Which women want food during labour?: results of an audit in a Scottish DGH.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the proportion of women who would want to eat during labour and to identify any distinguishing characteristics of this group.


METHODS
Audit questionnaire, completed within 36 hours of delivery.


METHODS
One hundred and forty nine post-natal women, over a five-week period.


RESULTS
A significant minority (30%) of women would wish to eat during labour. A quarter of these feel that eating would have significantly enhanced their satisfaction during the event. In addition, some of these women admitted to eating secretly during labour.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians involved in the care of pregnant women should be aware of the arguments for and against allowing food during labour, in order to help these women reach an informed decision.
Armstrong
T S
TS
Department of Anaesthesia, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.
Johnston
I G
IG
D002755:Choice Behavior; D003696:Delivery Rooms; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D008485:Medical Audit; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires