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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Currently in labour. What to cook DH?

177 replies

MummaBear4321 · 05/11/2020 11:06

I am 40+3 and I think I am in slow early labour. Contractions about 9 minutes apart, have been going since about 7am. Sometimes they widen to 11 minutes for a while, sometimes back to 7 for an hour or so, but they are mildly painful. I am at home, DH is in work, DD is in nursery. On my last labour I was having contractions for 36 hours, 25 of which were in hospital. Poor DH only brought snack bars and crisps with him. I was in so much panic and pain I begged him not to leave me to go to the canteen. He was absolutely falling apart with hunger by the time DD arrived. I sent him home 2 hours after she was born because he was a shell of a man.

This time around I want to be prepared and I need to stay upright to bring these contractions on, so I am going to cook. What do you think I should cook that we can bring in in tubs, he can eat cold, but will be a sort of dinner substitute? Pasta of some form?

OP posts:
aToadOnTheWhole · 05/11/2020 11:49

No, I get it completely. When I was in labour last time DH was starving, so we went to the hospital shop for some butties. I kept contracting really close together the staff looked absolutely horrified until I waddled out grimacing and groaning and then they visibly relaxed Grin

I'm not due till March, will be having a section and am already planning what I'll take foodwise for us both.

For on the go, I'd just do sandwiches. And then maybe a spag bol in tupperware. Put a small slug of oil in with the pasta underneath the bolognese so it doesn't go all sticky and tacky. Or a mild chilli? Soup?

Good luck OP!!

ThirstyGhost · 05/11/2020 11:52

Tuna pasta salad and porridge bars. I make the latter for me and the kids school snacks mostly, but you can add anything like choc chips or dried fruit or whatever you fancy. They're like flap jacks but less sugary and sickly sweet. A lot more filling that crisps or vending machine stuff you get at the hospital.

Good luck with the birth! I hope it goes well, takes less time than the last one and that you and bub are healthy and well.

90sgirl89 · 05/11/2020 11:52

Spaghetti Bolognese

Ignore the piss takers. Standing near someone's bed with no food for hours and probably with no sleep is tiring too. People can faint if they don't eat. Or get headaches. Or just feel shit.

Obviously the mums going through the pain but the man is supporting. They get alot of shit with this sort of things.

Good luck with the baby. X

TheDaydreamBelievers · 05/11/2020 11:54

Stuff you can both eat easily-

Fusilli or penne pasta in a tuna mayo, or in a thicker tomato sauce
Soup that can be eaten cold (or bring in a flask)
Lots of cereal bars
Bananas
Sandwiches - not fillings that will go soggy so sliced chicken or similar.

WoooImAGhost · 05/11/2020 11:54

Oh not tuna, unless you really really like the smell. In a small room when you're in labour you might end up hurling it out the window. I couldn't face spaghetti Bolognese for months after I gave birth to DS1 and we'd had that the night before..

MyOwnSummer · 05/11/2020 11:56

Sorry OP you have lost your f**king mind - a grown man can feed himself, end of conversation!!

SpaceOP · 05/11/2020 11:57

@ThirstyGhost

Tuna pasta salad and porridge bars. I make the latter for me and the kids school snacks mostly, but you can add anything like choc chips or dried fruit or whatever you fancy. They're like flap jacks but less sugary and sickly sweet. A lot more filling that crisps or vending machine stuff you get at the hospital.

Good luck with the birth! I hope it goes well, takes less time than the last one and that you and bub are healthy and well.

Could you please post a recipe? I'm desperate for a good recipe of this sort but have yet to find one that sets nicely....
AwaAnBileYerHeid · 05/11/2020 11:58

If you're in early labour then give him the heads up to cook something for himself or at least go and buy a sandwich etc to bring with him. Don't be cooking him anything, he should be the one running around after you.

SoupDragon · 05/11/2020 11:58

@MyOwnSummer

Sorry OP you have lost your f**king mind - a grown man can feed himself, end of conversation!!
Did you bother to read to the bit where the OP says she wants to keep upright and busy?
Dollywilde · 05/11/2020 11:58

@MyOwnSummer

Sorry OP you have lost your f**king mind - a grown man can feed himself, end of conversation!!
No one is saying he can’t, but bearing in mind:
  1. He is currently at work
  2. He may have to rush to the hospital
  3. At which point he will be required to stay on the ward until the baby is born

And

  1. OP is at home and waiting for things to kick off
  2. Looking to stay upright
  3. Wants to cook

Surely it makes perfect sense for her to prepare something?

readyforroundtwo · 05/11/2020 12:00

What is actually wrong with some of you who have been commenting? Seriously, any opportunity to jump down someone's throat that you actually miss the whole point of the post!

When I was in early labour I was looking for anything to distract myself and cooking is a great way to do that! Not to mention once Op has been admitted I doubt DH will be able to go in and out or walk around looking for food. I would probably say pasta as I'm not sure anything else would taste nice cold. Maybe take other snacks too, like crisps or chocolate Smile

Pulloutbed · 05/11/2020 12:03

Sorry OP you have lost your fking mind - a grown man can feed himself, end of conversation!!

Calm down love. OP wants to cook some food. Hardly cause for such outrage.

