labor and food/drink

bonjourbelle05 · July 2012

So, we had our hospital tour last night as part of our child birth class and the nurse who gave the tour was talking about how the doctors handle different things (there are primarily 2 doctors who deliver there). She said that the doctor I am using is pretty laid back whereas the other doctor has stricter guidelines (only ice chips for example). She said the doctor I use will allow you to order meals while you are contracting (obviously not once you are actually pushing), but she (the nurse) doesn't recommend it because a lot of times the food ends up coming back up. I have no intentions of eating a big meal, but thought maybe some small things like pretzels/crackers might be good to bring along, but since I am a FTM I have no idea, so I'm wondering what the rest of you plan on doing/STMs recommend?

SarahJean0 · July 2012

I hear they dont like you eating in case you wind up needing a c-section. But like you, I've heard mixed opinions.

I'm not sure, I've heard that once the pain level is up there, you dont feel much like eating anyways.

Think I'll try to hold off on the food and have DH bring me something especially delicious after delivery...motivation to push!!

hterry85 · July 2012

I threw up my ice chips with DD, so I probably won't even bother trying.

Unem · July 2012

I'm going to a birth center, and they encourage you to have small snacks on hand in order to give you energy. My SIL brought Gatorade, crackers and peanut butter. They even make you smoothies when you arrive and will keep making them as long as you want them.

Manx4 · July 2012

The whole "no food" thing was explained to me because if you end up being one of those 1% of women who need a true emergency c/s - meaning they knock you out 100%, no husband allowed in the room, time is urgent, food could be harmful.

I was in labor for 25 hours, I ate and drank the clear stuff they would allow and my husband would sneak peanut butter filled pretzels to me.

After I had our son, all I wanted was the menu and the chef to "step on it" - I inhaled my food! haha. I was so hungry.

So my tip is eat before you go to the hospital because you just don't know how long it will be before you see your next real meal.

danabsd · July 2012

The question of food came up in our childbirth class and we were told that our hospital does not allow you eat for two reasons: 1. When you are admitted to the hospital you are admitted as a paitient and a surgery paitient. In the chance you may have to have surgery they want your stomach to be empy and 2. It is very very hard to digest food you eat while I'm labor, it moves through your system very slowly making it even more uncomfortable for mama. They also said for this reason to watch what you eat before you go into the hospital. And make sure what you do eat is loaded with carbs, you're going to need the energy!

kbradshaw9 · July 2012

I did bring items like that (crackers, granola bars....), but had no desire to eat.

Manx4 · July 2012

mands629:
There is the c-section/epi/anastisia risk that if you were to vomit, you could aspirate on your emesis.

But, mostly I think it's because when you labor, your body goes through many hormonal changes. Some women get really hot, some get really cold. Some vomit. It really depends and it's something you can't predict. I think nurses try to sway you to not eat because you might vomit everything up later (like in transition or when your just about ready to push). However, remember that you are the patient and you have patient rights. So, while I wouldn't recommend a full meal when you're in the middle of labor, I did eat some pretzels that my doula snuck to me.

This - I can see myself throwing it all up. Snacks only!

JessicaxLynn87 · July 2012

I told DH that no matter if my water breaks, or we have to be induced, we WILL be stopping at a fast food drive-thru before we enter the hospital. I am a raging b!tch when I am hungry.

superned · July 2012

If you can, try to eat something (relatively) healthy with lots of protein before you go to the hospital. With DD, I ate breakfast (egg and cheese on a bagel from my favorite local place) at about 9am and didn't feel like eating again until after DD was born, just after 7pm.

It's good to plan on having something on-hand, but I think it's much more common for women to either not be hungry or to have nausea/vomiting than it is for them to be hungry during active labor.

ellasmommy001 · July 2012

with DD i went into labor late at night and was in labor for 24 hours and they only let me eat ice chips so when i was able to eat i was super hungry my hubby thinks im crazy i told him if it goes down like that this time he needs to stop and get me food on the way to the hospital! LOL!! But first time around i only was able to eat ice chips.

linzeek44 · July 2012

Our hospital tour nurse recommended bringing jello or popsicles or lollypops. I think we'll probably bring some of those and maybe some snacks.

