Guide | Can You Eat During Labor? What the Latest Research Says
During a long labor, pregnant women face major physical demands as well as restrictions on food intake. As medical care has advanced, rules on eating and drinking during labor have gradually become more flexible, giving patients more options.
Recent research indicates that advances in anesthesia have greatly reduced the risks of eating or drinking during labor. For low-risk pregnancies in particular, moderate intake may help maintain energy and improve the birth experience. Food and fluids were once tightly restricted because of concerns about aspiration into the lungs, but these rules are now being relaxed.
Background: Why eating during labor was restricted
Restrictions began in the 1940s, when doctors were concerned that pregnant women under general anesthesia could aspirate food into their lungs and develop serious complications. To reduce this risk, laboring patients were usually limited to ice chips or water. With advances in anesthesia, especially the widespread use of regional anesthesia such as epidural and spinal anesthesia, general anesthesia is used less often and aspiration risk has fallen substantially.
Modern research: Evidence supporting moderate intake
A 2015 study released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists reported that aspiration during labor had become extremely rare because general anesthesia was used less often, particularly among healthy, low-risk patients. More hospitals have therefore relaxed restrictions on eating during labor.
According to the research, allowing moderate food and fluid intake during labor does not increase complication risk and may shorten labor and improve comfort. One study found that patients allowed to eat had fewer unplanned cesarean deliveries than those limited to ice chips and had more energy for labor.
Food and drink during labor
If your pregnancy is low risk, your doctor may allow moderate food and fluid intake. Choose light, easy-to-digest options such as:
Water
Tea
Clear broth
Sparkling water
During early labor, you may also eat small amounts of light food such as fruit or toast. Strongly flavored and high-fat foods, including meat and dairy products, are generally best avoided to reduce stomach discomfort.
When eating may not be appropriate
Doctors usually recommend fasting for high-risk pregnancies or when an emergency cesarean delivery may be needed. This may include patients with a planned cesarean delivery, a previous cesarean delivery, a multiple pregnancy, or pregnancy-related health conditions. Eating in these situations may increase risks associated with surgery or general anesthesia, so medical instructions should be followed closely.
Communication with your doctor is essential
Discuss food and drink with your doctor when developing your birth plan to determine whether eating during labor is appropriate for you. Hospital policies vary, so ask about the facility's rules in advance.
Working with your doctor to create a birth plan suited to your situation can help make labor smoother and more comfortable.
Guide | Can You Eat During Labor? What the Latest Research Says
Guide | Can You Eat During Labor? What the Latest Research Says
During a long labor, pregnant women face major physical demands as well as restrictions on food intake. As medical care has advanced, rules on eating and drinking during labor have gradually become more flexible, giving patients more options.
Recent research indicates that advances in anesthesia have greatly reduced the risks of eating or drinking during labor. For low-risk pregnancies in particular, moderate intake may help maintain energy and improve the birth experience. Food and fluids were once tightly restricted because of concerns about aspiration into the lungs, but these rules are now being relaxed.
Background: Why eating during labor was restricted
Restrictions began in the 1940s, when doctors were concerned that pregnant women under general anesthesia could aspirate food into their lungs and develop serious complications. To reduce this risk, laboring patients were usually limited to ice chips or water. With advances in anesthesia, especially the widespread use of regional anesthesia such as epidural and spinal anesthesia, general anesthesia is used less often and aspiration risk has fallen substantially.
Modern research: Evidence supporting moderate intake
A 2015 study released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists reported that aspiration during labor had become extremely rare because general anesthesia was used less often, particularly among healthy, low-risk patients. More hospitals have therefore relaxed restrictions on eating during labor.
According to the research, allowing moderate food and fluid intake during labor does not increase complication risk and may shorten labor and improve comfort. One study found that patients allowed to eat had fewer unplanned cesarean deliveries than those limited to ice chips and had more energy for labor.
Food and drink during labor
If your pregnancy is low risk, your doctor may allow moderate food and fluid intake. Choose light, easy-to-digest options such as:
Water
Tea
Clear broth
Sparkling water
During early labor, you may also eat small amounts of light food such as fruit or toast. Strongly flavored and high-fat foods, including meat and dairy products, are generally best avoided to reduce stomach discomfort.
When eating may not be appropriate
Doctors usually recommend fasting for high-risk pregnancies or when an emergency cesarean delivery may be needed. This may include patients with a planned cesarean delivery, a previous cesarean delivery, a multiple pregnancy, or pregnancy-related health conditions. Eating in these situations may increase risks associated with surgery or general anesthesia, so medical instructions should be followed closely.
Communication with your doctor is essential
Discuss food and drink with your doctor when developing your birth plan to determine whether eating during labor is appropriate for you. Hospital policies vary, so ask about the facility's rules in advance.
Working with your doctor to create a birth plan suited to your situation can help make labor smoother and more comfortable.
Source:
Compiled from online sources