Allowing a pregnant woman to eat during labour does not seem to have any impact on the outcome of the infant or mother, and doesn't increase the risk of vomiting. Researchers from London studied 2,426 pregnant women in labour who were allowed to eat lightly or to have just water during labour. There were not any significant differences seen between the two groups. Eating lightly during labour had no effect on the length of labour, the need for assisted delivery, such as the use of forceps, or caesarean section rates. Forty-four percent of women who ate a light diet during labour had a spontaneous normal vaginal delivery - a rate identical to the rate seen in their peers who were permitted to have only water. The caesarean delivery rate was 30 percent in each group, and rates of instrument-assisted vaginal delivery were 27 percent in the eating group and 26 percent in the water group. The average length of labour was slightly but not significantly shorter in the eating group versus the water-only group (597 vs. 612 minutes). The incidence of vomiting was nearly the same as well, at 35 percent and 34 percent in the two groups. There were no significant differences in any infant outcomes observed between the groups. Contrary to popular belief, eating during labour had no ill effects on pregnancy outcomes.
British Medical Journal
March 2009
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