Healthy Simple Foods To Eat For Each Stage of Labor -

There was once a myth that you should not eat during labor. However, food can be important for the different stages of labor. Let me share some healthy simple foods to eat for each stage of labor.

Labor requires strength and stamina, so it is a no-brainer that food and hydration help the mother.

When you think about it, if a laboring mother is well-hydrated and nourished, it will provide her with the energy she needs to keep going.

It is often the case that a laboring mother who is under-hydrated and hasn’t eaten in hours will be more tired and will lose her stamina.

Eating and drinking during labor, when the mother desires, is essential for a smoother, less complicated labor. It helps to reduce stress, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Studies have shown that restricted food intake can lead to further stress and pain in labor (source).

In my third and fourth labors, I ate and drank as I pleased. It helped me focus and stay in tune with my body.

Why Is Restricted Eating During Labor Common Even Today?

The current practice of ‘nothing by mouth’ started in the 1940’s. This was a time where there was concern about aspiration in labor, which is when a woman undergoes a caesarean section, is put under general anesthesia and then vomits it and inhales it into her airways.

Between 1932-1945, death due to aspiration only occurred in 2 out of 44, 016 women, in instances where no airway protection was used at all (source).

Currently, the risk of death due to aspiration during a caesarean is now 0.7% per one million births.

The rates of anesthesia itself are substantially higher than the risks of aspiration.

Even though times have changed and many midwives and doctors would suggest a laboring woman eat and drink, many women still do not eat or drink enough during labor today.

With that in mind, let’s explore what foods are beneficial for labor, whether your labor is via caesarean section or vaginally.

Ditch the diets and learn how to nourish your body

What Foods To Eat In The Early Stages of Labor

If you are about to go in for a caesarean section or in the early stages of a vaginal labor (onset of labor to 3cm dilated), you want to focus on foods that are light and easily digestible; foods that are similar to foods you would eat after recovering from the flu.

Foods like:

Boiled eggs
Smashed avocado
Plain yoghurt
Apple slices with nut butter
Green smoothie (banana, spinach. kale. pineapple. milk and honey)
Dried fruit and nut mix (sulphur-free).

What Foods To Eat During The Active Stage Of Labor (4-7cm dilated)

Healthy sugars from natural sources like:

Frozen fruit
Raw honey
100% applesauce (baby pouches are a great option)
Coconut water ice cubes
Dried fruit bars with minimal ingredients

Avoid:

Oranges or orange juice (the acidity may cause a blood sugar spike or upset stomach).
Protein and fat: which slows down the rate that muscles use energy supplied from sugar.

What Foods To Eat During The Transition Stage Of Labor (7-10cm dilated)

A laboring mother most likely won’t want any foods during the stage, but depending on how long the transition stage goes for, it is important for her to stay hydrated.

Drink or sip on:

Coconut ice cubes (for an extra dose of natural electrolytes)
Labor Aid (recipe here).
Iced water

Consider that you will want to focus on this stage, but if you have a wonderful support team, remind them in advance to keep offering you water every now and then.