Vegan MOFO- Day 2

As a doula and childbirth educator, I get a lot of questions about what to pack in a labor bag. With it being Vegan MOFO I couldn't not talk about labor food!

So, here we go. If you are laboring without intervention, these are my go to snacks:

Source- http://zico.com/products/benefits

Unless you are allergic to coconut, you have to have coconut water. It is like nature's Gatorade. It is full of potassium and electrolytes, making it the perfect birth beverage.

Source- www.larabar.com

Larabars make an awesome labor snack. They are just fruit and nuts, so they provide a quick shot carbohydrate and good protein to keep your energy up. My favorite flavor is cherry pie. I think it actually does taste like cherry pie.

source- www.cliffbar.com

Fruit snacks are great for the quick burst of energy too. I like Cliff fruit ropes, but you can get any fresh fruit or fruit leather. Bananas are a fantastic fruit to eat in labor, as they are loaded with potassium. I had a mama snack on a banana while crowning once. It was pretty bad ass.

source- www.crunchmaster.com

These are my favorite gluten free cracker. Having a whole grain cracker of some sort is good for a nice slower digesting carb. It is also good for quelling nausea.

source- www.planters.com

Nuts are a great source of protein. You will want to pack at least one protein rich food in your bag. Nuts are convenient because they keep well and come in these single serving packages. Vegan jerky would also be a good choice.

Another tip is to put the line, "I would like the freedom to eat and drink during labor" on your birth plan if you are birthing in the hospital. Most hospitals have strict no food policies, but your doctor can override that that by signing your plan that says that. Keep in mind that you can only eat if you aren't receiving augmenting drugs (like pitocin) or pain meds (like an epidural). If your doctor says that you probably won't want to eat in labor anyways, let them know you plan to pack easy to eat snacks in case you do.