Hospital Snacks

SouthernMama15

I know we've discussed hospital bags till we're blue in the face, but I know a lot of people said they plan to bring snacks. I didn't bring any when I had DS because DH had to leave the next morning. I delivered in the town we live in so people could easily bring stuff by. This time we're going to be a minimum of 45 minutes from home and staying 3 nights as opposed to 2.  This hospital has "pantries" and refrigerators we can use. What kinds of snacks have you brought with previous deliveries or do you plan to bring this time?

I guess I should have clarified for after. I know that most hospitals don't allow food during labor, I'm thinking of the days after. 

imwithbaby

This is my current favorite topic! I'm delivering at home, so I do have a fridge, but here's my list of foods that I'm stocking up on (and that are ok for labor per my MW):

Don't need refrigeration:
•Lara bars
•Pudding cups (get the Snack Pack kind and they won't need a fridge)
•Squeeze fruit snacks (like Fruit Buddy)
•Grapes (don't need to be refrigerated)

If you have refrigeration/freezer:
•Cheese sticks
•Tuna/chicken salad
•Hard boiled eggs
•Popsicles
•Mashed potatoes
•Deli meat roll ups

FYI if you're planning on eating during early labor, my Midwife's two main recommendtaions were to stay away from nuts/nut bars and anything with red dye (red Gatorade, red Popsicles, etc), as she sees those be super guilty of coming back up during active labor. Focus on things that are easily digestible!

PinkPrincessPiper

Gatorade is my go-to drink to have in the hospital. Last time I took granola bars & peanut butter crackers for snacks. These were especially important when I was breastfeeding. I'm FF this time, so I'm not too worried about snacks. Trail mix is my jam though, so I'll probably throw some in my hospital bag. 

We have a subway, penn station, and jimmy johns all within walking distance of the hospital, so I'll live off sub sandwiches for a few days. Kinda looking forward to that actually. 

edit to add I've only delivered via c-section, so I have no idea about snacks during labor. @mrsmatt1212 has some great advice though! Lots of protein if you're BF for sure. 

JWatt5

Nuun Active tabs are awesome - like gatorade but you just add the tabs to the water - I plan to take those. Cliff Bars, Ginger Snap cookies, trail mix - things like that. We have access to a fridge so probably bring a few containers of fruit, overnight oats, things like that. I'll get meals in there but I'm pretty limited (No beef, pork, dairy, soy) so I'll have to see how that goes. 

SouthernMama15

I'm a scheduled c section so I have to fast from midnight on if I remember right. I'm going in on a Friday morning so I assume we'll have lots of visitors who can bring things, but I'd like to have some things on hand.

I'm thinking definitely Gatorade, some gummy snacks, maybe some muffins, and whatever DH wants. I know they don't provide meals for him and I'm thinking food from out will be cheaper than cafeteria good 

imwithbaby

Oh! Also! Bring honey and a spoon with you. If your hospital doesn't let you eat during active labor, but you're feeling exhausted & drained, have a spoonful of honey to get your sugars & carbs back up and give you a boost of energy. 

BlackNYellow

My hospital allows clear/light colored liquids but if I remember correctly they only supply juice, ginger ale, and jello. I'll be bringing Gatorade, nuun tabs, instant soup for the broth, and maybe freeze pops in a cooler. 

I'll also be bringing nuts, trail mix, and power crunch bars for DH and I after baby is born. If you haven't tried power crunch bars you need to! The vanilla variety taste like vanilla wafer cookies but they have 10g of protein and only 10g of carbs! Also I am lactose intolerant so I'm bringing a 4 pack of silk that doesn't need to be refrigerated so that I can mix it with cereal for breakfasts. 

Mango517

mrsmatt1212 said:

Oh! Also! Bring honey and a spoon with you. If your hospital doesn't let you eat during active labor, but you're feeling exhausted & drained, have a spoonful of honey to get your sugars & carbs back up and give you a boost of energy. 

Good point about the honey! My class gave us those pre-packaged honey sticks in our goody bags and I plan to pack them along with me. Knowing me I'd squeeze honey all over by accident during labor, so I think the sticks will work better for my accident prone self.



I realized that I've been focused more on things for energy during labor instead of the whole stay since my hospital will have food. So far I was planning on the honey sticks, Gatorade, and coconut water. I'll pack some date energy bites and cheese sticks as snacks and maybe a couple containers of "just add hot water" oatmeal bowls...

DeansGirl14

My hospital doesn't allow snacks! So I'm going to sneak them. While at home during early labor I plan to eat Cliff bars (already bought a box). I'm also putting in the bag a couple single packs of fruit snacks to bring along with more Cliff bars. 
I'm actually thinking about getting Gu gels (or similar brand) instead of just the fruit snacks. Treating this like a marathon- fuel up before the real action starts and supplement as needed. 

