What to drink during labour?

**BekZ** · December 6th, 2007, 08:19 PM

Hi,
I have heard of some ladies using sports type drinks for hydration during labour.

Has anyone got recommendations or opinions about this?

When in labour with DD I did drink water but had such a bag dehyration headache after she was born and would like to avoid that this time around.

**Phteven** · December 6th, 2007, 08:24 PM

I drank water and gatorade.

**Carrie** · December 6th, 2007, 08:27 PM

My Doula has given me a receipe for what she calls Labour Ade : it has lemon, calcium, manuka honey, and baking soda in it

**AnyDream** · December 7th, 2007, 09:04 AM

Good luck Bekz

! Can't wait to hear your happy news!

**Zee** · December 7th, 2007, 09:06 AM

Mmm I drank nothing,lol

**maddysmummy** · December 7th, 2007, 09:11 AM

i had water and ice chips!

**mrsr** · December 7th, 2007, 09:43 AM

My midwives have suggested Gatorade...I'm also going to take some of those Glucodin glucose tablets in with me. I find they can make a huge difference to how I feel.

**Kazbah** · December 7th, 2007, 09:45 AM

I drank copious amounts of lemonade

**Janie** · December 7th, 2007, 07:56 PM

I planned to drink water and gatorade, but alas, Nicholas arrived before I bought the gatorade (and I wasn't stopping on the way to the hospy LOL). So I packed some Primas that I had in the cupboard and used those, which turned out great. I alternated the juice between enormous amounts of water though, and I REALLY think that helped me get through my labour well.

**Liviam** · December 7th, 2007, 08:07 PM

I drank water and had ice chips. I must not have had enough because as soon as she was born I had 3 glasses of juice and a 600ml bottle lemonade and more water. Labour is thirsty work. Best of luck.

**sangie** · December 7th, 2007, 08:16 PM

I could only tolerate water and ice chips, anything else made me feel sick. Managed to have some juice after the birth though which helped get my sugar levels up! Good luck!

**christy** · December 7th, 2007, 08:16 PM

I sipped water & poweraide. I made poweraide slushys and put 2 poweraides in the freezer and took one out when labour started and the other out when we left for the hospital. I think that one took 3 hours to turn to a slushy so that was okay. I drank both poweraides & a litre of water during my labour & didn't feel dehydrated at all.

**BellyBelly** · December 7th, 2007, 09:12 PM

alternate between water and sports drink - shown to reduce incidences of keytones

**sasha** · December 7th, 2007, 09:28 PM

water, water, water! But also, lemon lime & bitters because it wasn't too sweet. I can't cope with sweet stuff if I'm feeling at all nauseous. Good luck!

**Fruitloop** · December 7th, 2007, 09:32 PM

I drank Powerade but proceded to throw it all up once I arrived at hospital and had to have IV fluids due to dehydration. I figure next time round, I'll stick with water!

**Zee** · December 7th, 2007, 09:37 PM

Having said I didnt drink anything.. I did pack primas & dh was getting stuck into cans of coke (gawd wouldnt want him to be thirsty,lol) and as soon as DD was born I asked (yes had to ask) for a glass of water!!

***EmJa*** · December 7th, 2007, 09:38 PM

I drank heaps of water, had to be chilled!!

But i like wat u did Christy, good thinking!!

**Rouge** · December 7th, 2007, 09:42 PM

I had 2 sips of water, and a sip of gaterade. Lots of liquids is good as it means you have to go to the loo which helps keep you active for a more productive birth