Nikiah Seeds
Certified Birthing From Within Mentor
Childbirth Educator
CD (DONA), RHN, CH
The Importance of Eating and Drinking in Labour
by Nikiah Seeds
Hydration and nourishment are key to having enough energy to get through the intense physical work of labour. A woman should drink lots of water, diluted juice, labour-aide or ice chips throughout her entire labour. This will act as a preventative for loss of energy, dehydration which could lead to the woman needing an Intravenous drip.
Follow your instincts, eat and drink whenever you can, a granola bar or some toast will help if you are tired and low on energy.
In early labour try to eat a small nourishing meal. This will carry you through a long labour. Some examples would be a light pasta meal with bread, or a big salad with chicken, seeds and nuts or cheese. Carbohydrate packing is used by athletes for stamina and energy. Birthing women need the same amount of energy- Labour is hard work!
Pack light, easily digested foods that you enjoy in your birth bag. And don’t forget to pack extra food for dad.
This is a great drink you can prepare in advance and have on hand to sip throughout labour. Use red raspberry Leaf Tea for extra beneficial nutrients. {You can bring Gatorade or any other power drink instead, but make sure you like the flavor before hand.
LABOUR-AIDE
From the book “Heart and hands” by: Elisabeth Davis1 Quart water or Red Raspberry leaf tea
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup lemon juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
2 crushed Calcium or Calcium/Magnesium tablets