Electrolyte replacement
Getting fluids in early labor
Pregnant women and women in labor often need electrolyte and energy boosters. While many recommend using Emergen-C or sport drinks like Gatorade, here are some alternatives which might be more suited to a laboring woman’s needs:
- Homemade electrolyte drinks
Midwife Kim Mosny recommends this “Labor Aid” recipe…
* 1 qt. water
* 1/3 c. honey
* 1/3 c. juice from a real lemon
* 1/2 t. salt
* 1/4 t. baking soda
* 2 crushed calcium tabletsHere’s another similar recipe including magnesium (I assume it’s also added to a quart of water)…
* 1/3 cup lemon juice (preferably fresh-squeezed)
* 1/3 cup honey
* 1/4 tsp. sea salt
* 1/4 tsp. baking soda
* 1-2 calcium/magnesium tablets, crushed, OR 1 Tb liquid calcium/magnesium supplement
- Coconut water, “nature’s electrolyte,” an isotonic beverage (having the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood).
- Vitalyte (a.k.a. Gookinaid), an electrolyte drink created by biochemist and marathon runner, Bill Gookin
[Coconut water] was significantly sweeter, caused less nausea, fullness and no stomach upset and was also easier to consume in a larger amount compared with [carbohydrate electrolyte beverage] and [plain water] ingestion. In conclusion, ingestion of fresh young coconut water, a natural refreshing beverage, could be used for whole body rehydration after exercise. (Saat, et al, 2002, Rehydration after Exercise with Fresh Young Coconut Water, Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Beverage and Plain Water)
I am very impressed with the successful use of VITALYTE for fluid and electrolyte replacement in labor, often in cases in which the only recourse would have been intravenous fluids. -Jonathan McCormick, MD, Ob-Gyn
We have now successfully used VITALYTE for treating morning sickness (including hyperemesis with twins), pre-term labor (by correcting fluid and electrolyte imbalance) and pre-eclampsia (for increasing fluid volume and sodium intake). I am very pleased, don’t care if we ever create an RCT to “properly” study it all. -Marla Hicks, RN, midwife (source)
What do you drink in labor?
Related posts:
I drank coconut water. it was great!
Thanks for bringing this to people’s attention!!
Two things that concern me about Emergen C is that it it is not from natural sources and it is basically a “shot” of refined sugar. Yet some studies have shown that supplemented Vit.C prevents heamorrhage according. Chinese medicine theory could shed some light though on why Vit.C supplementation could cause heamorrhage. Basically it says, when you overdo somthing to its extreme, it ends up having the reverse effect.
Thank you for posting this … redistributing. Also, I agree with Katrina on the coconut water.
I wonder where the Midwifery Today folks got that information on Vitamin C. I am skeptical. Vitamin C actually has a function to reduce bleeding, and a quick web search brings up many anecdotes of surgeons recommending people take extra Vitamin C before surgery. While the Midwifery Today article mentions that Dr. Weil cautions against Vit C before surgery, the only thing I could find on his website (which was in 2008, so he may have changed his mind since then), recommended an IV drip of Vit C during surgery (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400331/Vitamin-C-for-Surgery.html).
I don’t mean to be difficult, but I would love to see the evidence about this assertion. If it is true, it is a vast departure from what is commonly taught about Vit C.
Honestly, I drank water during birth. After I delivered, I had a sandwich and probably some tea with honey. Never felt significantly dehydrated to need electrolyte drinks. I’m usually pretty hydrated though. :)
Emily- I also wish I had the original sources used by Kim Mosny. Vitamin C can definitely be helpful and useful when used in moderation. I mentioned the benefit of vitamin C for surgical wound healing in the post. I think the problem arises when the Emergen-C packets are used in excess.
Vitamin C does affect the rate at which blood will form clots and coagulate. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10547085) Thinning the blood can be a good thing for certain individuals and to a certain degree (especially for those at risk of blood clots), but if taken to excess it’s definitely problematic. Blood thinner overdose can lead to excessive bleeding.
Other natural blood thinners are vitamin E, fish oil, ginger, and garlic. So it would also be wise to avoid taking those in excess (or in combination).
I don’t bother with emergen-C because the doses are too LOW to do anything for me. On the other hand, 2000mg/day knocks out my hay fever. I have also used it counteract other allergic reactions, and, in MUCH higher, but very short-term, combined with vitamin D, to fight off a recurrence of a MRSA infection (same symptoms, same leg, as the infection that kept DH in the hospital for a week, and laid up for 6, several months previous. Only this time, symptoms were gone in hours, rather than days, and with a few dollars worth of vitamins, rather than literally thousands of dollars of abx.)
That website you gave is awfully short on science of any sort, and the guy is trying to call an obvious case of rickets (vitamin D shortage) a vitamin C overdose. Gimme a break!
BTW–I take vitamin C during pregnancy, too. And I don’t hemmorhage. I went looking for contraindications for vitamin C and pregnancy before I conceived the first time. Spent a few days checking into it, actually. Couldn’t find anything with any real science behind it.
Read about a new study using vitamin C to kill cancer only last week, too.
I never really felt dehydrated either, OrganicMama. But I was so glad to have the freedom to eat and drink (at least in my last labor), even if I didn’t utilize that freedom much. :-)
Very interesting information. As a doula I am always looking for things to help mama’s through the labor. This post got me wondering though if there is a link between low calcium levels and woman who have unproductive contractions. HMMMM more research is needed. Thanks again for the information!
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I love emergen C for helping stave off illness, and for energy. But I don’t think I have ever used it during labor. My favorite thing to have around during labor is liquid chlorophyll. I prefer to mix it with 100% grape juice. This really gives me an immediate feeling of strength and feels like it is replacing lost blood cells. It is very refreshing and strengthening.
I guess anything that will help you stay hydrated is good to take. Keeping you well balanced in your body does nothing but good for the baby.
Kate
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