Energy during labor

BabeDebolt · June 2013

So I heard labor is equal to a 50mile hike. Not really worried about that type of work since I've ran through 6 marathons and completed a half ironman. I have a good idea of withstanding pain and exhaustion by mentally putting myself in another place. What I don't understand is how my doctor will only allow me clear liquids during labor. Like a long race, you need food/calories/substance! I don't drink gatorades but do like coconut water which he approved. Women NEED calories for energy and Im not planning on using an iV for my energy. I'm planning a natural birth. Any suggestions of approved calories during early labor? I probably won't be asking for food during active labor. Thanks in advance!

ssmb_clarinet · June 2013

If you wanna go natural (ie. no drugs) my advice is stay at home as long as possible. That is what the on-call nurse told me when I called labor and delivery once I knew what I was experiencing was actual labor. That way I could eat and drink what I wanted, which actually wasn't much...I tried to eat but I wasn't in the mood really. Once I was at the hospital I was well into active labor (6 cm) and not long after I was pushing so I didn't need anything then. They did do an IV of fluids after I gave birth, but it wasn't much and for very long. I had a cheeseburger about an hour or hour and a half after LO was born. Best cheeseburger ever BTW! Good luck with your labor and just let your body tell you what you need. I thought I would need more food and fluids, but my body wasn't having it!

blondie42107 · June 2013

I drank a lot of water and Sprite. With my first I was induced, pushed for two hours and ended up having ds1 via csection. From start to finish it was 40 hrs. I had some sherbert, popsicles, broth but not much once labor really got going. I think my body just knew what I needed and took care of it. Holy adrenaline too!

demmie326 · June 2013

As a fellow distance runner I can appreciate your question. I had three babies and had three totally different labor&delivery/food experiences. With DS I was in labor for close to 46 hours. As PPs suggested we labored at home for as long as possible. I was so hungry that prior to going to the hospital I had Kung Pao Shrimp and pineapple bubble tea. My appetite did not let up once we got to the hospital where I had toast and OJ. With DD1 my water broke in the middle of the night and I was so nauseous by the time we got to the hospital that I was begging for drugs to help me with the nausea....I did not eat a thing until after DD was born when I sent DH out for two Jimmy Johns Turkey Toms. With DD2 my water broke at home and it was another 36 hours before she made her arrival. An hour before DD2 arrive I had a bag of M&Ms, half of a turkey sandwich, a fruit cup, and a can of Sprite.

I think I am in the minority with an OB that supports/encourages eating in labor. Talk to your provider and trust your body!

lindslalala · June 2013

Stay at home as long as you can and eat there. My midwife had no problem with me eating during labor (we'd discussed it at my appts), but I was only in labor for 5 hrs so I never felt the need to eat. DH supplied me with dozens of ice chips in between pushing, but that's all I ate or drank while I labored at the hospital.

natalie202 · June 2013

Another marathoner here!

I totally agree with staying home during early labor. It'll keep you more relaxed and comfortable, allow you to eat what you want, and often results in faster progress and less interventions.

Some people can eat anything during labor, and that was true for me during early labor. After I hit active labor, "real" food sounded horrible... but the things I use for fuel during marathons like Shot bloks, sport beans, etc. still worked wonders. I'd keep some of your favorite training fuels on hand just in case you need something energy dense and easy on the stomach.

Personally, by the time I got to the hospital... at 10 cm, but it took quite a while to get LO out due to positioning... clear fluids were really all that sounded good anyways and were plenty to get me through. Popsicles a clear fluid were the BOMB at that point.

Edited to correct for mobile's hatred of any "advanced" punctuation...

argonne · June 2013

I used a midwife with my hospital, natural birth. They let me eat throughout labor. There did come a point where all I wanted was clear liquids, though. I used diluted orange Gatorade and plain water.

blu-eyedwife · June 2013

I was induced with an unfavorable cervix, so I knew I was going to be in for the long haul. On our way to the hospital, DH and I stopped and had burritos. We arrived at the hospital at 6pm on a Friday night and my guy was born 2am on Sunday morning. Honestly, I wasn't hungry, so it wasn't an issue. I had otter pops with me, but I think I had maybe 1 or 2 while I was in there, and that was just to get the baby's heart rate to fluctuate since they didn't like how regular it was- they wanted movement. I was offered jello, but again, wasn't really interested. I had plenty of energy to labor and push, and as soon as he was born they ordered me some "breakfast." I think I finally ate around 4am, like a muffin and piece of fruit.

cjm724 · June 2013

The midwife teaching our birthing class told us to eat before leaving for the hospital. Also, our hospital policy allows 8 ounces of clear liquid every hour which includes:

Water, ice chips, broth, clear juices (apple juice) , clear sodas, popsicles, and jello!

I am hoping this is enough sustenance for the long haul!

IncogNeato · June 2013

Your doctor is old school. My hospital lets you eat or drink whatever you want, thank goodness. I mostly stuck to soda and crackers ( a little caffeine boost was nice) but with DD1 I also had some soup.

Honestly, my labors were pretty easy compared to others and I didn't find it anything close to a 50 mile hike, at all. With my first DD my water broke with no contrax so I had pitocin at 10am and delivered by 4 pm and other than being a little sore in my abdomen and girly bits, I didn't even feel like I'd had a hard workout. It's more like sitting around while someone squeezes you every few minutes, and then pushing is like trying to do a bench press with a weight that's too heavy for you- like, you push but can't move it. I pushed for 3 hours with DD1 but I was peppy (and hungry) afterwards. A 50 mile hike would have worn me out. Labor did not.

With DD2 I was tired from being awake all night but pushing was even easier so I felt fine, physically.

IncogNeato · June 2013

PS- anything you would usually use to power a hard workout would be good during labor. I'd just sneak in some power goo or whatever you prefer from your race experiences, and drink/eat it if you need it. Sugar isn't the healthiest food over all, obviously, but a little sugar/carbs can get you through a workout or labor!

VPGIRL06 · June 2013

ha. I was in labor for 26 hours and was so shot when they eventually called for the csection I mentally thought I wouldn't last.

I had an epidural and only ate ice chips from the time I was admitted to the hospital (at 5 cm dialated, around 8 hours after my labor started) until almost 24 hours later, so.....I don't know. I would suggested oatmeal or some sort of slow burning carb, same as a race. you might throw it up anyway during labor

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