Energy Supplement for Labor

[Tiffylove]

I have heard many people recommend emergen-c as an energy supplement during labor. I currently have a supply of zipfizz which is similar but not the same thing. I was wondering if there was any specific reason why emergen-c is recommended and are there any others that anyone else recommends?

 

[MindUtopia]

Emergen-C is just 1000mg of vitamin C and a few other vitamins with a bit of sugary powder. I love it when I'm sick or traveling, but I wouldn't rely on it totally in labour. You will probably want something with more calories than that. I used dates, honey and power gel (not together!) and drank coconut water which is isotonic. You may find fizzy drinks bother your stomach a bit, so I'd have a few other options available. But your immune system will take a real hit in the weeks after birth, so Emergen-C will be great then. I drank it nearly daily after. Not sure about the other drink you mention though as I've never heard of it.

 

[Tiffylove]

What kind of power gel did you use?

 

[MindUtopia]

These ones: https://shop.powerbar.com/PowerBar-PowerGel/c/PowerBar@PowerGel

I think I probably had chocolate, vanilla and one of the berry ones or something fruity. I'm a runner, so I use them when I train and I just happened to have a ton left over from when I was running before I got pregnant. The midwives here actually really recommend them for labour. Birth is like running a marathon (I'm done one an it's such an accurate analogy!) and you need easy to digest fuel for your body and these work really well. I also really swear by the coconut water. I drank nearly 3 liters of it and it was great.

 

[mom2b2013]

These ones: https://shop.powerbar.com/PowerBar-PowerGel/c/PowerBar@PowerGel

I think I probably had chocolate, vanilla and one of the berry ones or something fruity. I'm a runner, so I use them when I train and I just happened to have a ton left over from when I was running before I got pregnant. The midwives here actually really recommend them for labour. Birth is like running a marathon (I'm done one an it's such an accurate analogy!) and you need easy to digest fuel for your body and these work really well. I also really swear by the coconut water. I drank nearly 3 liters of it and it was great.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm just curious MindUtopia whether you continued running through your pregnancy. If so, did you run up until the very end?

Tiffylove, I actually never thought about supplements during labor so thanks for the idea

 

[MindUtopia]

These ones: https://shop.powerbar.com/PowerBar-PowerGel/c/PowerBar@PowerGel

I think I probably had chocolate, vanilla and one of the berry ones or something fruity. I'm a runner, so I use them when I train and I just happened to have a ton left over from when I was running before I got pregnant. The midwives here actually really recommend them for labour. Birth is like running a marathon (I'm done one an it's such an accurate analogy!) and you need easy to digest fuel for your body and these work really well. I also really swear by the coconut water. I drank nearly 3 liters of it and it was great.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm just curious MindUtopia whether you continued running through your pregnancy. If so, did you run up until the very end?

Tiffylove, I actually never thought about supplements during labor so thanks for the idea

I didn't continue running because I had just started training again when I got my BFP, but I probably would have through early 2nd tri if I'd been in better shape at the time. I took the winter off from running completely and had just started up again in May, then I was pregnant in June. So because I wasn't as fit as I'd have liked (and I was also completely and totally exhausted in 1st tri!), I slowed things down and walked the distances I would have normally run. I kept up walking and trekking about 50-60 miles a month until early 3rd tri though and then switched to swimming (it was too damn cold outside to walk!) and that worked really well for me. I had a really healthy pregnancy and easy birth and I lost all the baby weight quickly as I didn't gain that much (only about 15-20 lbs). So really it's kinda up to how you feel and how in shape you think you are, but if it feels right I think it's a good thing to keep going as long as you're otherwise healthy.

 

[mom2b2013]

Thanks MindUtopia. I hear so many different things about whether its ok to run or not and what heart rates are acceptable. I find it impossible to believe that I'm supposed to keep my heart rate under 150 bpm. I'm fit and would have no trouble running if it wasn't for the terrible SPD pain. I think I might soon have to call it quits and start walking and swimming instead.

 

[Tiffylove]

I find it impossible to believe that I'm supposed to keep my heart rate under 150 bpm.

Your instincts are correct on this one. I have been reading all about exercise while pregnant and it now proved to be the "old way" or myth that you can't bring your heart rate above 150bpm. The main concern is temperature. The only evidence they have found that intense exercise can be harmful in any way while pregnant is when the mothers temperature rises above a certain point (I can't remember what it is).

I have read many stories of women who continue to run throughout their entire pregnancy even all the way up to the day they gave birth. One girl said she monitored her heart rate which usually went between 165 and 170bpm while she was running. Her and the baby were fine and she gave birth to a very healthy baby. But then again this girl was a very experienced and conditioned runner.

I do think the rule of thumb of not starting any new exercise while pregnant is good because of the hormones and relaxin your muscles may not be able to take new strain on it. However, If you are already a runner or person who does certain exercise I think it is perfectly fine to continue throughout the entire pregnancy. But then again, I am not a doctor, this is just from research online and other women's stories.

 

[Mummy Bean]

Haribo and lucozade...i had a fizzy haribo durimg each contraction...gave me some thimg to focus on as well as energy to get through it. but im pretty sensitive with sugar.

 

[mom2b2013]

I find it impossible to believe that I'm supposed to keep my heart rate under 150 bpm.

Your instincts are correct on this one. I have been reading all about exercise while pregnant and it now proved to be the "old way" or myth that you can't bring your heart rate above 150bpm. The main concern is temperature. The only evidence they have found that intense exercise can be harmful in any way while pregnant is when the mothers temperature rises above a certain point (I can't remember what it is).

I have read many stories of women who continue to run throughout their entire pregnancy even all the way up to the day they gave birth. One girl said she monitored her heart rate which usually went between 165 and 170bpm while she was running. Her and the baby were fine and she gave birth to a very healthy baby. But then again this girl was a very experienced and conditioned runner.

I do think the rule of thumb of not starting any new exercise while pregnant is good because of the hormones and relaxin your muscles may not be able to take new strain on it. However, If you are already a runner or person who does certain exercise I think it is perfectly fine to continue throughout the entire pregnancy. But then again, I am not a doctor, this is just from research online and other women's stories.

Thank you! I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one. I didn't want to say it incase people thought I was being negligent but my heart rate is usually between 165- 170 when I run. I don't feel out of breath or have any symptoms such as dizziness so my body seems to handle it well.

 

[Anthrogirl]

I liked watered down citrusy things, but they might bother peoples stomachs. This is a recipe that I found through the MW community for home made Labor-Aid

Labor-Aid Drink
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup honey (or to taste)
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 calcium/magnesium tablets, crushed
water to make 4 cups

I might mix it up with some lime juice and make some ice pops with it as well for a June birth (or May if my uterus keeps up the antics) as it's pretty warm here already. Except today, that is...

 

[Dtswife]

Emergen-C is just 1000mg of vitamin C and a few other vitamins with a bit of sugary powder. I love it when I'm sick or traveling, but I wouldn't rely on it totally in labour. You will probably want something with more calories than that. I used dates, honey and power gel (not together!) and drank coconut water which is isotonic. You may find fizzy drinks bother your stomach a bit, so I'd have a few other options available. But your immune system will take a real hit in the weeks after birth, so Emergen-C will be great then. I drank it nearly daily after. Not sure about the other drink you mention though as I've never heard of it.

Ok, dumb question.

Does all coconut water have chunks of coconut floating in it? My mom gave me some once without warning me that there was "stuff" in it and I dang near projectile vomited across the room. Thought it was rotten. She thought it was hilarious. I couldn't drink it even after I knew what it was. It tasted good, just couldn't do the chunky water thing.