And once the baby is out, my sister is coming with Panera and I shall devour it.

MainelyFoolish · July 2012

Bring lollipops to the hospital. Most doctors will allow that -- it's basically a clear liquid when you eat it. It helps to keep your mouth from getting all dried out and it's a nice change from ice chips.

I had an unscheduled induction with my DD (sent to the hospital straight from a doctor's appointment) and I hadn't eaten recently. I was so hungry waiting for the induction to start -- I begged for food and the doc allowed me to eat one piece of toast and a little apple juice. After contractions started, I was allowed ice chips, popsicles, and my lollipops that I had packed in my hosiptal bag, but I wasn't nearly as hungry anymore.

My birth class also recommended packing snacks in your hospital bag for your DH, since they might be hanging out for quite a while without anything to eat, either. I had a bag of trail mix for my DH.

kvickery · July 2012

I didn't want to eat anything! I was in hard active labor for almost 24 hours and couldn't stomach anything but ice.

MeatballEsq · July 2012

JessicaxLynn87:
I told DH that no matter if my water breaks, or we have to be induced, we WILL be stopping at a fast food drive-thru before we enter the hospital. I am a raging b!tch when I am hungry.

Me too, but I'm guessing I won't be entirely pleasant during labor anyway!

drubie · July 2012

My doula and childbirth educator have both emphasized the importance of eating in early labor, and continuing to try to eat something during active labor. Good things are soft food that don't need a whole lot of chewing and are easily digestible. Oatmeal, bananas/other soft fruit, broths, protein shakes, electrolytes like gatorade. Labor is LONG (12-24 hours+), and HARD, and will take an incredible amount of energy to get through. Without any calories, you will have a much harder time. All of those kind of soft foods and calorie-containing liquids won't be so bad if they come back up. The no-food rule is actually kind of an antiquated and ill-substantiated rule that hospitals use to cover their butts. In the event that you need general anesthesia for a c-section (already a remote possibility), there is a small chance that you could vomit and aspirate the vomit. It's incredibly unlikely, which is why, if you're low risk, and unlikely to have a c-section, continuing to eat during labor is actually a very good idea.

Stasi · July 2012

It's not the vomiting per say that worries doctors rather the (very slim) chance that if you have to have an emergency C-section and they knock you out all the way and then you vomit, you have a chance to aspirate (or inhale) food/drink particles into your lungs. This leads to the mom being in intensive care, usually with pnemonia, for a week or so. Not good.

I have who is an anesthesiologist at a large hospital in Chicago. He's been at his hospital for 5 or 6 years and has only seen this happen about a dozen times, but it can happen, so it's enough to make hospitals put a policy on food and drink during labor.

skyejo · July 2012

My MW was down with me having snacks. I packed light snacks like pretzels and saltines but the last thing I felt like doing when I was in labor was chowing down. I tried to snack right when my contractions started to give me some energy but all that was puked up hours later.

I'm pretty sure that I could have got things like Jello and popsicles at the hospital too while in labor.

mom2skh · July 2012

My hospital only allowed ice chips, but I snuck in some organic suckers in my bag. However, I was in too much pain to even consider eating one. I had no appetite during labor/birth, but after we were settled and in my room after I delivered my DH went and got me McD's and I inhaled it in about 3 min!

kelbel527 · July 2012

I will absolutely not eat this time. Huge mistake for me.

My OB thought I'd be there forever. At 5am I was barely 1cm dialted after contracting for over 24 hours. So he suggested ordering breakfast. I had a small bowl of Special K.

It ended up all over the hospital floor about an hour later. Totally not worth it. I dont' know if it was the food, the labor or the pain meds I tried taking. But this time I won't eat or take the pain meds and just wait for my epidural.

