Labor is usually a marathon, not a sprint. And that means you need to fuel up. What meal can you get down—and keep down? That’s the question a Reddit user named Heidi posed yesterday.

“I’ve heard that you should eat something before you go to the hospital for delivery, because once you get admitted they won’t let you eat. But I’d also like to eat something light, because I’d really love to not sh*t myself during labor,” she says. “I mean, if it happens it happens. But I don’t want to tempt fate by eating Chipotle before I head to the hospital, ya know? I’m thinking something light and healthy, like a sandwich. What kind of food did you eat in early labor before you headed to the hospital?”

As always, Reddit users delivered some top-notch answers. A few brought up an important point: Nowadays, some hospitals or birthing centers do let women eat not only after they’re admitted, but during labor. That’s thanks to a 2015 study that found no risk of combining light eating with pain management drugs, and that the caloric demands of laboring women are literally comparable to those of marathon runners.

Like marathon runners, lots of Reddit moms reported carbo-loading.

“I ate like three slices of pizza. I’m so glad I did because it would be about 48 hours before I could really eat again. (I ended up with a c-section and could only have liquids for the first 12 hours after surgery plus a day and half of labor before that.)" “I had homemade macaroni and cheese. That said, I was totally allowed to eat during labour. I had an epidural, and just before pushing my midwife brought me a light meal of cheerios and milk, OJ, apple sauce and cheese. It was weird but awesome to sit there calmly enjoying my final meal before mumhood. PS— no poop! I hear that eating policies vary from hospital to hospital.” “Ate chipotle. Did not sh*t. Actually didn’t sh*t until four days postpartum.” “I was allowed to eat throughout an induction and even in my very long pushing phase. I had a hospital birth with my midwife. Even though they placed Cervidil at night and I was having good contractions in the morning they still brought me breakfast and lunch and then I had lots of liquids and a banana while I pushed.” “I had a Jimmy John’s sub, a bag of BBQ chips and a pickle. I think I had a cookie too. I wound up in labor for a while and didn’t get to eat until I think about 45 to 50 hours later.” “I was so anxious last time that I ate half a poptart, which turned out to be a mistake since I was in labor for over 26 hours and had three hours of pushing almost with no energy.” “A combination (lamb & chicken) kebab on rice. Best kebab ever, I didn’t eat for my whole 17 hours of labour (out of choice, wasn’t hungry) and I ate the kebab a couple of hours before that started. It fully sustained me.” “My first time, they let me eat at the hospital and I had eggs and toast (full disclosure, I did sh*t myself). Second time, I got around the restriction by eating a bagel during that fuzzy time when they weren’t quite sure if they were going to admit me, and had me walk around to try to speed things along. No poop. Third time, I made pasta while waiting for my husband to come home so we could go. Again, no poop.” “My doula recommended chicken stock. So something hearty but really light. However, I think I was allowed to eat Jell-O during labor once at the hospital (to be honest It’s a bit of a blur, but I could have something). Anyways, I ended up vomiting over my husband and doula. So for me I didn’t poop, it just came out another way.” “I didn’t eat at all! I went into labor the night before and didn’t even think about eating until I was already at the hospital and starting to black out during contractions. I had my significant other sneak me a candy bar from the vending machine. Now I’m a huge proponent of EAT BEFORE YOU GO.”

And one user was very clear about what you shouldn’t eat.