Eating for delivery

angelina477

What, if anything, are your midwives, obs.or doulas recommending to eat prior to deliver to prepare your body?

pinksweetpea2

I can't imagine there is any specific food that would prepare your body for labor?  I know that some women drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea throughout pregnancy to help tone their uterus. 

I am just going to continue with my pregnancy healthy diet- lots of protein and leafy greens, veggies and fruits and limit my carb and sugar intake.  

pepomntpat

I was told to eat whatever I want, but to keep it on the lighter side to avoid feeling sick. I was not expecting to be in the hospital and when I ended up there, the MW got me a lunch on the sly before I was officially admitted. It wasn't all that light and I was fine.

ckron79

Our Hypnobirthing teacher said complex carbs - similar to someone who will run a marathon!

tokenhoser

Like during labour?

Eat whatever sounds good. During early labour, I just ate normally. I noticed some light cramps in the morning and ate my usual breakfast and lunch before things started to pick up around 5 pm. I ate a fairly normal supper (a pulled pork sandwich, I think?) and then the last thing I had was a DQ Blizzard at 8 pm.

I delivered my boy at 1 am. I never had any nausea or vomiting. I drank a ton of water between 10 pm and 1 am - probably 4 or 5 liters. I was so thirsty.

I know I'm not the norm, but all you ever hear is "oh, I didn't want to eat during labour". I didn't want to eat after I hit transition, but I had 9 hours of early labour before that and I sure did want to eat then.

robyn2201

My water broke at 4:30 am and intense contractions started right away. I had not eaten since the night before at around 7pm, so I was definitely hungry. I had some yogurt, and cheese and crackers. I felt a bit nauseated during transition but never threw up. I would say at some point I felt better, and I had a few honey sticks.

mamaloves

I say eat whatever you want and just listen to your body. I went into labor right around dinner time. I had vegetable soup and crackers, then didn''t eat all night throughout labor, had baby at 8:00 am, had a big breakfast an hour or so later. I didn't deal with nausea or vomiting. I drank ice water throughout labor. But I did faint shortly after delivering - the first time I stood up after delivering I fainted. I'm sure it was a combination of things, but not having eaten in 15 hours was probably part of it.

cecilyandgautam

Do you mean what to eat while pregnant to stay low risk or what to eat once labor begins?

Still pregnant: high protein diet, plenty of calcium & Vit C, limited simple sugars

Early labor: whatever you're in the mood for but if you can manage, something with protein, carbs, plenty of fluids with calories - like juice; my practice has me bring in 3 quarts of fluids, plenty of nutritious snacks, hard candies, and a meal for immediate post-delivery.

amanicen

My doula recommended drinking red raspberry and nettle tea (loose leaves from a heath food store) in the weeks before & after DD was born. I really think drinking it after birth helped me have such a quick recovery.

Other than that I ate as usual. We stayed at home for most of my labor and a few hours in DH made me a fruit smoothie with some protein powder which really helped me make it to the end. 

cschissell

My childbirth instructor told us to eat lots of protein and maintain a healthy diet, but once I am in labor to think of it as a marathon and eat lots of calorie dense food and carbs since they provide energy and you will burn about 400 calories an hour in labor.

Birdies08

It was recommended to me to eat oatmeal and carbo load during early labor. I think I actually ate PBJ and a Luna Bar. For later in labor, it was recommended that I have honey sticks (or something else light and sweet) and a beverage with calories (Gatorade, Sprite, juice, but not caffeine). I ended up snacking on grapes and drinking lots of Gatorade. I loved having that Gatorade! MH gave me sips after every contraction and it seriously helped me keep going.