Welcoming a new life into the world is one of the most exciting experiences you could ever have, but honestly, it is extremely physically and emotionally demanding.
For vegans, ensuring you have the right nutrition during your hospital stay is crucial—not only for you but also for your birthing partner.
Vitamins play a significant role in keeping your energy up, supporting mental clarity, and ensuring your well-being during this special time.
This article covers a few vegan maternity hospital bag must haves to pack, highlighting the best vitamins and some tips for holistically preparing your body for birth.
Key Takeaways
Why Pack Vitamins for Your Hospital Stay?
During labor and recovery, your body and mind face significant demands. While hospital or birth center meals may be available, they may lack the nutrient density required for optimal energy and recovery, especially for vegans.
Due to modern factors, even women who eat consciously may be falling short on nutrients they need. Having your own supply of high-quality vitamins ensures you stay nourished, energized, and balanced.
Plus from my personal experience, the hospital I labored at was not friendly to my plant based lifestyle so supplementing with nutrients helped me each day I stayed overnight.
Why Pack for Your Birthing Partner?
Your birthing partner’s role is equally vital—they are your support system and need to be at their best to care for you and your baby. Fatigue, stress, and sleeplessness can take a toll on them, too.
So, taking the extra time to pack them vitamins in your bag can help them maintain strength throughout the process.
Key Vitamins to Pack for Vegans
When I packed my hospital bag, I made sure it was prepared for both myself and my husband. The list I’m sharing here is tailored for those with a male birthing partner, but if your partner is female or nonbinary, you can easily swap the multivitamin for one that suits their needs and preferences.
For my own routine, I packed my prenatal vitamins, which included a mix of Performance Lab products and a few others. While Performance Lab covers many essentials, I needed to supplement with additional Methyl Folate and a high dose of iron prescribed by my midwife due to anemia.
Throughout my pregnancy, Performance Lab’s Women’s Multi, Omega, Vitamin C, and Prebiotic were staples in my routine. They are easy to digest, non-GMO, gluten and allergen-free, as well as free from artificial colors, preservatives, and additives.
These supplements worked so well for me during my entire pregnancy, and I’m thrilled to say my baby boy arrived healthy and strong!
Vitamins for Vegan Women in Labor
- 1Women's Multi Vitamin: A good womeb's multivitamin can be a lifesaver during labor and postpartum recovery, helping to fill nutrient gaps caused by the stress caused by childbirth, lactation, or dietary restrictions. Key nutrients like iron, B12, Vitamin D, and folate support energy metabolism, healing, and optimize immune system function.
- 2Prebiotics: Prebiotics are key to maintaining a healthy gut, helping beneficial bacteria thrive and supporting digestion and immunity. They can ease bloating, improve nutrient absorption, and boost your immune system, which is especially important when dietary changes impact labor and recovery.
- 3Omega-3: Omega-3 fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are essential for reducing inflammation, supporting brain and cardiovascular health, and promoting quicker healing during labor and recovery. DHA, in particular, is great for supporting the fatty acid content of breast milk during lactation. They also help regulate mood, boost maternal cognition, and reduce the risk of postpartum depression, making them invaluable for navigating the challenges of early parenthood.
Vitamins for Male Birthing Partner
When packing vitamins for my husband, I took into consideration his normal supplement routine and accounted for the added challenges and demands of my delivery and recovery days post-partum.
My husband is a coffee drinker and I accidentally packed the energy supplement instead of the caffeine supplement by mistake. He did tell me he would have preferred Caffeine over the energy support so that is why I added both in this list. Both are equally good, but it's just his preference.
In addition to this list, he also took my prebiotic and Omega supplements creating a recipe for success.
- 1Mind Support: During labor and postpartum times, maintaining focus and mental clarity is crucial for making decisions, staying calm, and managing stress for your partner. A supplement that supports cognitive function can help reduce brain fog, enhance concentration, and improve emotional resilience, all of which are essential during this physically and mentally demanding time. I chose Mind Lab Pro to meet these requirements.
- 2Men's Multi-Vitamin: A good multivitamin ensures your birthing partner has the nutrients needed to stay energized and alert during long labor hours and postpartum care.
- 3Energy Support: Supplements that boost cellular energy production without relying on stimulants can help sustain physical and mental vitality. These are ideal for managing the long, exhausting hours of labor and postpartum recovery without the crashes associated with traditional energy boosters.
- 4Caffeine: A well-balanced caffeine supplement can provide a smooth energy boost while avoiding the jitters or crashes of traditional caffeine sources. This combination is particularly helpful for maintaining alertness and focus during labor, especially for your birthing partner.
Ultimate Vegan Maternity Hospital Bag Checklist
Now that you have an idea of what vitamins and supplements to pack, let's move on to other essentials that I found extremely helpful for me that was worth it to pack in my bag.
TIP:
Cassandra's Aromatherpay Diffuser Pain Relief for Contractions Blend
Just make sure to have a large enough diffuser to fill your space, or two small ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Labor and postpartum recovery place significant physical and mental demands on your body. Packing essential vitamins ensures you maintain energy levels, support immunity, and promote faster healing, especially when hospital meals might not meet your specific nutritional needs.
Key vitamins include a high-quality women’s multivitamin for overall recovery, Omega-3 for reducing inflammation and supporting brain health, and prebiotics for maintaining gut health and digestion. These work together to keep you energized and resilient.
Your birthing partner plays a critical role during labor, often staying awake for long hours and providing constant support. Supplements like a multivitamin and nootropics can help maintain their stamina, mental clarity, and emotional resilience throughout the process.
You can choose any trusted brand that provides high-quality, vegan-friendly supplements tailored to your needs. Look for options with bioavailable forms of key nutrients like folate, iron, and DHA to ensure they are easily absorbed by your body.
Yes! Include comfort items like a favorite pillow or blanket, hydration essentials like a reusable water bottle, and mental health aids such as aromatherapy or calming music. These, combined with the right nutrition, help create a more positive and supportive environment during labor.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Bringing with you the right vitamins and essentials ensures you and your birthing partner are fully prepared to handle the challenges of labor with strength and confidence.
High-quality supplements, like those from Performance Lab or another trusted brand with a similar philosophy, provide the nutritional support needed to sustain your energy, focus, and resilience. After all, pregnancy and childbirth require incredible endurance.
Ensuring both you and your partner are properly nourished takes one big worry off your shoulders so you can prepare for your journey ahead.
If you're ready to welcome your new baby comment below what you have going into your hospital bag!
