In Labor? You Can Eat!
Good news for hungry, pregnant women everywhere: new recommendations are evolving that may just change the tradition of “ice chips only” for women in labor.
Many women may not be interested in food during labor. However, I do know some women who were in the hospital for many, many hours and were very hungry during the process of giving birth. Traditionally, women in labor are denied anything but ice chips, so most women have to tough it out until after the baby is born.
Standard hospital policy for many decades has been to allow only tiny sips of water or ice chips for pregnant women in labor if they were thirsty. Why? It was feared, and some studies in the 1940s showed, that if a woman needed to undergo general anesthesia for a cesarean delivery, she might inhale regurgitated liquids or food particles that could lead to pneumonia and other lung damage.
But, the article goes on to mention that anesthesia practices have gotten better since this time, and it is generally considered much safer.
The research on the topic is discussed here:
Singata and colleagues systematically reviewed five studies involving more than 3,100 pregnant that looked at the evidence for restricting food and drink in women who were considered unlikely to need anesthesia. One study looked at complete restriction versus giving women the freedom to eat and drink at will; two studies looked at water only versus giving women specific fluids and foods and two studies looked at water only versus giving women carbohydrate drinks.
The evidence showed no benefits or harms of restricting foods and fluids during labor in women at low risk of needing anesthesia.
So, some OBs are now relaxing the “ice chip only” rule and allowing patients who are low-risk for anesthesia to eat what they want during labor. If you’re pregnant and are low-risk, talk to your OB about this. You never know how long your labor might take and you might need some cafeteria food to keep your strength up.
I was on the “ice chip only” program for my labors. As soon as my first daughter was born, I sent my hubby across the street to Wendy’s. It was possibly the best hamburger I’ve had in my life. Thinking back, I might have been too nervous to eat until after the birth. But, maybe not. Mmmmmm, french fries….
RHA Said,
January 20, 2010 @ 9:07 pm
Sounds like it would be a welcome change, at least to be able to snack a little. I think I’m going to need to stick with ice chips myself though – I’m trying for a VBAC this time. While things *should* be fine, if I end up needing another c-section the food thing will probably be a concern. I should ask my midwife about what she thinks and the hospital guidelines (I’m in Canada, with a registered midwife, planning to give birth in a hospital).
Stacy McKenna Seip Said,
January 20, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
My mom’s digestive tract purged itself of all contents in every way possible when her labor started with me (36 years ago) so apparently her system was all about getting it all out of the way, just in case. When I had my son, I had spent 4 days in high risk maternity first, and while I wasn’t allowed solids, I was allowed fluids. Sadly, the only thing the hospital had available at 3 in the morning was jello or fruit juice… and I wanted protein. Thankfully, some incredibly good friends who lived up the street happened to have some matzo ball soup in the fridge so they brought me some (broth only) and I swear it was the best tasting soup EVER. I can’t imagine how cranky/exhausted I would have been on only ice chips.
Lorry Said,
January 21, 2010 @ 12:46 am
I’m an American in Denmark, and when I was pregnant, my Danish wasn’t that good, so I got most of my info and support from American message boards online. I went in with a list of questions for my midwife, and when I asked her if I could eat during labor, she looked at me like I had two heads and said, “of course, if you want to!” After my emergency cesarean, there was no concerns about letting me eat as much as I wanted as soon as I wanted, either. I was surprised to learn from my stateside friends that it was normal to be restricted to liquids until first flatus. Kinda makes me want to finish all my birthing over here before I move back….
Laura Said,
January 21, 2010 @ 1:24 am
Oh, well that’s good news! I was in labor for 23 hours, and I did get hungry. I didn’t want a heavy meal, but a popsicle, something, anything to get my blood sugar up.
I too, sent my family for a burger after I slept a couple hours after labor, but I think my tastes were off because it tasted like sawdust. Very disappointing!
Erin M. Said,
January 21, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
As an US Expat in New Zealand who did most of her laboring at home and transferred to hospital during pushing, I loved being able to eat and drink as I wanted during labor. Especially since my labor was 32 hours long! I mostly stuck to wheat toast, honey and juice chips / water, but it was exactly what I needed. And it kept the hospital from having to give me too many IV fluids because there’s little risk of dehydration when you’re allowed to drink during labor (unless you’re one of the unlucky few who’s bodies don’t accept anything in labor).
Julie Said,
January 23, 2010 @ 11:13 pm
Wow, that is awesome news. I kind of thought that rule would change sooner or later.
Since I had to have a c-section, I never went through the ice chip thing. But I had read that eating was most likely safer than previously thought.
mamanomnom Said,
March 12, 2010 @ 11:30 am
It seems to me that most women stop feeling hungry by the time they’re in very heavy labor. I ate what I want when I wanted, which led to a nice, protein and starch-rich breakfast during early labor. After I lost my appetite, I drank protein water to try and keep my energy up. When I got to the point that I vomited, all that was left was strawberry protein water.
After labor, I was more famished that I could remember ever having been. The nurse brought me a boxed lunch from the fridge, and as soon as I was finished I requested another, along with an entire live cow to munch on.