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. Dairy and acidic beverages like juice should also be avoided because they can upset your stomach during labor.
Medical interventions can speed up labor, but there are other ways to encourage dilation. They include moving around, rocking on an exercise ball, using relaxation techniques, and laughing. Dilation is a term that describes the widening of the cervical opening.
At least five factors affect the process of labor and birth. These are easily remembered as the five Ps: passenger (fetus and placenta), passageway (birth canal), powers (contractions), position of the mother, and psychologic response.
Strict rules on eating and drinking during labor began in 1946 with Dr. Curtis Mendelson. He wanted to avoid aspiration in pregnant people under general anesthesia by keeping them from eating or drinking during labor. This was a helpful discovery that prevented many deaths, so the rule became a medical precedent.
However, once labour begins, water is your best option, but if you aren't a fan of plain water, weak squash is a good choice too8. Remember to fill a sports bottle before you head to the hospital – something you can easily sip from with minimal effort.
Alternating plain water with electrolyte fluids in labor is a good idea to stay hydrated and prevent hyponatremia or water intoxication in labor. It can be a good idea to have a variety of drinks on hand in case you get sick of any of them.
Doctors began requiring women to fast during labor after it was documented in the mid-20th century that pregnant women who were put under general anesthesia had an increased risk for aspiration. Aspiration occurs when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs. It can cause a severe inflammatory reaction or death.
Because it's usually harder for mamas to eat during active labor, I recommend focusing on drinks that contain electrolytes and/or sugars like Gatorade and coconut water. Honey sticks, apple sauce pouches, popsicles, Jell-o, or hard candies are other great options when you can't stomach much but could use a quick boost!
Drinking Water During Labor
Starting dehydrated will exhaust you faster. Keep drinking especially during the early phases of childbirth. Continue to hydrate as often as you can until your baby is born.
The best foods for labor are easy to eat and digest, filling, and energizing. That also means avoiding foods that are high in fat, greasy, or spicy, since these can be more difficult to digest.
The authors concluded that epidural use “should be taken into consideration when allowing women in labor to consume a light meal.” In other words, they see people with epidurals as good candidates for eating during labor (in contrast to many doctors, who withhold food from laboring people with epidurals).
And you can stay hydrated as well as eat lightly as your day approaches in the hopes of avoiding large bowel movements. But even with these efforts, keep in mind that it's pretty likely you'll still pass some poop when you push.
Drink mostly water, milk, and fruit juice. Eat foods that have protein such as milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish and beans. Protein rich foods are important to help you recover from childbirth and keep your body strong. If you are under 18, or were underweight prior to pregnancy, you need to eat more protein.
Most women stay at home during this stage of labour. You can try to rest and relax, including by doing gentle stretches or by practising mindfulness, meditation or other calming techniques. You can eat light snacks like fruit or toast, but it is better not to have a heavy meal to avoid feeling nauseous later.
Usually, women have to stay in bed after receiving an epidural because of decreased sensation in their legs, which puts them at risk of falling. However, they are able to move their legs and can move around in bed, Dr. McGuire explains.
After an epidural, you may still be able to move around in bed and push when you need to. If you have a long labour, an epidural allows you to sleep and recover your strength.
You're usually awake during an epidural, but for some types of surgery you may have it while under general anaesthetic. A drip will be placed in your arm so you can be given fluids while you're having the epidural.
But medical advice advances with research. “Randomized control trials have shown no decrease in infections with hair removal and, in fact, have shown a slight increase with shaving compared to clipping or waxing before procedures. Hospital infection control doesn't recommend [shaving] at this time.”
This examination will also help them decide on the best method for you. It can take from a few hours to as long as 2 to 3 days to induce labour.
What induced labour feels like. Induced labour is usually more painful than labour that starts on its own, and you may want to ask for an epidural. Your pain relief options during labour are not restricted by being induced. You should have access to all the pain relief options usually available in the maternity unit.
Active labor usually lasts about 4 to 8 hours. It starts when your contractions are regular and your cervix has dilated to 6 centimeters. In active labor: Your contractions get stronger, longer and more painful.
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.