When to stop eating??

*blondie* · June 2009

I don't know when I should stop eating once labor seems to have started. I know I won't be allowed anything more than popcicles and ice chunks while in labor at the hospital so I'm trying to decide how far into labor I should still eat while at home. If my water was to break while at home (or God forbid while out and about) should I not have anything to eat after that point? What if I haven't eaten for a few hours? What is your plan?

christin3580 · June 2009

Id eat if i was hungry... the only time you cant have food while in labor is if you have an epi right?

chiromommyMichelle · June 2009

Eat light, non protein foods while you are home, whenever you are hungry. If hospitals were smarter they'd encourage the same once you get there, but you won't find that very often.

b.heather · June 2009

I plan to eat as long as I feel hungry (I won't force myself if I feel sick) before going in to the hospital. If that means stopping to get a burrito on the way to the hospital, so be it ;-) I doubt I'll feel like eating more than canned fruit or yogurt though right before we head to the hospital.

We're also planing to try to wait a fair amount of time before heading to the hospital too. We want a med-free birth if possible, so I'd rather labor at home than at the hospital early on.

*blondie* · June 2009

christin3580:
Id eat if i was hungry... the only time you cant have food while in labor is if you have an epi right?

From what I know, they won't allow you to eat anything besides ice whether you have an epi or not. The risk of food in your system if you have a c-sec is too high.

b.heather · June 2009

christin3580:
Id eat if i was hungry... the only time you cant have food while in labor is if you have an epi right?

My hospital won't let you have anything but ice and popsicles once you go in. I had to get special permission from my doc just to be able to drink water during labor!

Janell's Nest · June 2009

Our hospital will let us eat fruit and such up to the point where we can't do it anymore. The only thing we've been told to avoid is things that could make you puke if your a person who gets nausea easily. So basically they said stay away from dairy.

NDwife07 · June 2009

I plan to eat right up until I'm at the hospital. Frankly, I plan to eat while I'm at the hospital - we have lots of snacks packed in our bag. How on *earth* are you supposed to have energy to be in active labor if you can't eat?

*blondie* · June 2009

chiromommyMichelle:
Eat light, non protein foods while you are home, whenever you are hungry. If hospitals were smarter they'd encourage the same once you get there, but you won't find that very often.

why non-protein??

berry25 · June 2009

I was too nauseated the day I went into labor to eat much of anything. By the time I was admitted to the hospital, I was vomiting and they didn't offer food after that.

jamie.renee · June 2009

Even while I was at the hospital with my 3rd they seen me drinking my water and asked if I was hungry. It depends on the doctors and such I guess. When I was in the US with my first 2 it was no water or anything. I was also strapped up to an IV as soon as I got there, not here. I prefer how they do things here much better.

christin3580 · June 2009

Janell's Nest:
Our hospital will let us eat fruit and such up to the point where we can't do it anymore. The only thing we've been told to avoid is things that could make you puke if your a person who gets nausea easily. So basically they said stay away from dairy.

I had the same directions... I guess you would call it... where are you delivering at.. im going to st johns..

NDwife07 · June 2009

You could puke any kind of food, so don't avoid something just because you're afraid you'll throw up. Or worse - don't NOT eat because of that fear. Puking with an empty stomach is no good either.

Throwing up is very common during labor.

Pecas13 · June 2009

christin3580:
Janell's Nest:
Our hospital will let us eat fruit and such up to the point where we can't do it anymore. The only thing we've been told to avoid is things that could make you puke if your a person who gets nausea easily. So basically they said stay away from dairy.

I had the same directions... I guess you would call it... where are you delivering at.. im going to st johns..

I'm going to st. johns too, and I haven't heard about any real restrictions yet. Our Preparing for Birth lady told us to get take out menus from around the area, as they can deliver food right to your room once the baby is born, but she didn't mention before. I think I will just try to eat at home and then I probably wont be too hungry when I am laboring. I'll be thinking of other things then!!!

smilelari · June 2009

NDwife07:
I plan to eat right up until I'm at the hospital. Frankly, I plan to eat while I'm at the hospital - we have lots of snacks packed in our bag. How on *earth* are you supposed to have energy to be in active labor if you can't eat?

this

Smtih&co · June 2009

When my sister had my third niece, she made her DH stop at McDonalds on the way. She ate her meal and his, too. She pushed like a champ and had an 8 pounder. She credits the MickeyD's for the energy.

HeyyRed · June 2009

My doula is going to keep me fed until it's absolutely necessary to go to the hospital. You need quick energy to make it through labour so carbs are super important to consume throughout if you can stomach it. Includes juices too. People often forget that the body needs fuel to make it through the process...?

HeyyRed · June 2009

Oh and to answer the non-protein question - protein is too hard to digest and will take away much needed energy. Think about cyclists say during the Tour de France and what they consume. Quick, high energy foods that the body can process easily and have a burst of energy as a result. Same with marathon runners. Labour is just like that. You need quick hits of energy over a long period of time that won't tax the body to digest it and deprive you of much needed attention to certain functions.

?

*blondie* · June 2009

HeyyRed:

Oh and to answer the non-protein question - protein is too hard to digest and will take away much needed energy. Think about cyclists say during the Tour de France and what they consume. Quick, high energy foods that the body can process easily and have a burst of energy as a result. Same with marathon runners. Labour is just like that. You need quick hits of energy over a long period of time that won't tax the body to digest it and deprive you of much needed attention to certain functions.

Thanks! I had no idea that protein was more difficult to digest. I'll stick to the carbs.

GypsyEsq · June 2009

I plan to eat and drink as I feel necessary at home before going to the hospital. We are allowed clear fluids and popsicles in the hospital so I'm also going to make sure that I have broth and things like miso soup available if I want it. Our doula recommends that if we don't eat something light yet full of protein before we check in that we stop at the hospital diner and have a scrambled egg and some dry toast. The risk of aspirating during a c-section is not particularly high anymore since not many c-sections are done under general anesthesia and if you happen to need one and it's done under a general just make sure the dr knows when you last ate and what it was.

I definitely want to keep myself hydrated and energized during labor because it intuitively makes sense that I and baby will perform better through L&D. OTOH, if I decide I'm not feeling like eating then that's a different story but I can't honestly understand why the standard of care hasn't changed on this one.

ETA: obviously my doula has a different suggestion re: protein but Reds analysis is correct. That's why I don't plan on downing a hamburger but a scrambled egg seems reasonable to me.

JCM083009 · June 2009

smilelari:
NDwife07:
I plan to eat right up until I'm at the hospital. Frankly, I plan to eat while I'm at the hospital - we have lots of snacks packed in our bag. How on *earth* are you supposed to have energy to be in active labor if you can't eat?
this

Ditto, I have no plans to stop eating at all.

Manderlin923 · June 2009

I plan to continue eating and drinking light foods and beverages throughout labor. It is highly recommended by my childbirth instructor and mw...

Want a personalized experience?

When to stop eating??

Re: When to stop eating??

Choose Another Board

Search Boards