can you eat if you are having an epidural?

[bodsmum]

just that really..you're advised to take snacks to hospital but can you still have an epidural if you've had something to eat?

I was eating during the early stages of having ds2. Reason being that when I had ds1, they kept moving me wards at meal times so I managed to miss every meal for 3 days, so when I had ds2 I was stuffing my face! lol
They told me to stop eating once everything started happening and I had an epidural

I think you can, but you will more than likely not want to. Try though, esp. before as both time I have been sick in labour and nothing is worse than heaving on an empty stomach.

Hospital here its against guidelines.

The reason you are advised not to eat in some hospitals is because it is dangerous to have anything in your stomach if you need to have a General Anaesthetic. With childbirth, there is evidently a risk of a c-section being needed under GA - this risk is higher if you have an epidural, which is why hospitals tend to discourage eating.

There is no risk from eating during the normal course of childbirth, epidural or not. And I think that eating, if you feel up to it, is better than not eating - even if you do have a GA, it is not that big a risk (and the chance of having to have a GA is low anyway)

I was very naughty when I had an epidural and quickly ate every time the m/w popped out the room.

Managed to eat a cheese sandwich and a full size Cadbury's easter egg before they wheeled me off for a section!

I was told I couldn't eat but I didn't feel like eating anyway so this wasn't a problem,

however DP helped himself to all the snacks, and popped out to the canteen half way through to have dinner!!

I never wanted to eat. i was too tired. after i gave birth i was given a drink, sandwhich and fruit but i didnt even touch it. i just felt sick and drained. just wanted to sleep!

thanks for advice..will take a few things for DH and postbirth if up for it.