If you had inquired as to why you were being subjected to this cruel and unusual punishment during one of the most painful events of your life, you were probably told that it was a precautionary measure in the instance that anesthesia was needed during a cesarean section. The fear was due to a risk of vomiting and aspirating while under general anesthesia. However, the rare necessity of needing general anesthesia during c-section as well as the advanced anesthesia practices make vomiting very rare.
"Since the evidence shows no benefit or harms, there is no justification for [prohibiting eating and drinking] during labor, provided women have a low risk for complications," study researcher Mandisa Singata, MD, of South Africa's East London Hospital Complex, says in a news release. "Women should be able to make their own decisions about whether they want to eat or drink during labor or not."
As I was listening to the radio in the car the other day I heard a "One Minute Clinic" by the famous "Dr. Drew" Pinsky titled 'Are restrictions on eating and drinking during labor a thing of the past?'. I happily reflected on how I had pounded Recharge (natural Gatorade) during labor and was offered eggs and bacon by my midwife shortly after delivering, and am thankful that there is now enough proof to offer other women the same convenience to naturally keep up their energy during labor when delivering in the hospital. Medical News Today even sites reports of carbohydrates being beneficial during labor because they are easily digested, slowly release energy, and help during contractions. This should be welcomed news for those women who were craving cake, cookies, muffins, crackers or any other carb-filled luxury before, during, or after labor!
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