DolphinLover2002 · July 2012

My hospital told us to bring in lollipops as well. They said that and ice chips. But I was also happy to hear that they supply us with popsicles! She said ask for them all you want, and they will get them for us! I plan on eating a healthy meal before going to the hospital, and bringing small snacks in with me. I will have to wait and see how I feel during labor.

mb314 · July 2012

drubie:
My doula and childbirth educator have both emphasized the importance of eating in early labor, and continuing to try to eat something during active labor. Good things are soft food that don't need a whole lot of chewing and are easily digestible. Oatmeal, bananas/other soft fruit, broths, protein shakes, electrolytes like gatorade. Labor is LONG (12-24 hours+), and HARD, and will take an incredible amount of energy to get through. Without any calories, you will have a much harder time. All of those kind of soft foods and calorie-containing liquids won't be so bad if they come back up. The no-food rule is actually kind of an antiquated and ill-substantiated rule that hospitals use to cover their butts. In the event that you need general anesthesia for a c-section (already a remote possibility), there is a small chance that you could vomit and aspirate the vomit. It's incredibly unlikely, which is why, if you're low risk, and unlikely to have a c-section, continuing to eat during labor is actually a very good idea.

This - bring healthy, light snacks and juice or gatorade and if you're hungry and they don't let you eat, sneak them. It's ridiculous to tell a woman she can't eat if she's hungry. You may not even want food, but I think there's nothing worse than being starving and being told you can't eat.

terri_doula2010 · July 2012

They don't like you to eat because of the (hopefully small) chance you'll end up in a c-section, and because you may throw it up. However, you very well may throw up in transition (or c-section) regardless of whether you eat or not. It is perfectly normal and vomiting is a sign that you are in transition and progressing nicely. If you don't eat and have a long labor, you'll get fatigued more easily if you don't have any food in you. L&D is hard work! Pushing is even harder if you haven't eaten for 12-24 hours.

If I were you, I'd eat before going to the hospital, and try to not get to the hospital too soon, just in case you get the ice chips doctor.

ckred27 · July 2012

I was in the hospital for 8 hours before i went into the pushing stage and was only allowed saltines and ice chips, it was kinda rough! i wanted food! but when i was pushing I did throw up for one of my pushes (your body pushes while throwing up) so probably a good thing i didnt have the feast i wanted

melody921 · July 2012

My hospital doesn't let you eat -- although they do provide sno-cones! But I was so nauseated with DS until I got the epi that I couldn't imagine even wanting to eat.

ifwisheswerefishes · July 2012

my doctor has told me that the hospital policy is "clear liquids" (Jello, applesauce, clear soda, water, broth), but she also told me that if i sneak in some saltines or pretzels or something light like that, she'll look the other way. i get very fatigued without food in my system, so we'll see what happens.

i do like the idea of racing through a drive-through right before hand to get some food in my stomach, just in case it's the middle of the night and it's been a while already since i've eaten.

BakerMommy · July 2012

mb314:
drubie:
My doula and childbirth educator have both emphasized the importance of eating in early labor, and continuing to try to eat something during active labor. Good things are soft food that don't need a whole lot of chewing and are easily digestible. Oatmeal, bananas/other soft fruit, broths, protein shakes, electrolytes like gatorade. Labor is LONG (12-24 hours+), and HARD, and will take an incredible amount of energy to get through. Without any calories, you will have a much harder time. All of those kind of soft foods and calorie-containing liquids won't be so bad if they come back up. The no-food rule is actually kind of an antiquated and ill-substantiated rule that hospitals use to cover their butts. In the event that you need general anesthesia for a c-section (already a remote possibility), there is a small chance that you could vomit and aspirate the vomit. It's incredibly unlikely, which is why, if you're low risk, and unlikely to have a c-section, continuing to eat during labor is actually a very good idea.

This - bring healthy, light snacks and juice or gatorade and if you're hungry and they don't let you eat, sneak them. It's ridiculous to tell a woman she can't eat if she's hungry. You may not even want food, but I think there's nothing worse than being starving and being told you can't eat.

Exactly. Do you see people denying snacks to marathon runners? Of course not. I'd rather ask forgiveness than permission on this one--and what will they do if you're caught? Make you throw it up?