Dollywilde · 05/11/2020 12:03

If you’re still reading Op, here’s the picnic pie recipe I mentioned earlier - love this: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/picnic-pie/

ChocoholicMama · 05/11/2020 12:07

Oh for goodness sake, read the OP properly! She's wanting to keep upright and moving to bring on the contractions and CHOOSING to make some food for her DH so he can concentrate on her during labour.

OP, I'd also go for simple pasta with tuna and sweetcorn or something like that. Maybe a few sandwiches too. Try and put them in a cool bag if you have one so they last longer... I don't know if your labour ward is like mine but it's stinking hot in there!! Best of luck to you.

CoronaBollox · 05/11/2020 12:08

OP just make some sandwiches and a pack up. I had similar labour to you first time round, this time I barely made it through the hospital doors before giving birth.

Bake a cake or some shit if you want to be distracted and send it to me

Original poster
MummaBear4321 · 05/11/2020 12:09

I have gone for pasta with cheese, ham and salami. I thought about tuna but then did realise the smell in a labour room would be god awful. I am currently munching on a portion of pasta now to keep my energy up. Also those egg muffins sound amazing as a labour snack! If I am still good after my bath I may do some of those.

Baking wise, I am the angrier baker known to man, so I should probably just stick to watching GBBO and eating cake rather than trying to bake some lol.

Thank you to those who answered me with helpful suggestions. I didnt think I would get such heated responses to a request for meal suggestions. For those wondering DH has been given the heads up. He is a bit of a panicked mess ringing every 20 mins but I dont want him home and starting paternity leave if I could be like this for a few days. I feel fine at the minute.

OP posts:
DaffodilsAndDandelions · 05/11/2020 12:11

Can you do soup in a thermos with some bread and butter?
I think it's a good idea to be thinking ahead. You will have a much better labour not having to worry he'll need to leave for food.
Ideally you want something g that doesn't need cutlery and something you can eat too.

CoronaBollox · 05/11/2020 12:15

I dont think he would be able to leave for food anyway due to covid rules? So it is sensible to prepare some food, just in case. I did bring extra food, but my birthing partner got booted out and I ate it myself Grin

Pulloutbed · 05/11/2020 12:15

Good Luck OP. Hope it all goes well and enjoy your tiny baby cuddles when they arrive. Flowers

ShirleyPhallus · 05/11/2020 12:18

I actually felt a bit sorry for my DH during labour. Mine was also about 30 hours and I had a selection of brilliant drugs, a comfy bed, and lots of people fussing over me and giving me food / drink / attention before ending up in an emergency situation where I was fussed over even more. Being like that and high as a kite on drugs I was absolutely fine with it.

There is something quite stressful and upsetting about watching someone you love go through something significant like that, plus being exhausted, only having a hard wooden chair to sit on, being awake for 40+ hours (having done a full day’s work), not eating properly and also supporting your partner.

He was brilliant and made all his own drinks, snacks, meals, packed his, mine and baby’s bags etc etc. But the support good men give during labour is really important and valuable. It’s ok to be nice to them back by making something tasty if that’s what you want to do.

CountFosco · 05/11/2020 12:20

We took tons of food in with us, partly for DH to eat while I was in labour, partly for me on the postnatal ward afterwards. We had quiche, oatcakes (possibly cheese? Hospitals are roasting though) fruit, dried fruit, and chocolate.

Quiche will keep you occupied for a while, otherwise soup is a good option and would be warm.

Original poster
MummaBear4321 · 05/11/2020 12:20

@CoronaBollox

I dont think he would be able to leave for food anyway due to covid rules? So it is sensible to prepare some food, just in case. I did bring extra food, but my birthing partner got booted out and I ate it myself Grin
Ye I think once we are in the room he isnt allowed leave because of lockdown restrictions. Also, he may have to sit outside in the car for quite a while if I go in and have to be checked if I am in established labour etc. I just feel better being prepared. I know I should just worry about me, but we are a partnership. He was so brilliant last time. Didnt leave me for one second. Helped in any way he could. The least I can do is make sure he has some basic food that he can scoff in the corner for 5 minutes to keep him going, especially as I want to keep busy. Some may see that as old fashioned and be shocked and say men should get on with it, but he is my partner. I look out for him, he looks out for me.
OP posts:
Greenhairbrush · 05/11/2020 12:23

Gosh, some extremely rude people on here. I’m sure op can decide if she’d like to do some cooking or not.
I would be the same op. I like to be busy.
No meal suggestions but good luck.

SeaToSki · 05/11/2020 12:28

Very good idea to think about the smell of the food, last thing you want is fishy or garlicy smells in a delivery room!

How about something quiche ish, or a fritatta. They are very easy to eat hot or cold and you can cut into wedges and wrap individually.

Do you have chilly packs to keep it all fresh? If not bung some bottles of water in the freezer and then you will have nice cold water to drink too.

Good luck OP. I hope the contractions keep going, staying up and active is a good idea

CoronaBollox · 05/11/2020 12:29

Nothing wrong with that OP. I had the same thought this time round but I'm a lazy arse and just did good old sandwiches Grin. I was home by dinner time and had a nice chinese takeaway.

Whatever keeps you busy, the longer you're up walking around the better. Good luck and safe delivery Flowers