PREGNANCY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
Doctors used to tell women not to eat anything during labor—they were worried the moms-to-be might vomit and choke. Now, we know that isn’t a problem and instead of asking women to fast, we tell them to approach labor like a marathoner! It is a long game—you’ll need to be properly fueled!
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Forget the old advice of fasting and take this as an excuse to carb load! Try eating simple carbs during labor to maintain your sugar levels and keep your energy up! Fruit juice, honey sticks, toast and jam, bread or crackers are all great snacks for labor.
You’ll also want to bring a drink that will replenish your electrolytes, such as sports drinks or coconut water.
After delivery, a hydrating fruit like watermelon is a great snack. You also want to have a little fresh aloe vera juice or prune juice, to keep from getting constipated from the combo of fasting and carbs.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