I'm kind of surprised the hospital doesn't allow snacks as the odds of aspirating are apparently so slim. Moms need energy...

lewliv

Here's my list:

Before leaving the house:
Mashed potatoes
Lean ground beef 

At the birth center:
Bananas
Water crackers
Coconut water
Popsicles
Honey sticks
Hard candies

smallbutmighty77

@DeansGirl14 they don't allow eating during- which I agree with you, where am I getting energy from. But, they told us to bring snacks for after and for DH to bring things for himself.
Even though one of the food places is 24hrs, they still said snacks and $ for the vending machines. Our tour/class said to eat while still laboring at home but to watch what you eat b/c labor can cause upset stomach. I was also told to bring pineapple juice for after if I plan to BF as it supposedly helps...

Edited to add: I hope they told us the truth! I know the cafeteria is 24hrs but still!

DeansGirl14

@smallbutmighty77
My after birth snack is going to be either Do-Rite donuts or Stan's donuts   If after birth is before those places open, then Cliff bars it is!
Oh! Oh! Think we could track down a Tamale guy at 3am?? Haha!

ETA: I chose Cliff bars specifically because I know they don't aggravate my stomach. I've eaten them before marathons. Now, I've struggled with nausea throughout pregnancy so it could be a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation, but it's the best energy-giving idea I've got that has proven itself. 

shyviolet-2

I am keeping my labor snacks on the softer side of things.  Most likely yogurt or a high protein smoothie.  I have GD so I am still working out what will be the best balance.  

I don't know how to state this politely, but keep in mind what ever you eat will probably get eliminated from your body during labor.  So my advice would be to eat something that will come out easily.  

For the hospital I am packing some sort of bar, yogurt, granola and trail mix.  The hospital is 5 min from our grocery store and 10 from our house.

knottie0d8cc4d43bacc09f

I personally wasn't too hungry immediately following DD's birth. Probably adrenaline or the magnesium I was on. I did chow down on a nice ham sandwich a few hours later though. That was heavenly! Before I got induced I ate some graham crackers from the hospital. I know DH was happy we brought granola bars and some packs of nuts. Hospital cafe food was actually decent and well priced, so he got his meals there for the most part. 

lewliv

shyviolet said:

I don't know how to state this politely, but keep in mind what ever you eat will probably get eliminated from your body during labor.

Midwife said the same thing! That's why I'm trying to stick to mushy foods!

brookeelyse527

I had no appetite during labor. Too much pain. Plus I was vomiting and had soft stool..even while pushing. I was hungry after though, when cafeteria was closed. My ex mil came with pizza and lemon meringue pie  

Mango517

@shyviolet I was hoping that during Labor Time I could just say eff it about the GD and eat what I need to keep my energy up. But you're probably right, I don't want to have to worry about spiking blood sugar during all that. Yogurt, cottage cheese and string cheese are getting added to my list. 

I also liked how you stated the elimination fact so delicately. Good thing to keep in mind

@DeansGirl14 My hospital also has the same policy and likes to only give those in labor ice chips, but my Dr's office contradicts the hospital policy and told us to bring hydrating/energizing drinks for early labor. They said it's unlikely we'll want much to eat or drink as labor progresses and we get closer to pushing. 

shyviolet-2

@mango517  I don't feel good when my sugar spikes so that is one of the reasons I want to keep it in check.  I also don't know when the baby stops being affected by what I eat, but they will test when she is born and I want her numbers to be good so she can stay with me.  

bvoisey

Both my labors were so quick I didn't even have time to think of snacks. Plus I get violently ill because my contractions start off so close together (arrived at the hospital 2 hours after water broke with second and already less than two minutes apart). Love all these ideas though because last time I had DD it was nearly midnight and I was starving. All they could give me at the hospital was cereal and fruit, which just did not cut it. 

lwhrmomma

I've packed cookies, mini muffins, granola bars, and Gatorade so far.  After labor is all over and done with, I'm sure I'll be eager to stuff my face. The hospital provides me with 3 meals a day, but I love to snack in between.  I don't remember having a fridge in the room, but with DH going back and forth between the hospital and home, I'll have him bring more if a craving hits.  

and_peggy

I wasn't allowed to eat once they started my induction 12 hours is too long to make a pregnant lady starve. I did get Chick Fil A afterwards.

SouthernMama15

@kristenk727 thanks, that's what I was looking for.

DS was a scheduled c section and I had to fast after midnight which I obviously didn't stay up eating so probably a snack at 10 p.m. was the last thing I ate. Got to the hospital around 7, but my procedure got pushed back till 9:15 due to an emergency getting placed ahead of me.  By the time I was back in a room it was around 10 so not meal time. Around 11 I was begging for food, but they said I could only have liquids in case the pain meds made me sick so I got about 4 ounces of broth. Finally around 1 they brought me half a turkey sandwich on what must have been cardboard. No chips or fruit with it. For dinner I got lasagna and then sent my parents to Longhorn and made them bring me back a steak, baked potato, and bread. O ate all except part of the bread. Pretty sure I ate some raisinettes, too.  


The next morning after a hospital breakfast of bacon and eggs with toast and cereal, I made my dad stop at the store and get me some of those big bakery blueberry muffins. I ate dinner twice that night, too. 

