{"id":28,"date":"2022-12-02T01:52:24","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T01:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/box5815.temp.domains\/~thetumm5\/?p=28"},"modified":"2022-12-12T22:30:15","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T22:30:15","slug":"eating-during-labor-best-foods-for-mama-to-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetummytalker.com\/?p=28","title":{"rendered":"Eating during labor – Best foods for Mom to eat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Written by: Adrienne Rutherford, Director of Operations and Clinical Support <\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You wouldn’t think there would be debates related to a woman eating during labor. My stomach gets hunger pains just thinking about it. Many hospitals, birth centers, and healthcare providers have different views on whether a laboring mama should or shouldn\u2019t be eating during labor. I know, it\u2019s silly right? Imagine this scenario. You are in labor and have been praying and preparing for this day throughout the entire pregnancy. Then, you are driving to the hospital with your perfectly packed hospital \u201cgo\u201d bag including some of your favorite snacks (Best Foods List<\/a>) to consume during labor. Then, just like that, and thanks to the hospitals\u2019 \u201cno eating\u201d policy, you cannot eat any food during labor due to there being a possibility of aspiration while under anesthesia. What!? Your hopes are now crushed of having food that can help give you enough energy to get through a potentially long labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is behind this no eating during labor debacle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A research study done in the 1940\u2019s by Dr. Curtis Mendelson suggested that aspiration during general anesthesia for delivery was able to be avoided by limiting oral intake during labor. Simply put, no drinks or food throughout the labor. The data he reviewed was from more than 44,000 pregnancies at a New York hospital. Mendelson concluded that in 66 of these cases examined and hypothesized, there was a risk for pneumonia if stomach contents were aspirated, or breathed, into the pregnant person\u2019s lungs after receiving general anesthesia. He recommended that during labor a reduction in food and drink would then shrink the stomach volume and then intern decrease the risks of acid aspiration in the stomach. (1) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please tell me this isn\u2019t still a thing\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, there has been much more research done since that study from the 1940’s. Currently, it\u2019s standard practice for regional pain management called a spinal epidural injection to be used in place of general anesthesia for vaginal delivery. Although, in the case of Cesarean delivery, general anesthesia may still be administered. Your doctor may advise a reduction<\/strong> in food or drink for a certain amount of time before the procedure, but that’s a lot more tolerable than zero food allowed. Thank you, Jesus! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even now, low-risk pregnant women in labor are told by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) to drink clear liquids. (2) For many years, pregnant women that are medically determined to be having a low-risk pregnancy, which have chosen to have their maternity care at birth centers & home births, versus the alternative of a hospital, have successfully experienced the vast benefits of eating and drinking during labor. It\u2019s a good idea to ask in advance if they have adapted their model to the current medical studies or if they are still using out-of-date practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seems like the proof is in the pudding (pun intended)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Studies have revealed that restrictions on food\/drink consumption during labor can actually lead to increased stress. (3) As you know stress can alter many things, even causing your labor to be longer & more painful. No, thank you. Mama, you need all the energy you can get to sustain and endure through the duration of your labor. Food and drinks are exactly what your body is looking for to give you the caloric energy boost it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Foods List:<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  It\u2019s all about keeping your body from working harder than it needs to, and minimizing nausea, by consuming only light food and drinks that are easily digested. What can I eat?   <\/p>\n\n\n\n