Snacks for labour and after

[Rosebel]

What snacks is everyone packing for labour? I have no idea what to take.

Take some dried apricots or dates for after! First poop postpartum is pretty terrifying!

I have individually wrapped flapjacks shoved into every spare crevice in my hospital bag!

Why do you need snacks for labour? If you’re not far enough progressed to be in hospital, just eat whatever you normally eat at home. If you’re far enough along to be in hospital, I don’t imagine snacking will be much in your mind!

My waters went on a day where I'd have reduced movements, so I was in hospital from 11pm through to having him the following morning at 10.15am.

I was SO thankful I had packed snacks and drinks as there were no cafes open in the night and DP didn't want to leave me to go on the hunt for vending machines, not to mention the price.

I packed a multipack of mini cheddars, two packs of multipack chocolate bars, some sweets, belvita and a bottle of cordial. They came in very handy for me, mum and DP and also kept me going for when I had to stay overnight with DS.

@ARoseInHarlem My midwife told me I had to force down some snacks while I was in active labour (in the birthing pool), because my blood sugar was low and I needed energy. Cue DH forcing Haribo into my mouth between contractions!

My recommendations would be sugary things that are easy to swallow quickly (sweets, mini choc bars) and drinks like Lucozade (with a straw so someone else can hold the bottle!)

Didn’t have anything during active labour, but some nice cold grapes (my lovely mum had packed one of those lunchbox cooler things) were wonderful because I felt hot and dehydrated (hospitals are always so warm, especially maternity wards), and I had bar of galaxy chocolate - very important to get your iron levels back up
Honestly, I felt too shaken up and wobbly to want anything more substantial till the next day, but I remember dipping into those when I woke during the night.

I was in labour for around 24 hours and didn't eat anything until a couple of hours after he was born (a white breakfast roll and jam).
I didn't feel hungry at all.

On the other hand I really wish we'd thought to pack something more substantial for my dh and some paracetamol for him as he had a splitting headache (stress / adrenaline I think).

I took cereal bars, 2 finger kit kats, juice cartons and glucose tablets. The glucose tablets were much needed after a long night and long 2nd stage. The cereal bars, choc and juice kept me going until lunch was served on the ward.

I packed a couple of bags of crisps and some brunch bars

Didn't even consider snacks but as it turns out, i didn't need them as they are the last thing on your mind during labour in hospital! I do remember the lovely midwife bringing me tea and toast a while after ds was born and it tasted like nectar@

I packed the following: Dates, NAKD fruit bars, Powerade, Vitamin Water, Pineapple slices, mango cubes, chocolate, Jelly Babies.
I ended up vomiting throughout my entire labour and ate none of it : /
I did ,however, enjoy them while breastfeeding at home over the next few days!

I second the proposal for dried apricots.

I was induced which took 5 days, my family laughed at the amount of snacks I packed but I was so glad I did! I needed to be nil by mouth (38 hours by the time I had her) so didn’t eat anything in labour.

Ive packed some pot noodles too as theres access to hot water on the ward. Wouldn't normally eat these as such but im a foody and will be HANGRY ! 🤣

Packed protein bars, dried apricots, some nuts and some cereal bars. Whether I need them or not idk but I will be having an induction so there's every chance I may.

DS was born at midnight, they did give me toast but I was still starving and was glad to have my snack bag- DH slept on a chair next to me between about 1 and 6, while I sat trying to feed DS and munching though cereal bars- they were a life saver!

I would take more than "snacks". I had to stay in for four days after I had my baby, hospital food portions were small, there was no shop and no vending machines and I was starving the whole time. Also take plenty of drinks, they only have water, tea and coffee at the hospital.

During labour I was encouraged to drink isotonic energy drinks but I didn't eat anything during. DP ate loads loads though so get your partner to pack plenty of food and drinks for themselves too.

I ended up having a three day labour in hospital the whole time- so snacks were vital as they don't really feed you.

Also, your birth partner won't get fed so pack food for them.

I had oatcakes, fruit/flavoured oatcakes, haribo, dried fruit, nuts, cereal bars and breakfast biscuits. I wish we'd packed some pot noodles for DH for after because I ended up staying on the ward after an EMCS and they don't feed partners. He was too scared to leave me (despite me telling him to fuck off) so just hung around awkwardly looking pained and hungry.

I ended up eating 3 jelly babies during my whole labour 🤣 would stash a bar of dark choc for after birth though, I found it on day 3 in hospital at the bottom of my bag and was delighted!!

Those hobnob cereal bars with chocolate on top were a lifesaver for me on postnatal. Unusually I had no complaints about the hospital food but I was unbelievably hungry despite inhaling every meal served, so I was so happy to have packed lots of snacks!

I packed lots of snacks but when in labour eating is definately the last thing you want to do, would definately recommend a bottle of lucozade to keep your sugar and energy levels up, after giving birth the midwife offered me some toast and jam which was amazing, was quite shaky after giving birth so think the sugar in the jam helped :D xx