This time we'll be further from home with possibly less visitors. Our hospital has a pantry and we can keep food in the fridge and use the microwave so I want to bring some things for DH and I. 

morgy_bee

I have really great snacks packed in my labor bag, but I keep eating them.....

SouthernMama15

@morgy_bee I'm trying to wait till the last possible minute because I'm sure I'd eat them, too 

dma0389

lol @morgy_bee I feel you! I ate one of my hospital snack cliff bar on the way to work this morning. I need to quit it! 

lwhrmomma

Just bought two bags of starburst jelly beans... one for my hospital bag,  and one to satisfy the craving until baby comes!

katie0541

Does everyone keep their bags at home or in the car? I want to keep mine in the car so I'm prepared, but that limits my snack choices lol (nothing that will melt)

and_peggy

@Kaityrj if you're still working, might be good to have it in your car. You won't need most of the stuff until after baby is born (depending on what you packed). I'm an overachiever and still don't have a bag packed. I'm just going to throw some crap together when I feel labor starting.

kvh22

@kaityrj I've always felt like having anything visible in your car makes you a target for break-ins (used to live in San Francisco where this was super common) and you can see into the trunk of my SUV. We now live in the 'burbs but I still am keeping it in the house for that reason, personally. I have a few last minute things to pack so it'll be good to throw it into the bag before bringing it out and DH will be able to carry everything out to the car. I'm also in no rush to get to the hospital - trying to labor at home as long as I can and thinking I'll have at least a few hours notice. Like @aehogan90 said - you could probably pack right when you feel labor coming on and be fine although it'd be smart to bring the bag if you could get stuck in traffic during your commute and/or are traveling far for an event and might be more rushed. Maybe have a bag of snacks and just write a reminder for that and any other last minute things on a post-it on the door or on the bathroom mirror so you remember them? 

tova24

My hospital doesn't allow eating once you're in labor (cruel and unusual punishment, if you ask me!). I'm packing Gatorade, twizzlers, cliff bars, and that all natural fruit rolls you buy at Target so that I'm not a total hangry mess afterwards!

bumpybump

We have access to a snack room at the hospital that we utilized a lot last time. So plan to do that again. I also just order my allotted daily food amount from the cafeteria and split it with DH. But, we will pack some extra snacks for DH again. Beef jerky, nuts (pistachios last time that my dad ate while visiting  ), granola bars, etc. 

SouthernMama15

Yalls hospitals must be more generous than mine. I didn't get enough for myself last time, much less enough to share.  

Kudlica27

@SouthernMama15 ours has a menu and we have to call in and order each meal. The bad things is the waiting after you order. Also, I don't think they take breakfast orders before 7 and if you don't call right at 7, it takes awhile. I was totally clock watching the last time I was there. 

SouthernMama15

@Kudlica27 when I had DS they sent someone to the room and were like these are your 2 choices. You ordered lunch when they brought breakfast, dinner at lunch, and the next day's breakfast at dinner. It was such a tiny amount of food and not good at all.  I remember getting pancakes and it was the 2 smallest thinnest pancakes ever. Maybe 2 bites of eggs and a shriveled piece of bacon.  Lunch was usually half a sandwich with barely any meat.  I am delivering at a different hospital this time, but it's the same system so I don't anticipate any different. I'll have to ask my SIL, she delivered there last week. She had a c section as well and they made her wait 12 hours to eat. She could have broth and jello. I ate a couple hours after DS so I guess things are different now. 

Kudlica27

@SouthernMama15 I hope that's just her hospital! I was offered food in the recovery room after my csection. Not a full menu, but anything the nurse could get me. Maybe they were just being nice because I had been in labor all day?

SouthernMama15

@Kudlica27 I remember getting broth within around an hour and a half, then a sandwich after I was able to keep that down. I'm making a mental note to ask my doctor today 

Kathryn0903

My hospital had decent food, but it would take an hour to arrive after ordering. There was also a Subway in the hospital. I also packed some snacks - cookies, crackers, goldfish. Totally snuck in wine too. My nurse didn't like that. She said in her 30 years as a nurse no one has snuck in alcohol. I find that hard to believe!

morgy_bee

Our hospital has a 24 hr snack menu with sandwiches, chips, ice cream and the like but you have to ask the nurses and I hate continually asking them to bring me food. 

Our cafeteria is actually really good and promotes healthy eating. It does take a little longer to get this food once you order, but I enjoy it overall. We also always order Jimmy John's while in the hospital. I just want to have extra snacks in case me or DH get really hungry and need a pick me up. 

imwithbaby

@Kathryn0903 sounds like your nurse needed a reality check...in 30 years she's never caught someone bringing in alcohol.

SouthernMama15

mrsmatt1212 said:

@Kathryn0903 sounds like your nurse needed a reality check...in 30 years she's never caught someone bringing in alcohol.

This is exactly what I thought. 

Mango517

SouthernMama15 said:

mrsmatt1212 said:

@Kathryn0903 sounds like your nurse needed a reality check...in 30 years she's never caught someone bringing in alcohol.

This is exactly what I thought. 

Seriously! I know plenty of people who've brought in alcohol. A few friends brought champagne!