dinner as it seemed our last chance, and it was a lovely warm evening and we fancied the outing. Was in those contractions not counted as labour by midnight and in established labour by 5am. Cooked a simple breakfast and ate on and off all day. Finally ate a whole cherry cake when I was about 9cms - and then threw up.

I was at home, no-one suggested that I shouldn't eat and as it was a heatwave, drinking seemed essential. I was in labout for 25 hours before pushing for 3.5 - but still had energy. Would have collapsed otherwise, I'm sure!

I had toast at the start of DS2's labour.

Nothing else the rest of the time, but I didn't want to eat.

I drank water throughout DS1's labour, but not DS2's - didn't occur to me.

I wouldn't have let anyone stop me eating or drinking had I wanted to though

I was quite thirsty during first labour and did get lots of sips of water, DH on drink duty as I was in the birthing pool. Midwives made me eat a banana (they did offer other things) about 6 hours into labour - DD1 was born an hour later.

DS1 and DD1 were 3 & 1 hour labours resp, and I didn't want, need or have time for anything.

I have been sick at transition stage with every birth so I guess I must have low blood sugar before I even start on the hard work.

I did not have drugs or interventions with any of them btw.

Drank water and summer fruits fanta, but threw most of it back up when started gas and air! Couldn't face eating, and wouldn't have wanted to take the G&A mouthpiece away for long enough to!

Was given toast and juice pretty soon after the birth, before I'd even left the delivery suite.

Hiya,

Had DS in Midwife-led unit. They told me to hold out as long as possible at home and eat toast and marmalade before I came in!

They gave me more toast and marmalade when I arrived and supported my husband in feeding me mini-mars-bars and water during my 17 hour labour.

Just before the second stage they brought me a small glass of sugar water too!

Hope this helps!

Did at first as we planned a home birth so had normal meals & snacks....but got transferred in & was refused food by the first midwife I saw in the hospital... apprently as I would probably end up with an CS ...luckily the shift changed (6 hours later & 12 hours since I had eaten at home ) & DH had a word with the new mws who gave me an apple which I got to have one bite out of before it was moved out of my reach (had an epi so couldnt move)....didnt get anything else to eat until after DS was born (12 hours later) - slice of toast & cup of tea!!!! Needless to say I ate constantly during the 4 days I was trapped on the postnatal ward.....best meal by far was the pizza hut takeaway DH got the last night I was there after they forgot to tell me when dinner was served & so missed it.....shall be packing a VERY large hamper of food with my hospital bag for next time just in case

no. Too busy screaming and vomiting!

I made fruit scones at about 9pm when labour started and we ate them the next day when I was in the labour room. Can't remember how much I actually ate or drank tho...

TIP - if you get an epidural dont drink any water after!!!!!!!!!!!! (anyways they give you fluids through an iv before the epidural so you will be hydrated). in my case i wasnt warned, and my bladder was full, and i had horrible pains, with the epidural, becuase the baby was pressing on my bladder. it was a waste. (although of course once its out it just feels like the whole thing was a dreamy experience)

Was induced with first dose of prostin at 6am (had been sent to hospital the day before), got given breakfast then lunch, after lunch got second dose of prostin which actually worked, then gas and air and was sick.... DS born at 9pm and some time after, got toast and tea - and my mum, who had been with me at the birth, got some too. Unfortunately due to various mix ups, did not get fed till mid afternoon the next day, remember desparately foraging in the bag I'd brought for muesli bars and finally getting a nice nurse to fetch me some tea and toast at about 4pm.

SO my advice would be, pack plenty of nibbles.

Ate lots in early part (very long latent stage) including a pizza hut take away!

Was told to eat in later stage of labour, as i had + ketones, which i laughed about as i had hypersemis throughout the pregnancy and usually had +++ but midwife wasnt used to my body! Dh made me toast, which he burnt and really upset them, understandsbly as they said if the fire alarm went off the would have to evacuate patients!!!!

I was at a midwife staffed birth centre, within a main hosp. btw.