Healthy women with low-risk pregnancies should no longer need to fast during labor, according to a study by the American Society of Anesthesiologists in fall 2015. In fact, the researchers noted, a light meal actually may help women keep their energy up during childbirth.
Above all, doctors still recommend that you eat light and preferably during early labor rather than in the later stages. Foods to avoid during labor include rich foods such as large pieces of meat and heavy meals. Though rare, if aspiration does occur during labor, solid foods are more dangerous than liquids.
The good news is that it's usually safe to eat and drink in labour if you want to (NICE 2014, Singata et al 2013). Many women feel hungry and thirsty, especially in the early stages . So it's reassuring to know that having a snack is unlikely to harm you or your baby.
You can eat, sleep and move around at your own pace. Listen to your body and do what you instinctively feel is right for you. Remember that your experience is uniquely yours.
For example, suggest position changes or encourage her to find something – such as a breathing pattern, your face, or even a foot rub – to focus on during the contractions, and bring her back to it whenever she starts to think she won't make it.
Between contractions, you can lean backward supported by the bed. If you like, your partner can also sit behind you in bed as you use this position.
The Reason for Fasting During Labor
People have long been told they should fast during labor because of the risk of aspiration, which happens when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs.
Change in Appetite
It's common for women to experience a decrease in appetite in the lead up to the onset of labour. For other women, the hours or days before labour may be marked by an increase in appetite.
Believe it or not, your feet can get cold during labour, so a pair of soft, thick socks will ensure your toes stay toasty. Get some with non-slip soles to make it easier for you to move about during labour.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.
Yes, childbirth is painful. But it's manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time moms (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in honor of Mother's Day.
"It is desirable that women giving birth with an epidural do not have the additional stress of hunger, but instead be allowed to eat a light meal."
You're having strong, regular contractions.
This may be because practice contractions can be triggered by hunger or dehydration. So eating or drinking something can sometimes quell them. True labor pains, by contrast, do not lessen until delivery. In fact, they typically get more intense and more frequent over time.
For first-time moms, it can last from 12 to 19 hours. It may be shorter (about 14 hours) for moms who've already had children. It's when contractions become strong and regular enough to cause your cervix to dilate (open) and thin out (efface).
Fruit, veggies, seeds and nuts, breakfast bars, healthy sandwiches and rice crackers are some of the best snacks for labour. Avoid high fat and sugar foods that can increase nausea and leave you feeling more tired. Make sure to prepare your snacks in advance and pack them in your hospital bag.
An epidural is a tiny tube that delivers pain medicine directly into the area in your back around your spinal cord. The effects of the epidural usually wear off within 2 hours after the epidural medicine is stopped. After the epidural wears off, you may have some cramping and vaginal pain from childbirth.
All laboring people, whether they have an epidural or not, or have diabetes or not, have the right to choose whether they would like to eat and drink during labor.
Your baby should continue to move as normal once your waters have broken and when you are having contractions. You can eat and drink as normal.
Having plenty of water and foods high in fibre may mean you are less likely to have stool in your colon when you are in labour. Exercise is also a good way to encourage your bowels to keep moving regularly, even if it is a gentle daily walk. During labour, make sure you take bathroom breaks.
General anesthesia involves being put to sleep during delivery. It works quickly, but is usually only an option for emergency C-sections or other urgent issues like excessive bleeding during delivery.
Physically speaking, a woman can have intercourse when the integrity of the perineum has returned and lochial discharge ceases. This may be complete within two to four weeks postpartum, but varies between individual women. Many women do not desire sexual activity at this time, to allow proper healing to occur.