We asked Dr. Beverly Huang ND what women can do to help keep their stamina up during labor and delivery, especially if you only want to drink liquids or eat ice.

She gave us this natural Labour Aid recipe that only takes about 10 minutes to prepare. It tastes good and is amazing for you no matter what you feel like putting into your system (like if you don’t feel like eating food!). It’s also a great energy drink for keeping your energy level up during athletic activities!

Ingredients 

1/3 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/3 cup of honey

1/4 tsp of salt

2 calcium/magnesium tablets (crushed) or one packet of Magnelevures (by Unda)

Water to make 4 cups

Directions

Mix well and freeze in ice cube trays.

Recommendations

I made this Labor Aid drink when I had both of my children. I used crushed calcium/magnesium tabs the first time and a Magnelevures packet the second time, but found each equally helpful. A few other tips that I found helpful are noted below.

• Use organic ingredients and sea salt.

• Try Fresh Baby trays – they have a lid are also great for freezing homemade baby food!

• Fill a couple of water bottles with the Labour Aid ice cubes and bring them with you to the hospital when you go into labor, then add water when you get there to help dilute it (if you don’t want to dilute it, just let the ice cubes melt). You can also eat the ice cubes if you prefer.

• Include this Labour Aid energy drink on your hospital list and birth plan so that you and your birth partner don’t forget to take it with you when you go to the hospital. We refer to this Labour Aid drink in our sample birth plans.

Labor and delivery can be really uncomfortable, excruciatingly painful and exhausting (the good news is that you get a baby out of the deal!). This drink tastes great and you don’t burn out after drinking it in the same way you would having other energy drinks that contain added sugar.

Don’t forget to run the recipe by your healthcare provider before you make it. For more about Dr. Beverly Huang ND, or to book an appointment, visit the Grassroots Naturopathic Medicine website.

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