Eating during labour?

[Girl-23]

I wasn't allowed to eat. I was starving. I hadn't eaten for 24 hours. My OB and midwife refused me food when I requested some. So throughout my labour, I had orange juice and spirit to keep my energy levels up. By the time DD was born, I was so hungry but didn't eat because I was too tried. Good thing, the hospital served me a big breakfast in the morning.

[human bean]

As far as I'm aware it's really important to stay well hydrated during labour (and to keep peeing too) and I drank bottles and bottles of water during the whole day I laboured at home and then at the hospital. I laced all my water with rescue remedy that day too. I ate lots of really small meals during the day (i.e. little bowls of rice, a sandwhich for lunch) as I was trying to keep up my energy, not neccessarily because I was hungry. I did mung out on a bag of Allen's lollies earlier on in the day but they didn't stay down long. Think that was more sugar overload than labour lol Just before we set off for the Ob (at 8cm) DH tried to feed me toast and I had one bite and refused it. Didn't eat again til she was born later that night then devoured toast the middies made us.

[danniellabella]

I ate all through my labour (but I was in a birthing suite for most of it so not sure if the rules are different in a labour ward, and from hospital to hospital).

The only thing though, once I got to second or third stage (can't remember what defines each stage), I started throwing up a bit but not 100% sure if that was because I'd been eating, or a side effect from gas & epidural or a combination of everything.

[meow]

If anyone tells you you can't eat in labour I'd be dubious about their care- not only does it violate your human rights but it can stall labour if you lose energy.

That said- I threw up my lunch at the beginning of labour, then I threw up powerade when I tried to drink that so I spent the entire labour just drinking water... but LOTS of water!

[Taurean]

If anyone tells you you can't eat in labour I'd be dubious about their care- not only does it violate your human rights but it can stall labour if you lose energy.

That's a bit harsh, especially given that's it's common practice for midwives and OB's to recommend against eating during labour. There isn't much point eating (large snacks, acidic foods or full meals which is what a lot of OBs and midwives recommend against) if you will most likely just throw it all up again anyway, which seems to be a common theme in this thread. Labour is tiring enough without trying to cope with unnecessary vomitting as well.

I have no doubt that my delivery team were practicing excellent duty of care when they told me not to eat any more besides lollies. Vomitting up my breakfast a few times was bad enough!

[Tuesday's Child]

I was in denial in early labour, so I continued to eat throughout. But I tend to be a grazer anyway. Once things really got going, I didn't even think about food. I was drinking powerade though, even in second stage.

I'd prepare some light snacks that are easy to digest (eg pieces of fruit, soup, lollies etc) and take some sports or electrolyte drinks as well as water. The rule against eating and drinking is in case you need a GA, but an emergency CS can be done with a spinal or epidural instead.

[ladybird11]

Ok, I will take food along, JIC, but no acidy drinks....that being said I'll expect to get my moneys worth a second time as the food 'may' ahem, come back up lol.... .

Thanks everyone for your help and guidance

xoxo

[berrme]

I ate early in labour with DS1. The midwife brought me a meal and said I should eat something as I could be there for a while, but don't eat too much as a full stomach often makes people sick later. I ended up with an E c/s, but not for another 7 hours or so.
With DS2 they didn't want me to eat during labour as I supposedly had an increased chance of needing and E c/s again. I just had something to eat before I went into hospital. I had to make myself eat, cause I really didn't feel like it. And I didn't even think about eating again until DS2 was born. Then I was starving and ate a huge breakfast!! Food had never tasted so good.
You will probably find that they don't want you to eat going in for a vba2c. Have something before you go in and maybe take some barley sugars or something if you want something to suck on. They just like to prevent you having a big feed and then throwing it all up again if you have to be given GA for another c/s.

[Tinks]

I wasn't allowed to eat during my first labour, labour wasn't progressing and they thought I'd need a c/s.

With the other 2 I didn't even think about food, I ate afterwards though.

[Traveller]

I ate during my labours. Toast or cereal bars early on when I still had an appetite, and jelly beans later on for a quick burst of energy between contractions. I also drank gatorade and water with rescue remedy in it.

The nil by mouth during labour is a hangover from the days when CS's were done under general anaesthetic, and the risk of aspirating (vomiting and breathing it in) was higher. Many OB's still recommend nil by mouth, mainly in high risk labours (which yours will be classified as) but if you take your own food in and decide to eat it then that will always remain your right.

[CrazyLady]

lol, My midwife mentioned Hungry Jacks during labour and I wanted it so badly. Plus DP was looking a tad anxious so it did him good to have a break and get it for me

He said it was the longest lunch wait of his life!

[*star*]

I have this thought that I didn't eat enough / at all in my last labour. I am a frequent and big eater at the best of times, and find myself getting low on energy during the day if I haven't eaten for a couple of hours (and this is sitting at a desk job, LOL!). So I do connect the not eating with my lack of energy in my last labour, I ended up so tired that pushing was ineffective and I ended up with a c-section.

This time I am determined to eat and have it in my birth plan for my DH and doula to offer me food. Last time I had plenty packed, but think I refused a lolly snake the only time Dh offered me anything! This time I will be more conscious to try to keep the energy levels up.

[Shanti]

My labour was only 9hrs total from first contraction and they came on fast. Had no time to think about food. I did try lollies but threw that up pretty fast!!

Ice and water was all I wanted.

[Arimeh]

I had some toast early in the morning (my first contraction was around 5am) and then I didn't feel like eating anything else over the entire labour. I had sips of water because DH kept reminding me, but otherwise it wasn't something I craved.

The cup of tea afterwards was lovely though.

[Mother Goose]

Lees, I haven't had a chance to read all the replies but my first thought was;

1). If you end up needing an "emergency" c-sect, you get a spinal or epi anyway
2). If it is a true emergency and they need to give you a GA, they can do a manouver to avoid aspiration (which is one of the big risks with a GA if you've not fasted).

But, my hospital discouraged food during labour. They ordered me a lunch but it was for DH. Fluids were ok but not food. Having said that - food was the last thing on my mind! And I actually threw up when they brought DH lunch! They did ackowledge they couldn't prevent me from eating, but they strongly discouraged it.

xoxo

[Honeybee]

I had bought stacks of labour food - jelly cups, icy poles etc. But when it came to it, I think I had a couple of pieces of toast for breakfast (when labour had just started), and that was pretty much it. I tried to eat to keep my energy up, but I just couldn't stomach anything.

[angelaartsstudent]

I almost ate in labour...I took a few of those fruit and nut bars, for energy, I thought.

But I was far too tired to eat them, I sort of licked one on two different occasions, then Hubby ate them.

Didn't eat for a few days after, once I could sit up in ICU. For some reason (maybe one of the medications I was on?) I wasn't allowed to drink for a period of time after the birth.