Can You Eat In Labor?
Fortifying yourself with food & fluids can enhance your labor by reducing stress hormones, improving uterine contractions and boosting energy levels while staying hydrated keeps your tissues moist which is crucial since your body’s job in labor is to stretch & open.
EBB Evidence on Eating in Labor
Everyone Has Nutrition Needs
Labor support partners have energy needs too. Great labor support requires strength & stamina so make sure you take care of your own nutrition needs.
When in early labor at home, make easy to eat foods for your partner so they can calorie load. As labor progresses, they may become too nauseous to get anything in. This is an opportune time for you to make sure you are eating too, and sharing good food with people we love releases oxytocin.
Stashing portable, non-perishable snacks in your birth bag will ensure you have quick and easy options to keep your energy up.
Eating a big, delicious meal in front of your laboring partner while they are either not allowed to eat or don’t feel like eating is not good labor etiquette. Any foods with a strong smell should be banned from a birth space as well for obvious reasons.
Eating During Labor
Every pregnant person has varying nutritional needs, different aversions and unique cravings.
There are a lot of options for you in labor, keeping your own personal diet in mind. Foods that are easy to make, easy to take and easy to eat 1 handed are all good ideas.
The good news: all of the restricted foods that you might be missing during pregnancy are on the menu once your baby is born so start planning that 1st postpartum meal!
Labor friendly food ideas
Eat light & hydrate to help your labor progress.
WARNING: Keep it light since your digestion slows down in labor and you might see that food again later.
PROTEIN
greek yogurt
cheese
nut butters
protein shakes
scrambled eggs
boiled eggs
meat jerkey
tofu
nuts
COMPLEX CARBS
multigrain bread
multigrain crackers
whole wheat pasta
brown rice
oatmeal, millet, quinoa
rice cakes
cereal
pita bread
chickpeas, falafel balls
toast with jam
FRUITS
berries
grapes
banana
dates
applesauce
avocado
fresh smoothies
dried fruit
fruit squeeze pouches
pre-cut fruits for ease
frozen fruit is cooking
QUICK ENERGY
honey sticks
energy gels
lollipops
popsicles
PRO TIP: freeze honey sweetened tea into cubes or make frozen labor-aid pops
DRINKS
water
diluted juice (not citrus)
coconut water
lemon water with Himalayan sea salt
Emergen C
electrolyte drinks
miso soup
bone broth
herbal tea (nettle & raspberry leaf)
aim for sips at least every 15-30 minutes
PRO TIP: offer drinks with a flexible straw after contractions