Can you eat during labour?

[bob1985]

Been reflecting on DDs birth recently. It was a hard 24hrs of 'active' labour. Fairly early on the midwife said I couldn't eat, which meant by the end of the birth I basically had nothing for 48hrs (waters had broken had been a bit too nervous/distracted to each much).

I thought this was pretty standard but on speaking to a friend she said she was eating right up until she started to really push.

I do think my lack of energy prolonged the labour as I was so tired. A bit of sugar definitely would have helped

Does anyone know why i wasn't allowed to eat? DD was born at 33+6 so I'm wondering if this was the reason.

I wasnt allowed to eat when it became clear that I might need an emergency c section. I wonder if that was it and they were keeping the option open for you?

I wasn't allowed to eat because they thought there was a risk that I'd need a c-section so wanted to keep my tummy empty for the anaesthetic

You’re not allowed to eat before a c-section, if you’d been in labour for a good while they were probably thinking it might go that way.

Thanks all. I was thinking that it must have been because the thought I was at risk of a section.

But it was really early on, like maybe 3/4cm. I'm surprised they could make that judgement so quickly. I didn't need a section in the end.

I was encouraged to eat all the way through, even at the pushing stage. I went to EMCS in the end and it was fine

I was projectile vomiting liquids so no solids for 4 days. Then a c section.

Hard me.

I was allowed to eat but I vomit during labour so didn't keep it down. While they prefer you to have fasted for surgery they can perform them if you've eaten.

I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink. I had two normal deliveries, no caesareans.

33+6 is early and can need medical intervention like a section, so no food. It ups the risks.
I had DS at 31+6 and desperately wanted food but the entire NICU team said it would up the risks of me aspirating if it came to a C section and could harm myself and DS. So I coped with the hunger and desperate need for a coffee.

@bob1985 I was fully dilated and pushing and my midwife was getting my husband to feed me biscuits 🍪 in between contractions I had only gone 10 hours with out food but she said I needed the energy

Honestly only time in my life I didn’t want food

That’s a long time op congratulations on your baby though

I ate a jacket potato 20 minutes before she was born with my last baby. They gave it me

I had two inductions where I wasn't allowed to ear in case it went to section. I sneaked wine gums when the mw was our of the room

Eat and out

Stupid t!

I was induced and they didn’t let me eat (they gave me toast just before they started the drip, then ranitidine every 6 hours or so) because it increases your risk of needing intervention, so they want your stomach empty in case you have to have surgery. I did need an emergency section in the end so just as well really. With my second, planned section, I had to fast and take ranitidine in advance of the surgery.

You always have a choice but they may strongly advise you not to. Once an epidural is in or other thing which is a risk factor for a c section then they don’t like you to eat.

Wasnt allowed to eat due to induction and high chance of needing intervention. Went 27hrs in active labour and then was told to wait 5hrs(?) following my section to eat incase I needed to go back into surgery

Thanks all.

Interesting that it varies so much.

My friend who was eating all the way up to birth had an epidural and induction. No one suggest she not eat.

I can see the need for an empty stomach with surgery.

25h labour hère. They don't use general anaesthetic for c-sections in this bit of the world, just epidural, but they still didn't want me to eat proper food in labour. Just jelly. I hate jelly. After 17 hours DH brought me ice cream, which I ate happily.

A nurse came in as I was finishing up and said "you shouldn't be eating, it might make you throw up," which was hilarious because I had been throwing up for 17 hours at that point and I was past giving a fuck.

Reader, the ice cream stayed down.

I was strongly encouraged to eat and drink. My husband was tasked with getting me to eat little and often up until we went to the hospital (I arrived in transition), which I did even though I didn’t think I wanted it, and I’m sure it helped me keep my energy levels up. I had a 27-hour labour and straightforward vaginal delivery. I can understand the advice for an elective Caesarian, and obviously in the case of a woman being unable to keep anything down, but as a blanket rule it seems really odd and counter-productive as you are going to increase the risk of the woman getting exhausted.

I was encouraged to eat and drink, even in my first which was long, difficult and nearly ended in a c-section (luckily didn’t, she came out with ventouse in the end!).
I didn’t feel like eating at all, but I was certainly not stopped from it.

Generally you're told not to eat if there is a risk of surgery. I'd eaten, and then I did need surgery, but they held off as long as they could because of it and tried to time it.

I still thought I was going to vomit during the surgery, but the aneathatist has to eventually be very clear that as I was open and my womb outside my body (long story) I couldn't be sat up easily, quickly or Safely, , and that the vomit could end up in my lungs and be fatal.

The poor bastard then spent a good couple of hours trying to talk me out of vomiting. He even sang to me at one point to distract me from my constant refrain of "I really am going to be sick". Which did work..especially as my husband joined in.🤣

The trouble is that there is always a risk of needing surgery. And I wonder how much not eating at all in a normally progressing labour (as far as anyone can tell) might increase the risk of needing surgery? It’s a tricky one

You are allowe to. I did during a long labour. I had a third degree tear and had to go to be stitched up. The dr wasn’t happy I had eaten recently but the midwife stood her ground and said that I had needed. I did vomit during the op but there you go!!

@IvinghoeBeacon that's my thinking. I was probably about 5/10mins away from emergency surgery. I had so little energy for pushing. I thinking something like sugary jelly would have helped.

The toast I had after was the best meal I've ever had!

I did with DD, even after the epidural. I wish I hadn’t though as I threw up straight after she was born!

DS’ birth was so quick that food was the furthest thing from my mind. I don’t think I even had much water.

This time around I’ll pack some snacks and see how I feel/how quickly things are progressing.