(I'm willing to take the risk because I've read it's so small--of the 1% who need a c-section, only something like 1% aspirate their vomit.)

senorita04 · July 2012

I wasn't allowed to eat during labor. I didn't eat anything other than ice and water. The first night after they stopped my pitocin, I had my husband rush and get something from McDonald's and ate it in seconds. I was starving all day and not happy about it. The second day was harder. I was hungry, but the pain distracted me enough so that it didn't bother me. This time, I plan to bring small snacks so that I have something if I really need it. If I end up not being able to eat then that's fine. But I really don't want to be in a situation where I want to eat and can't again.

INmommy871278 · July 2012

SarahJean0:
I hear they dont like you eating in case you wind up needing a c-section. But like you, I've heard mixed opinions.
I'm not sure, I've heard that once the pain level is up there, you dont feel much like eating anyways.
Think I'll try to hold off on the food and have DH bring me something especially delicious after delivery...motivation to push!!

I have already placed my order with DH granted the restaurant is open when I deliver if not my order will have to change.

bosha711 · July 2012

I was not allowed food or drink - only ice chips. I wasn't hungry, so it wasn't an issue, I guess.

leffe1 · July 2012

I was given ice chips until after the baby was born. I wasn't even thinking about food, I did wish I could have had a huge glass of ice water though.

mommy510 · July 2012

kbradshaw9:
I did bring items like that (crackers, granola bars....), but had no desire to eat.

Yeah, i had ice chips and a few popsicles, but i did not want anything else. I was also paranoid that if i ate something I would poop myself while pushing.

wannabigfam · July 2012

The whole "no eating during labor" rule comes from the risk of aspiration in case one had to go under general anesthesia for a c-section. This was a risk back decades ago, when the anesthesia used wasn't as "fine tuned" and before intubation procedures had been perfected. With these advances in medicine, the risk of aspiration / complications due to one having food in their stomach during general anesthesia are very, very, very slim. I mean miniscule. I would put it probably dead last on the things I would worry about happening in the hospital.

However, despite these advances in anesthesia, unfortunately the doctors haven't quite "modernized" their recommendations & hospitals have not updated their policies. So despite the chance being very small, they still recommend nothing by mouth during labor.

This is a horrible thing because you need energy during labor to keep going, esp. during early labor. When women arrive at the hospital early in their labor and are forced to go for hours without nourishment, it's not good for the body & for stamina.

I'm not a medical professional and I would urge you to do your own reading and research, my but personal recommendations are:

1) Eat early in labor. Nothing super heavy and greasy, but something that tastes good & is well balanced. Something substantial (not just snacks). Eat this while you are in early labor & still able to do things around the house, etc. If you are not sure if you are in labor but think you might be, go ahead and eat something just in case.

2) Stay hydrated. After every single contraction, take a sip of water. Just make it a habit. The pain you experience from contractions can be greatly reduced by staying hydrated!

3) Pack snacks for the hospital. Wheat thins, pretzels, crackers - things that you would eat if you were recovering from the stomach flu are things that will probably taste okay in labor. Hopefully you'll arrive late enough in your labor to not even think about or worry about eating, but just in case you arrive early or your labor stalls upon arrival at the hospital, you'll have food with you.

4). Ask forgiveness not permission. Don't ask the nurses when you arrive if you can eat. Don't tell them you are going to eat, etc. Just sneak the food you want to eat and don't worry about it. If they ask, tell the truth (don't lie) - but what are they going to do about it at that point? Nothing!

5) If something happens and you have to have a c-section make sure to communicate that you did eat, just so they know.

I'm a STM; with my first I packed wheat thins to take with us to the hospital. Arrived 9.5 cm dilated so no need to eat when I was there, but I was glad I had food just in case we had been stuck there for a while! You can't relax through contractions if your tummy is growling or if you're dizzy from starvation. I feel comfortable enough from the info I've read re: the tiny tiny risk if there was general anesthesia required that I don't worry about eating at all.

lindsay.lou · July 2012

We ordered pizza and subs as my pitocin drip was starting. However, by the time the food arrived my contrax had become too uncomfortable for me to eat (I ate a little). This time, I'm gonna stick to little things: granola bars, pretzels, etc.

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