Why just clear liquids during labor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i wonder if the women talking about the low risk of aspirating are the same women who are not willing to "take the risk" with a glass of wine during pregnancy.

Both are low risk - aspirating probably lowest. One study looked at something like 2 million births and found only one case of aspiration. And as always, you have to weigh the risks and benefits. A one in two million risk vs being able to keep up my energy during labor? I'll accept the risk.

[Anonymous]

Hospital rules tend to be beyond conservative in their effort to reduce liability. The issue here is not whether you can eat, but whether the hospital is going to be liable for your eating in the rare, rare event you need GA during birth. I sense that some are rethinking the evidence and changing the policy, because this one doesn't seem necessary.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused by the people who think not eating will mean they won't throw up in labor. I find dry and bile heaving to be much worse than regular barfing. Maybe that's just me.

I need energy in labor. Lack of energy leads to interventions and c-sections that wouldn't orherwise be needed.

[Anonymous]

That's very interesting. I'm the doula who posted above that I've had multiple clients eat and drink with MCA, including when the midwives and/or nurses are in the room. I had no idea that they were telling clients this prenatally -- most of my clients seemed to be under the impression that eating and drinking would be okay, so I wonder how they got that impression if the midwives were saying clear liquids only. Which midwife told you this? That's too bad that they don't outright support eating and drinking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With regards to MCA, I've attended a fair number of births with them as a doula, and have had clients eat and drink as much as they wanted, and no one has ever said anything to the clients. I don't know what the policy is officially, but they are supportive of women eating and drinking during labor.

I asked about it at a prenatal and the answer was "eat as much as you want at home but when you come to the hospital, it's just clear liquids, jello, and popsicles".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another benefit of only clear liquids is that you have a lower chance of pooping during labor.

Have you been in labor? Why on earth would I want to avoid pooping during labor more than I would want energy during labor? It's a crazy marathon physical experience. You need sustenenance.

Seriously, calm down and knock off the snarkiness.

No woman in America is going to not be able to deliver a child because she didn't eat during labor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another benefit of only clear liquids is that you have a lower chance of pooping during labor.

Have you been in labor? Why on earth would I want to avoid pooping during labor more than I would want energy during labor? It's a crazy marathon physical experience. You need sustenenance.

Seriously, calm down and knock off the snarkiness.

No woman in America is going to not be able to deliver a child because she didn't eat during labor.

That's untrue. Fatigue in labor is related to the inability to successfully push. Most OBs only give a set timeframe for pushing. If you miss it, you get a c-section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another benefit of only clear liquids is that you have a lower chance of pooping during labor.

Have you been in labor? Why on earth would I want to avoid pooping during labor more than I would want energy during labor? It's a crazy marathon physical experience. You need sustenenance.

Seriously, calm down and knock off the snarkiness.

No woman in America is going to not be able to deliver a child because she didn't eat during labor.

Not pp, but I don't see any snark there. And it is my understanding that some medical professionals do in fact believe that starving oneself for many hours during the physically taxing event that is labor contributes to an inability to deliver the child, without additional medical intervention (section).

[Anonymous]

I was so worried about this with my first child. I ended up being induced unexpectedly at about 10 pm and I hadn't eaten since lunch. I convinced the doctor to let me have a popsicle, but honestly, I threw it up about an hour later and I did not even consider wanting food during my 9 hour labor. I know that doesn't sound like long compared to a lot of people's labors, but I was absolutely fine without anything. I think it's dumb to not allow it though and agree with everyone who said to try to labor at home for as long as possible so you can do what feels natural for you.

Oh, and I had an ENORMOUS breakfast about 2 hours after delivery. It was awesome.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't hungry once active labor hit. I felt like I was going to hurl during almost all of active labor. Really, how much digesting is going to take place when your body is doing the very difficult work of labor?

Who are these women doing all of early labor in a hospital? That kind of time line seems more likely to guarantee a section than food vs popsicle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another benefit of only clear liquids is that you have a lower chance of pooping during labor.

This has nothing to do with anything. Please refrain from making things up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't hungry once active labor hit. I felt like I was going to hurl during almost all of active labor. Really, how much digesting is going to take place when your body is doing the very difficult work of labor?

Who are these women doing all of early labor in a hospital? That kind of time line seems more likely to guarantee a section than food vs popsicle.

Puked during transition pp above. I was induced so I spent the whole glorious time in hospital. I would guess some others too.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if Wisdom care if you eat during labor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if Wisdom care if you eat during labor?

Wisdom takes the "eat whatever you'd like to eat" approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's very interesting. I'm the doula who posted above that I've had multiple clients eat and drink with MCA, including when the midwives and/or nurses are in the room. I had no idea that they were telling clients this prenatally -- most of my clients seemed to be under the impression that eating and drinking would be okay, so I wonder how they got that impression if the midwives were saying clear liquids only. Which midwife told you this? That's too bad that they don't outright support eating and drinking.

No, they definitely don't encourage it. The midwife Caitlin about tore my ear off when she saw me eating during labor.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. Maybe it depends on the midwife. Both Angel and Tara have seemed completely fine with women eating during labor, and have never said a word about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's very interesting. I'm the doula who posted above that I've had multiple clients eat and drink with MCA, including when the midwives and/or nurses are in the room. I had no idea that they were telling clients this prenatally -- most of my clients seemed to be under the impression that eating and drinking would be okay, so I wonder how they got that impression if the midwives were saying clear liquids only. Which midwife told you this? That's too bad that they don't outright support eating and drinking.

No, they definitely don't encourage it. The midwife Caitlin about tore my ear off when she saw me eating during labor.