Food during labour
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
The benefit of birthing at home is having your own kitchen stocked with food options. You can make whatever food you like in early labour.
Ask for different snacks along the way, some that might work and others that won’t and also have ready whatever meal you want once you’re resting with your baby in your arms, post-birth.
If you have time in early labour, have a good meal that will give you energy for the work ahead. Plan to make something nutritious and balanced, and enough so there will be leftovers for post-birth too.
Pre/early labour meals:
Congee
Curry (not spicy)
Stew or Soup (any kind with protein and carbohydrates)
Bolognese
If it’s the morning, then a good hearty breakfast.
Eggs on toast with veges
Porridge with added protein and fats
Breakfast congee
During labour, eating small amounts often helps sustain energy levels, reduce the length of labour, and support effective contractions. Simple carbohydrates are important for energy.
During labour:
Cold fruit - melon, banana, pears
Toast and crackers
Muesli bars
Dried fruit
Smoothies
Jelly lollies (not the sugar-free ones because they won’t give you the necessary energy)
Spoonfuls of honey (don’t skip having honey in the house, it’s a saviour when it’s needed!)
No need to try to be perfectly healthy. If you feel like a certain food and can stomach it, any food is better than no food.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is imperative in labour. Have several drink options on hand and plan for your team to offer you sips often. Dehydration can cause nausea and stall labour.
Drinks can also help with energy (sugar and electrolytes).
Drinks:
Coconut water
Labouraid (recipe below)
Juice (watered down if needed)
Meat/Bone broth (gently flavoured broth or watered down, can be nice if you get sick of sweet food and drink flavours)
Lemon water
Raspberry leaf tea
Other herbal teas (like peppermint or ginger for nausea)
Lemon, ginger, honey tea
Foods to avoid:
Anything too spicy
Anything overly heavy and greasy
Anything acidic like orange juice or too much tomato
LabourAid Recipe: EXCERPT FROM TEN MOONS by Jane Hardwicke-Collings
This is a recipe passed down through Midwives. Drink throughout labour – perhaps make up 4-5 litres before labour and store in fridge. Make up: Per one litre water, add: 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup lemon juice 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking soda 2 crushed calcium tablets (or capsules) You could freeze this and have as ice blocks or take as a warm or cool drink You could also add a magnesium supplement to each cup of the labouraide if you have some handy.
We reached out to our community and asked what they enjoyed and recommended.
Early Labour & Labour
Bliss balls
Cocount water
Chocolate coconut water
Franjos hydration powder
Hydromamma
Apple purees
'Netball oranges'
Watermelon coconut water
Grapes
Watermelon
Pineapple
Fruit cups
Fruit juice
Oat porridge with honey
Frosty fruit icy poles
Dried mango slices
Lolly snakes
Vegemite on toast
Mashed potato
Written by Bella Berrell (birth/postpartum doula + homebirth mama)
Featured cover image by Sophie Jenna, instagram @artistsophiejenna
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