Valerie Rohde Birth Services

"Should I or can I eat during labor?" Great question. See a few more links in the comments so you can see for yourself. I usually encourage my clients to follow their body's lead on how they're feeling and what they're feeling like eating. And I usually suggest labor snacks like honey sticks as a natural form of sugar for energy boost as needed but obviously easily digested. Fruit/veggie juice boxes or pouches, nut butters assuming no allergy, crackers, and the like.

"Most healthy women can skip the fasting and, in fact, would benefit from eating a light meal during labor, suggests research being presented at theANESTHESIOLOGY® 2015 annual meeting. Improvements in anesthesia care have made pain control during labor safer, reducing risks related to eating, researchers note."

American Society of Anesthesiologists - Eating a light meal during labor The American Society of Anesthesiologists is an educational, research and scientific association of physicians organized to raise the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and to improve patient care.

Definitely things to take into consideration during pregnancy and birth.

Childbirth: What to Reject When You're Expecting Consumer Reports describes 10 childbirth procedures often overused when you're expecting. Find out what you should reject.

I loved yoga during pregnancy (and after!) for its physical benefits but also for the quiet space it gave me for reflection, prayer, and connection to my growing baby.

Prenatal Yoga Poses That Relieve Pregnancy Pain and Prepare for Labor and Delivery | HealthyWomen Pregnancy can be a beautiful and wonderful time, but it can also come with many aches and pains.