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The best snacks for your hospital bag

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When you go into labour, the last thing you might think of is food. But as the hours go on, you'll be wishing you’d packed some snacks (especially if it's 2am and the hospital canteen is closed!).

We've rounded up your essential labour kit, including the best accessories to keep your energy levels up.

Tips for eating and drinking during labour

  • Listen to your body. Some women need to eat or drink, others couldn’t touch a thing. Just have what you fancy when you like, unless your medical team has given you a reason not to.
  • Pack things you like, not what you think you should have. There’s no reason not to pop in a favourite packet of crisps or chocolate bar. 
  • Choose foods you might like if you were ill and that you will, therefore, find comforting. 
  • Pack things in small containers to keep them fresh
  • Make sure some of your snacks are easy to eat – you might find it difficult to chew.
  • Steer clear of fizzy drinks, as you don’t want to keep feeling the need to burp on top of all the other things going on in your body! Similarly, don’t choose strongly flavoured foods that will repeat on you.
  • Take some snacks for your birth partner too – make sure they know what they’ll need to buy and pack to keep going through the long hours of labour.

Read on

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The best (and most inexpensive) workout gear

What to pack in your hospital bag for labour

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