• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Doctors OK eating in the delivery room

by Emme Lukasik Leave a Comment

To the relief of moms-to-be everywhere, new medical findings have prompted hospitals to lift the ban on snacking and drinking in the delivery room.

A research team out of Canada presented compelling evidence at the American Society of Anesthesiologists conference last month. Pulling data from 385 studies conducted over the past 25 years, the team concluded that women in labor would actually benefit from light snacking.

According to Dr. Christopher Harty, co-author of the study, women in labor expend the same amount of calories as marathon runners. Unlike marathoners, however, moms-to-be in the delivery room have been denied food and drink for fear they may aspirate – a fancy term for inhaling food or liquid into the lungs. Aspiration is particularly dangerous as it may lead to pneumonia.

Putting fears to rest

From their research, Harty and his team found that aspiration is no longer an issue with healthy patients. In the United States alone, the researchers unearthed only one case of an expectant mom aspirating during childbirth. This patient had several pregnancy complications, including obesity and preeclampsia.

“Our findings suggest a change in practice makes sense,” Harty said in a statement. “Physician anesthesiologists and obstetricians should work together to assess each patient individually. Those they determine are at low risk for aspiration can likely eat a light meal during labor.”

Why food matters

To boost endurance and fuel their incredible undertaking, marathon runners sip energy drinks and snack on protein bars throughout their journey. Without similar replenishment during the marathon that is labor, women may lose energy, undergo emotional stress – and even make their labors longer. How so? Fasting, the researchers state, may slow uterine contractions.

“[These new findings] give expectant mothers more choices in their birthing experience and prevent them from being calorie deficient, helping to provide energy during labor,” explained Harty.

What this means for you

Talk to your doctor or midwife about packing a light meal for delivery day. There’s no telling how long you’ll be in labor and a caloric boost may be just the fuel you need to get through it all. Many women lose their appetites during the throes of childbirth, but a small meal such as toast, crackers, or fruit may be a good option for you.

Read more: No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy

Filed Under: Pregnancy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

how to be a good mother

How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect

By Sarah Moore

Aligned Parents webinar

By Paul Banas

Footer

Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Gentle Parenting: 5 Ways to Lead with Love
  • How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect
  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT