[Submitted Question]

I have heard that first babies can take forever until they are born. Should I take something to eat to the hospital in case I get hungry? What would be a good snack during labor?

[WombToBloom]

My doctor and labor nurses never let me eat anything during labor. And I was definitely FAMISHED by the time the babies were born. I was almost as excited to see food as I was to see the baby. Ice chips, my friend, may well be the only solid “food” you see all day.

I think this is done for a couple of reasons – first, you can easily get nauseous during labor especially if you have a full stomach. Second, if you needed to be taken in for emergency c-section, an empty stomach is appropriate for effective anesthesia application. At least, that is my understanding.

Did anyone else have a different experience with food during active labor?

[InnerSerenity]

My suggestions as a Doula are eat easy to digest nourishing foods while in early labor and at the beginning of active labor. Most mom's don't want food once labor become really active. Although if a mother wants food at any time, I say give it to her. Hospitals as mentioned above state that they need you to have an empty stomach for anesthesia, well I say to that if I get in a car accident on the way home from eating dinner are you not going to provide me surgery till my stomach is empty? There is always a small chance of aspirating stomach contents in to the lungs with general anesthesia (not an epidural or spinal) Even stomach acids which you will have an abundance of if not eating.

Birth is very much like a marathon and our bodies need fuel. Since mothers cannot usually eat large meals to prepare I recommend small snacks to stay nourished. Great things to have for labor are broths (miso soup is especially nourishing and easy to keep down), honey sticks for a quick sugar boost, coconut water/milk, juice, water with lemon, raspberry leaf tea, cheese, scrambled eggs, yogurt. There are so many options.

Tia Rich
Inner Serenity Childbirth Services

[Knoxville Doula]

As a doula, many moms I have worked with have made it their choice to have snacks during their labors. Clear broths, honey sticks, juice, popsicles, diluted gatorade/powerade are all wonderful selections. Other options are a few crackers, or nuts, a bite of cheese, or a granola bar. Your body will tell you if it is or is not hungry. Keep in mind there is the real chance of vomiting whether or not you eat -- this can happen from very powerful contractions as labor progresses towards the pushing stage -- therefore if there is something you would not want to vomit, avoid eating that!

Don't forget your birth partner and family attending the birth as well. They will need to have something to eat so as to not get worn out or light headed.

[Doula Jenny]

Emergen-C !

I swear this drink mix is amazing for getting a 2nd wind. I keep it in my doula bag for myself and for laboring moms that are getting worn out. it helps perk them up nicely!

*it says on the package to mix it with cold water but, I mix it with cold juice because it tastes much better this way.

[WombToBloom]

My wife can second this one but she also used orange juice instead of water.

[azstork]

I tell my clients that labor is like running a marathon and it's pretty hard to run a marathon on ice chips. Many times you won't really feel like eating in labor, so I suggest you have some favorite light protein/energy snacks on hand like yogurt, string cheese, juice, (Emergen-C is great). A great protein broth is miso soup. I also encourage moms to have both sweet and salty foods. Sometimes when one won't stay down or doesn't appeal, the other will.

[ClarissaNassar]

I had an emergency cesarean section with my 1st child and I was starving--I was told I couldn't eat ANYTHING Then, they scheduled my 2nd child birth so I was able to eat before

While I was waiting for my 1st child, I had some hard candy to suck on but that was it...they told me they didn't want me to throw up?? I still ended up having a c-section and then they gave me that terrible tasting sour stuff to "prevent vomiting"

[blindgren]

I had one momma who was getting induced around dinner time. We were all hungry, and the mom was craving pizza. So the dad ordered it and they dilereved it to the hospital! She had a couple pieces. Luckily (and thankfully) she did not see that pizza come back up later on. ;->
You should definetly have something to eat during labor. if you need surgery, they can give you something to take care of it as mentioned in teh previous posts.
Barb
Welcome to Birth Baby Naturally

[JFletcher]

No way, no how. Nothing.

I was so angry that the hospital wouldn't let me eat during my first 3. I was like, I know my own body!

Well, low and behold, during my 4th I needed an emergency c-section. During the administration of the anesthesia, I gagged, began vomiting.

Second c-section(last baby number 5 in December last year), the anesthesia caused me to go numb up to my chest, couldn't swallow nor breathe hardly.

Yes, they can give you something, but how much are you willing to keep putting into your body? What if there isn't time? A home birth, then a drive to the hospital from aspirated vomit isn't something any mother should deal with.

If you want to get to basics, watch animals. A mother about to give birth refuses food, sometimes for a full day. Her comfort is not as important as being safe for her new baby(babies).

Like I said, I used to complain, but enlightenment came and not in a fun manner.