Imagine running a marathon and being told you can’t eat or drink anything for hours beforehand. While I haven’t run a marathon, I’ve experienced childbirth, and if someone had suggested that I skip meals during those intense hours of labor, I would have been furious. Yet, many hospitals in the U.S. still enforce a strict “no food or drink” policy during labor. Ice chips are plentiful, but solid food? Forget about it.
I had the opportunity to give birth with a midwife outside the hospital environment, where such restrictions didn’t apply. In fact, I was actively encouraged to eat. During the early phase of my first labor, when contractions were still manageable, I savored a warm egg and cheese sandwich. For my second labor, I enjoyed a hearty bowl of cereal and milk—comfort food that I desperately needed for the challenges ahead.
As my first labor progressed and I hadn’t eaten in over eight hours, my midwife insisted I consume something. Despite my intense contractions, she urged me to at least sip some juice or have a few bites of soup for energy. I managed to eat a few spoonfuls, but ultimately, I ended up vomiting. Thankfully, my midwife was just relieved that I had managed to get something in my system, and it wasn’t long after that I found the strength to deliver my son.
Years later, I witnessed a friend’s hospital birth, and it was striking to see the contrast in policies. She was not allowed to eat or drink during labor, and she was visibly hungry, relying solely on ice chips. I felt terrible and was tempted to sneak her a snack.
Fortunately, the conversation around this issue is evolving. In 2015, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommended that women in labor should be allowed to eat and drink when possible. The traditional “no food or drink” rule was originally based on concerns about aspiration during anesthesia, which could lead to complications like pneumonia.
The ASA reviewed 385 studies from after 1990 and found little risk associated with eating or drinking during labor. In fact, they noted that denying food and drink could actually prolong labor. Longer labors are not something any of us desire, as they can deplete energy and even cause emotional distress, which may divert blood flow away from the uterus and placenta, ultimately complicating the birth process.
While the ASA acknowledges that certain high-risk women must abstain from food and drink—such as those with conditions like eclampsia and preeclampsia—healthy, low-risk women should not be subjected to outdated restrictions. It’s crucial that every laboring woman consults her healthcare provider to determine whether consuming food and drink during labor is safe for her.
After casually asking friends who have recently given birth, it seems that only a handful of hospitals have begun to adopt these new guidelines, and many still cling to outdated policies. We can only hope for a shift, because when a woman is in labor, her body is doing the hardest work imaginable, and she deserves to nourish herself.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re told you’ll be denied food during labor, and you consider yourself low-risk, it might be worth discussing this information with your provider. Maybe even print out the ASA study to support your case. And if you’re granted permission to have a bite of toast or a protein bar during labor, you’ll be grateful for every single calorie, even if you end up losing some of it shortly after.
Trust me: You’ll need every bit of energy you can muster while engaging in one of the most physically demanding and life-changing experiences of your life.
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Summary
The article underscores the importance of allowing women to eat and drink during labor, highlighting the evolving stance of medical professionals on this issue. With the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommending that laboring women should be able to consume food and drink, it’s vital for women to advocate for themselves and discuss their needs with healthcare providers.