Comments on: Eating During Labor

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:07:04 +0000

I wasn’t tucking into a 5 course meal- but in early labor that bagel really was fantastic.

By the time I was really going juice was my go to.

After delivery I ate a lot- I was STARVING! Again the nurses were less than thrilled that I was eating (what if I bled!!?!??!) If I hemorrhaged I figured there would be bigger fish to fry.

They also were not so keen on my being up never understood that one.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:46:51 +0000

Hey E, puke happens…I knew that going into the job. Doulas are well aquainted with all kinds of bodily fluids.

I ate early on in both my labors and was encouraged to eat whenever I wanted by my midwives (I had a different midwife for each birth–one @ hospital, one @ home). I was also instructed by midwives to drink teas and healthy fluids throughout the labor because I had no IV.

I gave up eating ince active labor began because I had totally lost interest. I think our bodies really do tell us what we need. I’ve never known anyone interested in eating a big greasy meal during labor—usually its crackers, broth, tea, bread, a little juice or gingerale…etc if anything.

Most women I’ve been with during labor give up eating anything by the time it’s really gonna make much of a difference.

And yes, like April…eating and drinking as soon after labor as possible.

By: April

April — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:27 +0000

My birth experience-I birthed at home w/ both kids. The first was w/ a group of doctors the second birth was w/ a midwife. And it is so different than a hospital. W/ my first, they were actually *encouraging* that I eat during labor! And then w/in minutes (yes *minutes*) after giving birth they had me eating, even though I had no desire to eat. My second was very quick so no chance to want to eat or drink, but similarly I was eating w/in 30 minutes of birth. I agree that the medical community is very ridgid and all too often takes the route of “what we’ve always done” vs. the route of what is medically and scientifically proven to be safe or a better alternative.