The most beautiful day of your life is coming soon, right? But at the same time, you must be a little scared and impatient. Especially when you are about to have a baby , that is, when labor begins, you must have heard various stories about food and drink. Some say that it is not good to drink even a little water. Others say that you need to eat something for strength. So what is really true in this? Let's talk about it very simply, in a way that you can understand.
Strength and endurance - is it better to eat or not eat?
Think about it, giving birth to a child is like running a marathon. It is the biggest challenge your body can experience. For a first-time mother, labor pains can last between 12 and 24 hours. For a second or third child, this period can be reduced to between 8 and 10 hours.
Now look, on a normal day, even when we're not feeling tired, we eat something every few hours to gain energy. When you look at it that way, how difficult is it to not eat or drink anything at a time like this, when the body is under a lot of strain for hours? Many mothers had a big problem with this.
But I'm happy to tell you, this situation has changed a lot now. The strict rules that were in the past have now been relaxed.
Why did you say you couldn't give them food and drink before?
This story begins in the 1940s. At that time, doctors noticed that if mothers who were given general anesthesia during childbirth ate food, that food could come back up from the stomach and go into the lungs. This is what is called `Aspiration` in medical science.
Simply put, it is the wrong way of eating and drinking and going through the trachea into the lungs. During pregnancy, the hormone `Progesterone` relaxes the stomach muscles. Also, this risk is increased because the stomach is pressed by the growing uterus. If food goes into the lungs, it can cause severe infections (`Pneumonia`) and even be life-threatening.
At that time, although there was no cesarean section (C-section) when delivering a baby, it was common practice to completely anesthetize the mother. Therefore, to prevent this risk of `aspiration`, doctors decided to completely ban food and drink once labor began.
So has the situation changed now?
Yes, definitely. Medical science is very advanced now. Especially anesthesia methods have changed a lot.
Nowadays, `General Anesthesia` is only used in extreme cases, such as an emergency caesarean section, during childbirth. Instead, `Regional Anesthesia` is more commonly used. You may have heard of an `Epidural` or a `Spinal Block`. These methods do not put you completely to sleep, but only numb a specific part of your body, usually below the waist. Because you are conscious, the risk of `Aspiration` is much lower.
Recent research has found that the risk of aspiration during labor in a healthy, low-risk pregnancy is extremely low. In fact, only one such case has been reported in the United States between 2005 and 2013. And that was in a high-risk pregnancy with other complications, such as pre-eclampsia.
So, what should you eat and drink while you are expecting a baby?
If you have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy, you can eat light meals to help you stay energized during labor. But remember, these are best during early labor. It is wiser to avoid eating during active labor when the pain is increasing and the baby is about to be born.
What are these things you can eat and drink? Let's see.
| ✅ Good things to eat/drink | ❌ Things to avoid |
|---|---|
| Clear liquids: water, tea (low sugar), clear soup (e.g. chicken broth), carbonated drinks (like soda). | High-fat, heavy foods: Things like oily foods, meats, and heavy rice dishes. These are difficult to digest. |
| Light snacks: toast, crackers, fruit (like bananas, apples), yogurt. | Dairy: Dairy can cause stomach upset for some people, so it's best to avoid it at this time. |
| Energizing foods: a little honey, fruit juice (diluted with water). | Acidic drinks: Acidic drinks like orange juice can cause stomach irritation and vomiting. |
Benefits of eating and drinking
New research shows that there are several benefits to eating a light diet during labor.
- Shorter labor time: According to some studies, the energy gained may shorten the labor time slightly.
- Reduced emergency cesarean sections: When the mother has good strength, she can push well to deliver the baby. This reduces the risk of having to undergo an emergency C-section.
- A more comfortable experience: The mother can experience this experience more positively, as the discomfort of being hungry and thirsty is eliminated.
Who should definitely avoid eating and drinking?
This is very important. Not everyone has this permission. If your pregnancy is high-risk , or if you are more likely to have general anesthesia, you should completely avoid eating or drinking during labor.
Here are some such cases:
- If you have a planned cesarean section (`Planned C-section`).
- If you are at high risk of having an emergency C-section (e.g., if you have had a previous C-section, if there is a problem with the baby's position).
- If it is a multiple birth, like twins.
- If you have other health problems that affect your pregnancy, such as diabetes or high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia).
Eating and drinking under these risky circumstances can be dangerous, so it's important to talk to your doctor before making any decisions.
Questions to ask your doctor
Even with this new guidance, these rules may vary from hospital to hospital. So, before you go in to deliver your baby, find out what the hospital of your choice has a policy on this matter.
Also, ask these things clearly from the doctor who has taken care of you throughout your pregnancy and is very familiar with your condition.
- "Doctor, is my pregnancy low-risk?"
- "What are the chances that I will have to have a C-section?"
- "Can I have general anesthesia?"
- "Can you advise me on what I can and cannot eat during labor?"
Only he can tell you exactly what is best for your situation.
Take-Home Message
- Childbirth is a great strain on the body. It requires strength.
- If your pregnancy is healthy and risk-free, it is generally safe to consume clear liquids such as water, broth, and soup, and light foods such as toast and fruit, in the early stages of labor.
- Avoid fatty, heavy foods and acidic drinks that can cause stomach upset at this time.
- If you have a high-risk pregnancy or are likely to undergo a C-section, you should avoid eating or drinking altogether.
- Ultimately, before making any decisions about this, it is important to talk to your doctor and follow his or her advice.
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