Can I Eat During Labor?
Can I Eat During Labor?
Is eating during labor safe? We bet you have wondered about this question once or twice, and today, we are here to give you our answer!
The idea of not eating or drinking during labor is often a hospital expectation that they follow in order to prevent the risk of aspiration while under emergency anesthesia. However, it is safe to eat and drink during labor. According to Dr. Bautista, an associate professor of anesthesiology at Memorial University, St. John’s Newfoundland in Canada there is very little risk of aspiration in healthy, low-risk women. In fact, there was only one case of aspiration during labor between 2005 and 2013 in the United States.
Labor is a marathon, and it requires a lot of energy to keep up strength. At Birth Center Stone Oak, we encourage women to eat and drink during labor in order to stay hydrated and energized to progress through the process. We believe in nourishing your body in the natural ways so you aren’t stuck to an IV and are able to move around freely.
Your choices for childbirth are very important. How you are supported in those choices enhances not only your labor but also your memory of your birth experience. We want to give low-risk laboring women the choice of eating and drinking during labor. With that in mind, we monitor your labor and birth safely while respecting your space and needs. Of course, it is still important to be careful about what you are eating and drinking so you are fueling your body properly!
Here is a list of things many people like to eat and drink during labor!
- Greek Yogurt
- Protein Shakes
- Cheese
- Multigrain bread or crackers
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Bananas
- Juice
- Water
- Miso soup
If you want to learn more about Birth Center Stone Oak’s care send us a message today!