Stupid question - but can you eat and drink during labour?

[Chelle1986]

I know on tele - you see them having ice chips and that! But can you have anything else?

The only reason not to eat is in case you need a general anaesthetic - very, very rare.

However, it is unlikely that you would want to eat during typical labour (12 hours or less). If you do eat, prepared to throw up at transition (not a big deal at all). Basically, do what you feel is right at the time.

yes of course.

I was actually being force fed chocolate and orange juice when in labour with DS as I needed the energy...... i soon told the midwife where to shove her miniture heroes though as I didnt want to eat!

I felt hungry in the first part of labour so had some cheese on toast, which I threw up at transition. Once contractions really got going, I didn't want to eat anything as I was too focussed on the sensations. My labour from onset of contractions to full dilation only lasted about 4 hours (hypnobirthing) so eating wasn't really an issue.

I had a general anaesthetic in the end for an emergency c-section due to foetal distress and they didn't ask me whether I'd had anything to eat or drink, but since I'd had a good puke earlier on (at home, so they didn't know this at the hospital) it was okay!

My midwife told me to pack cartons of fruit juice and cereal bars in my hospital bag - gives you a bit of energy. But yes, be prepared to throw up, and, of course, what goes in must come out so be prepared to wee yourself or worse if you aren't able to make it to the bathroom on your own as labour progresses

Cheerio dignity!!

No, I wasn't allowed to eat even though I had been 48 without food and had vomited my insides-out but that was because they had ear-marked me for a c-sect and in case I needed a general. I would have killed for some food though and begged DP to give me a bite of his muffin whislt the midwife was out of the room but he wouldn't.

I'd say if your labour is progressing normally and there is no threat of a c-sect then you can eat and drink freely if you feel like it.

Hi- I remember suddenly wanting a bowl of cereal after my contractions started then threw it up about 15mins later! I got some energy tablets (lucozade ones) from boots and dh fed them to me in the birthing pool. Another top tip if you're due in the summer was to keep a water bottle in the freezer and then take it with you to the hospital. Also take some straws! By the time you need a drink you've got some lovely cool water that keeps cold in a boiling hot labour suite for ages. Straws good because you can get a drink from whatever position you're in....

oooh yes, pasta or something in early stages then energy tablets & loads of water latrr

I had a curry....early stages about 8pm - gave birth at 2pm. I was starving at the time. My husband wanted to get me a very hot spicy curry (after he heard that it was a good thing to get labour going), I told him over the phone that it was a bit bloody late & to get me a korma..

When I was in active labour suprisingly I wasn't hungry. Had lots of Ribena though.

Ditto thebreastmilksonme - I was not allowed to eat in labour, which was a bit rough as it turned out I had GD with ketones in my wee - and a very protracted labour. By the time I did eat I hadnt consumed anything more than water for over 48 hours.

Yes you can unless your labour becomes complicated and you may need an GA.

I couldn't keep anything down though, as I was puking so much And as my labour was v long I ended up on a drip because I was dehydrated.

When in labour with DS I was told by the midwife I was to eat something to keep my energy up- she sent for some food to be sent to the labour room we were in.
When it came, I went to eat it and she told me I wasn't to eat as I may need to have a general later

Mine wasn't a straightforward labour though, and I did end up having a section, though not with a general. But for her to change her mind like that in the 10 minutes it took to come was a bit annoying!

Thankfully we made sure we ate dinner while we were still at home, that was the last bit of food I had for over 24 hours.

So sorry, I have no idea if you can, but I would say try and get a small meal in before you head off to the hospital, it was the best decision I ever made!