Eating during labour does not affect delivery

by Deborah Condon Copyright © 2009
Eating during labour does not affect the delivery of your baby, the results of a new study indicate.The study also found that eating has no effect on the length of labour, the need for assisted delivery, such as the use of forceps, or Caesarean rates.According to UK researchers, since the 1940s, it has been common practice to prevent women who may need an emergency Caesarean under general anaesthetic, from eating during labour in order to minimise the risk of pulmonary aspiration (breathing food into the lungs).However pulmonary aspiration has declined dramatically in recent years, mainly due to the increased use of local anaesthesia for Caesarean deliveries. Furthermore, some doctors and midwives argue that preventing food intake during labour can be detrimental to the mother, her baby, and the progress of labour, so the policy of routine fasting is being increasingly challenged.
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