Good snacks/food/drinks to keep energy up during labour?

[soon2befamilyof4]

Hello. I am going to be packing my hosital bag as soon as I get a chance - I am 35 weeks. One thing I wanted to look into is some really good (preferably healthy) food and drink to pack that will help keep my energy levels up during labour. I had a very long labour last time and my biggest regret is not eating and sleeping more at the start because I was so utterly exxhusted by the time it came to pushing, I really struggled. And it then took me a good few hours of sleeping and resting before I bonded with my DD or even really appriciated that she was born and healthy etc. I remember her being put straight on me and actually struggling to hold her or keep my eyes open. EVerybody was expecting me to be all happy but all I wanted to do was sleep.

I think in some ways, I was actually not even fully aware of what was going on during the final stages of labour because of being so tired and not having eaten for 2 days or so. I remember finding out stuff like I was naked during the birth (which I really did not want before hand) but I don't think I even knew that I was at the time! And lots of other details that I honestly don't think I was even aware of.

ANYWAY, I am completly rambling now. But my point is, I want to pack some food and drinks that will help to keep my energy levels up, keep me active to speed up labour and just generally help me cope.

Any ideas? I was thinking probably cereal bars (although not very filling?), lucazade, buiscuits (but not very healthy?!). I don't really know what is best? I am going to do either an online shop or pop in store to get all the bits so would be grateful of any advice?

Thanks

I must admit, I didn't fancy eating much but I did glug loads of Lucozade. Flapjacks/granola bars are pretty healthy and filling. Bananas are also good for slow energy release

Not healthy but fun: jelly babies.

I would pack things that are low in fat and high in carbs. Cereal bars are really good and you don't want anything that's too filling as it can make you feel sick. Personally all I could stomach either time was glucose tablets. Thank goodness someone on MN had suggested glucose tablets. And water from a sports-top bottle.

I had plenty of warning beforehand both times (slow 3 day early labour with intense contractions anyone? ), and ate pasta with DD1 and baked potato with DD2 the evening before things really kicked off. With DD2 I knew that things were starting to really happen and was eating thinking "this is really going to stand me in good stead in a few hours".

Yes I thought about bananas - its just hard to make sure you have plenty in the house when you go into labour when you don't know when it is going to happen! I guess somebody would get some for me though. We often have them in anyway because me and DD both like them but I don't shop often enough to always have fresh ones in!

Flapjacks are a good one. What are granola bars?

Yes that is a good idea to have a jacket potatoe or something like that at the start. And I guess they don't have to be that big either if you are not that hungry.

I had cereal bars...great in theory, but I had an interesting moment when I couldn't stand having a mouthful at the height of a contraction and spat it out in dh's hand. Lovely.

don't forget to have a bland but solid meal like pasta in early labour, as you could have a long while to go...

flapjacks are great.. once it really hots up you don't want much but a bit of sugar is good, lucozade etc

Best thing to do is eat in early labour - something plain (like maybe toast) which will keep you going. I took in cereal bars, chocolate and water and lucozade sport drinks for DS2's labour - didnt have them during the labour but they were great to much on post the birth. Oh - and sports tops on bottles and straws are a great idea!

I found marzipan (goodness knows what made me pack it!!) was excellent for a postbirth sugar crash - could in no way have taken enough lucozade to get enough sugar in me. Cereal bars etc. were far too flimsy, as was the toast they brought me.

It's hot in hosp. so chocolate melts.

I didn't really eat anything in labour that I can remember, but after the birth I ate three quarters of a packet of marzipan (that was after throwing up the post delivery toast because it wasn't enough to get my blood sugar levels back up)

Just my experience...

Just dont go for a chinese when you are in labour. The inevitable 'accident' that occurs when you are pushing was enough to make me want to vomit. I went for a mexican the night before too- What was I thinking?

I'd go with the glucose tabs next time. I had the cereal bars, oat cakes etc but my mouth was too dry to manage any of them.

Mind you they were lovely snacks to have while staying in hosp afterwards.

A nice bland carbo loading early on.