title: Eating and drinking in labor. A literature review.
abstract: This literature review questions the routine practice of denying food and fluids to women in labor. Fasting in labor, an established practice throughout the United States since the 1940s, is now under careful scrutiny. Many clinical practices, especially those that offer midwifery services, are currently instituting policies to allow and encourage eating and drinking in normal labor. To date, there have been no reported rises in maternal mortality with this policy change; neither have there been any reports of detrimental outcomes for mother or infant.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Nursing.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ludka
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids