Rules on Eating During Labor + TOP Snacks You’ll Love

[@DoraExploringg]

For my first labor, I was refused food and water in the hospital- the nurses kept scaring me that I was going to die if I even took a sip of water, even though I kept refusing an epidural. At some point, they offered me a popsicle, but by then I was half dead and couldn’t even hold my head up. Through starvation, dehydration, and a stressful 19 hour labor, I did have my baby completely natural with no epidural nor IV fluids. With my next baby, I definitely will eat and nourish my body! Thank you for the video ❣️

[@MrsMuffin11]

I watched all of your labor videos and had decided on delivering at a hospital for my first birth. I never expected my water to break BEFORE I went into labor so I ended up having to go to the hospital after my water broke. I was put into a triage "room" and a doctor was sent in 4 hours later to ask me my plan in case labor didn't progress in 12 hours. I told her that I wanted to labor naturally...she looked at me weird and said well you're at 1cm. I said, yes, I WAS at 1cm 4 hours ago. No one has checked me since then. So my plan is to labor naturally. After that the nurse was kind and not pushy and it was the weirdest thing lol stand up for yourself and make sure your partner knows your wants and needs and can support you through anything. I ended up having a completely natural labor and delivery, I didn't even let them give me a port for an IV in case of emergency. It was the hardest thing I've ever done and I will put this out there because I was not prepared. Labor and delivery can be the worst pain you've ever experienced. Like breaking a large bone over and over. I asked myself so many times "how have I not passed out from this pain?" But I got through it and remembered WHY I chose this plan of action. You can do it natural, even when you are experiencing the WORST pain of your life. Push through and don't give up. You are stronger than you know. Xoxo

[@rirismakeupobsessed]

Your educational videos completely transformed my birth experience. Although I ended up getting induced and epidural, I felt informed and calm. I was sipping on coconut water the entire time. Getting familiar with the different laboring positions from your videos and prenatal workouts, I felt comfortable changing positions and knowing what positions I might want to push in. I had already decided I would eat, and right before the hospital staff came in and I started pushing, I had a twix bar- best decision ever! For my first time pushing, I gave birth in 1 one hour and was able to have a successful VBAC. Although my journey during labor was very similar for both my births, my mindset was completely different. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

Thank you so much for giving the history of why people did not eat during labor, it explains so much! I love your channel

[@eebee1835]

I totally agree with this video! I was plateaued at 6 cm for 13 hours after I got the epidural and the midwife wanted to give me pitocin to strengthen my contractions. I wasn’t allowed anything other than clear liquids because of the epidural. At that point, knowing it wasn’t dangerous, my husband and the doula snuck me solid food. After that, my contractions picked up on their own without pitocin and within hours we were fully dilated and pushing. The nurse and the midwife totally knew I was eating and looked the other way because everyone knows this is a silly hospital rule that is outdated.

[@truthandbeautyco]

That explains why I stalled when dilating. Thank you for sharing this.

[@jordanbutler5285]

I ate a ton in labor!! It helped more than I would have thought. My faves were organic dark chocolate quinoa, dried mango, homemade popcorn, and beef jerky.

[@mykaelaorwig9646]

I ate mango slices, real fruit popsicles, and a few bites of chicken during my last labor, as well as drinking insane amounts of BodyArmor lyte. 😂 I was clearing out my system massively all the way up until 6 or 7cm, so I really needed the extra fluids and electrolytes. 😅

[@taylorduarte6725]

TY - I love this! Second child and due in 7 weeks. Started to prepare my freezer meals and was wanting ideas for labor eating also!! With my first I loved your videos and knew it was crap the hospital doesn't let you eat. So I sat at home eating tacos from the taco truck! Makes sense now watching this how the meat probably helped with needed energy

[@emily-clairedonaghue3133]

My first is due at a similar time! Getting close! 😅😊

[@carolanntarr6499]

Could you do a video on help for teething baby/ healthy products or methods to use?

[@MrsMuffin11]

Me, personally, I brought snacks and during labor the LAST thing I wanted to do was eat real food. My lunch came just before I was in transition and all the liquids sounded so good. I had a hot tea, chicken broth and jello and couldn't be persuaded to eat anything else.

[@jessigreer1617]

I don’t really like oranges. But my son is 4 1/2 and the orange that I ate during early labor tasted like it was fresh from Florida. I was so hungry!

[@tarabithia4509]

I didnt know this about the iv fluids ! 😭 They made me get hooked up with my first birth.

[@jadesterc9047]

My hospital won't let you eat. Im going to bring snacks this time.

[@tiffanyl4796]

I wish I had just broken the rules and eaten with my first. I was so hungry that I felt weak when I was pushing. If I could have just had a little snack it would’ve helped so much. There’s a lot of research showing the benefits of women eating during labor and the harm of withholding food from them especially when labor is long- hospitals just need to catch up.

