Food after giving birth

[Rainforest453]

Hi all

Just a quick question, if you give birth in the middle of the night will you still be served something to eat soon after delivering?

Have packed some snacks but just wanted to know. Sorry if it sounds silly! It will be at a midwife led unit if that makes any difference

Thanks in advance

Tea and toast…..and it is the best toast you’ll ever eat! 🙈😂

They usually have sandwiches and yogurts in the patient kitchen as well. If you want something specific then I’d take it with you.

So funny that everyone says it's the best tea and toast they've ever had. I honestly can't remember 🙈

I have birth at 1900. Didn’t get anything until 0900 the next day!! Thank god for the flapjacks I packed. The toast was awful, cold, yet burnt, and hard butter I couldn’t spread as the baby screamed when I tried to put them in the cot!!

In my experience there are barely enough staff nowadays to safely deliver your DC, let alone fetch you snacks. I would take enough food to see you through to the proper ward.

I got tea and toast and it was the best tea and toast I've ever had 😂😂

I had an emcs at 10pm, went to see Dts in nicu at 11am, came back to a plate of cold tinned ravioli on my bed at 4pm. No water, nothing. Thankfully family brought an man's s package in.

Take a little thing of cordial if you like it
My friend was really hot and thirsty. I don't have DC, wasn't sure what to take and ended up taking some pre packed fruit and cold drinks among other stuff. All she wanted was the cold stuff!

Oh wow so it can differ!! I have packed snacks but now reading the replies it won't really be enough if I won't get anything for awhile. I packed some drinks and nuts/bag of chocolate lol - Off to get some flapjacks!

i gave birth at 2am
i had the toast after just like every one else. They have to give you food like that because your energy will be depleted.
you take snacks for during labour and while you’re staying in hospital after

7.30am pretty disappointing toast after DC1. I had Ero appetite as I had had a PPH. Couldn't even bear to eat lunch (appetite returned for dinner though).

DH has assured me he will pop out for a MacBreakfast for me for this one.

Ds was born overseas. I was bought a massive portion of goulash, bread and apple strudel about an hour after birth whilst still in labour room. With full instructions to eat everything

Promptly passed still naked baby to dh to hold, who put him on his chest with blanket over him and Ds pooed all down him 2 mins later.

I'd take extra drinks, something like the Cathedral City snack packs or the Dairylea lunchable things. Crisps. Chocolate. You want stuff that can survive out of the fridge for a while. None of it healthy but the worst thing for me after giving birth and not having access to food was being starving all bloody night until breakfast the next morning. I really kicked myself at the time.

Sorry my reply was meant for @Rainforest453

Just a thought, could you use a food delivery app if needed? Not been on maternity ward, but on other wards nurses were fine with it.

Maybe one of the mums on here can shed light for you.

Good luck with the delivery

Bring all the food you can. I was starving after the birth of my DC and I had barely enough, I could cry thinking about it! Bring all the food!

I didn't have anything! I had a c-section at 10am and as I couldn't walk to the little canteen I didn't get anything.

When I spoke to the night staff they asked how I was I said that I was really hungry and they said well why didn't the midwives bring you anything? One of them made me some toast.

First time round I was given a bread roll with butter and jam, second time I was given a sandwich. I’ve heard lots of people say they were ravenous but I had no appetite at all, I just ate because I knew I needed the energy.

I wasn’t offered anything on time really. Luckily i had a sandwich in my bag. I would pack your own food as much as possible.

Although I should add the thirst was like I’d never felt before. I got my DH to bring me in lucozade drinks, I couldn’t get enough liquids!

Best.Toast.And.Tea.Ever

Very hospital dependent.

I wasn’t offered tea and toast returning to the post natal ward at 4pm. DP also had to beg for a meal for me come dinner time because I hadn’t been there at lunchtime when they came for orders.

Honestly every time I see the words “tea and toast” on MN I feel a little bit triggered at how bad my postnatal care was.

Hoping you’re not at Gloucester Royal you will be promised tea and toast….it will never arrive. It gets lost with the rest of the aftercare in that horror of a place.!

@Moancup ….snap! Tea and toast was a total empty promise after my birth. It got lost along with any decent postnatal care. 4 month ago now…..still bitter. I get so upset reading everybody’s great aftercare.

If I could erase the first month of motherhood I would!

@Moancup I'm sorry to read that, it's awful that because you missed the timing for lunch you didn't get to have anything till dinner time :/ and even then dp had to beg them

@Thelazygardener i'd be feeling the same. The very least they should offer is toast after because you'd be depleted of energy. Sometimes snacks you bought with you just don't cut it

I'm hoping they'll allow dh to pop out, get me (and him) a meal and come back. I don't see why not but who knows

I was offered toast at 2am but politely declined - I’d had a normal dinner because I have fast labours and don’t normally get hungry in the middle of the night!