Imagine being in the midst of an endurance test, like a marathon, and being told you can’t eat or drink for several hours beforehand. While I may not have participated in a marathon, I do have experience with childbirth, and had I been prohibited from eating during the intensely challenging hours of labor, I would have been furious.
Yet, many hospitals in the United States maintain a strict policy against food and drink during labor. Ice chips are plentiful, but solid food is often off-limits. I had the privilege of giving birth with a midwife in a non-hospital setting, where I was not only permitted to eat but actively encouraged to do so.
During the early stages of my first labor, when contractions were spaced out, I enjoyed a comforting egg and cheese sandwich. With my second child, I relished a big bowl of cereal and milk—simple comfort foods that helped me cope with the demanding process ahead. Toward the end of my first labor, my midwife insisted I eat something, as I hadn’t had any food for hours. Despite my reluctance, I managed to consume five bites of soup before promptly throwing it back up. Nevertheless, my midwife was pleased that I had managed to get some calories in, and shortly after, I felt revitalized and successfully delivered my son.
Years later, I attended a friend’s hospital birth, which highlighted the differences in birthing practices. Unlike my experience, she was denied food and drink during labor. Despite consuming ice chips to stay hydrated, she was clearly hungry, and I felt compelled to sneak her a granola bar.
Fortunately, the notion of denying nourishment to laboring women is being reconsidered. In 2015, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommended that women in labor be allowed to eat and drink, whenever possible. Historically, the restriction against food during labor stemmed from fears that a woman might aspirate food if anesthesia was required, potentially leading to pneumonia and other complications.
However, after reviewing 385 studies from the past few decades, the ASA found that the risks associated with eating during labor were negligible. In fact, they discovered that withholding food could prolong labor. Longer labors are not something anyone desires; they can deplete a mother’s energy and cause emotional distress, which can negatively impact both the mother and baby.
While the ASA does acknowledge that certain high-risk women, such as those with eclampsia or preeclampsia, should avoid food during labor, low-risk women should not be subjected to these outdated restrictions. Each laboring woman should consult her healthcare provider to determine if eating and drinking during labor is safe for her.
In an informal survey of friends who had recently given birth, it became clear that many hospitals have yet to adapt their policies in light of this new guidance. Let’s hope for a shift because, when a woman is in labor, she should have the right to nourish herself.
If you find yourself in a situation where food is denied during labor but you believe you are low-risk, consider discussing this issue with your healthcare provider. You might even want to reference the ASA’s study as a conversation starter. If you receive permission to snack during labor, you will undoubtedly appreciate every morsel, even if you end up losing some of it shortly after.
For more information on this topic, check out our post on home insemination here. Additionally, if you’re looking for authoritative resources, visit Make a Mom for insights on home insemination kits. Another excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination can be found at ASRM.
In summary, allowing food and drink during labor is not just a matter of comfort but a significant factor in ensuring a smoother labor experience. As research evolves, so too should our approach to labor practices, prioritizing the health and well-being of mothers and their babies.