[@asana_awakening]

Bring your own snacks and eat when they aren’t around 😂 that’s what I would do if I was having a hospital birth. Hospital policy isn’t law, what are they going to do? Kick you out? Lol

[@coppersulphate002]

Forget hospitals! Try birthing at home or in birth centre

[@jadesterc9047]

@coppersulphate002 my small town doesn't offer either, unfortunately.

[@tarawrr20]

I’ll be laboring as long as possible at home, eating well, and then I’ll be rolling into the hospital with snacks to have when the nurses leave the room!

[@mua_dovie]

I'm 33 weeks and I want to start doing perineal massage and drinking raspberry leaf tea. I know you said you can start around 32 weeks, but I'm worried if that is still not too early... I don't want to force labor or anything, it's my first time. I know it's not supposed to start contractions or anything, but still I have my doubts. I don't know if I should do it anyway?

[@TULIP.1689]

I was told to start raspberry tea at one cup a day at 32 weeks and then 3 cups a day after 36 weeks

[@hannahm.9881]

What about when your water breaks but contractions never start? This happened with baby #4 and after 12 hours they decided it was time for pitocin. But I HATE pitocin. Very unnatural contractions that I'd like to avoid with baby#6. (Baby #5 labor went fine. Id just like to have an idea of what my options could be)

[@haley2542]

Do not consent to a drug/procedure that you don’t want. Have your husband, a doula, or some sort of support person to be your advocate. If hospital staff begin to do something to you that you do not consent to, threaten legal action… if they proceed anyway, sue them.

[@tiffanyl4796]

Check out Evidence based birth article/podcasts on PROM (when your water breaks before contractions start). A lot of hospitals have policies to start Pitocin at 12 hours but growing research is showing that it’s safe to wait even 48 hours or longer for labor to start as long as the mom doesn’t have any significant risk factors for GBS or infection.

[@dreamchord4544]

I mean this very gently, but "never start" is not what happened to you after 12 hours. It can be totally normal for labor to delay 12-48 hours after water breaks. You probably just needed more time, patience from your care team, and to be able to relax in the comfort of your own home. Your option would be to go home, snuggle, eat, nap, shower, and try to get oxytocin going + do things to engage baby, without having Drs. and nurses pressuring you just because you're not on their timeline. I would look into the actual rates of infection (and how treatable infection can be even if you DO get one) at the certain hours marks. Also, cervical exams really increase the risk, and most hospitals do them on a schedule.

[@coppersulphate002]

Hospitals' environment is stressful and is the reason why most labor don't progress Giving birth in a hospital is the worst environment to give birth in

[@paintingwithmeganfish]

Thank goodness!! I couldn't even imagine not eating

[@megangiebe6209]

Love watching your videos!!! It would be really neat if you could make a snack list for people with GD!! Man would love to eat oatmeal and muffins 😂 but I know my sugars need to be under control through out labor as well!!

[@BridgetTeyler]

Focus on Protein then if you have GD! And as I'm sure you know, carbs aren't the enemy, you just want to make sure you're consuming them with enough fats and proteins to keep blood sugar stable!

[@sandyn3327]

What kind of tea?

[@kimbystone]

I remembee not eating once i was at the birthing center, except for a spoonful of jello 😂 have no idea what i may have eaten in early labor the the days beforehand

[@krystlenicole9268]

Great information!!!

[@Anna_anna_n]

All the mommy’s I need your help or advice I’m 36 weeks pregnant and I keep having this pain in my thighs and it like shoots up to my lower part of my back any one know why or has this happen to them ?

[@asana_awakening]

I would ask your doctor/midwife but sounds like it could be sciatic nerve pain?

[@zeiseleh]

Im also 36 weeks pregnant with my third! Ive heard leg pain is the body preparing itself to give birth. Is this your first baby? Maybe try a pregnancy belt to take the pressure off your back and lower body.

[@megantaylor8569]

Random pains can be normal, but I would definitely get checked especially to make sure your blood pressure isn’t high

[@jessicaraqia6693]

have you been to a holistic chiro - webster technique certified?

[@Hanna-fz4wp]

Yes! I am 35 weeks and I’ve been having that shooting through my leg, butt, and back since…I wanna say 20ish weeks. But my chiropractor, midwife, and friends have said it’s sciatica:) there’s exercises online that can help you manage it. Resting and bathes help. Massages too. But ya it’s rough and hurts haha. Sometimes I can’t walk. Especially after I bend down a lot, I’ll have it. My sister in law had it but not as bad as me. Some women get it in both sides and some just in one side etc. I get it on both but mostly my left.

[@sarahcicchine2922]

This is fantastic!

[@peptisnobilis350]

Dates! Super food.

[@cuisineallfuntravelnetwork8615]

Very helpful

[@rosea164]

What about the fear of pooing during delivery I want to try not to eat heavy foods

[@coppersulphate002]

That's not important! Having energy to push a baby out is paramount! You need all the energy you can get to push that baby out. Especially iron rich foods, vitamin C, proteins carbohydrates and electrolytes It's a ridiculous policy that hospitals put in place. A lot of their practices are not based on solid medical research nor science and many of them are made up just to suit their needs and quotas