DIY Laborade

DIY Laborade is a homemade electrolyte-like drink to be enjoyed during labor or any other physically demanding event.

Ingredients

  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Red raspberry leaf tea
  • Lemon juice
  • Sea salt
  • Calcium/magnesium powder
  • Raw honey

Instructions

Add all the ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until incorporated. Enjoy immediately or freeze for later.


This DIY Laborade is part of the ‘relaxed recipes’ series, where I share a delicious, bomb ass recipe, without the strict measurements or directions.

About a week or two ago, I posted a poll on Instagram seeing how many of you had ever heard of/had Laborade. 97% of you said you had no idea what that was. Most of those who responded are moms, so that was kind of  shocking to me! I know typical birthing environments don’t encourage eating or drinking during labor, so I wasn’t too surprised, but still – I think every expecting mom should know about this easy, hydrating, DIY drink.

I’m not sure who invented Laborade/where it came from, but if you google it, you’ll find a few different versions. Laborade, in a nutshell, is like a healthier version of Gatorade. The Labor part is a play on words because it’s an amazing drink to have before/during/after labor. Lots of versions contain coconut water, but I’ve personally never liked coconut water, so I don’t put that in mine.

The ingredients that are in my Laborade, as well as others, are beneficial to staying hydrated + well during the physically demanding act of labor and childbirth. Lots of fluids are lost during birth, so it’s incredibly important to replenish what is lost. 

What goes in my DIY Laborade?

  • Red raspberry leaf tea – to help continue to strengthen my uterus
  • Lemon juice – for hydration + taste
  • Sea salt – used as an electrolyte
  • Calcium/magnesium powder – to help with energy levels + bone / muscle support
  • Raw honey – for taste + antibacterial benefits

Play around with the amount of ingredients based on your individual preferences. For example, I only add a tiny bit of the Calcium/Magnesium Powder to mine, because Magnesium is known to get your bowels moving. Something I personally don’t want or need during labor. I blend everything up in my blender and taste before storing in the freezer.


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