title: Midwifery dilemma: to fast or feed the labouring woman. Part I: The case for restricting oral intake in labour.
abstract: This paper presents a literature review which pursues both sides of the labouring woman's oral intake debate--to fast or to feed the labouring woman. Part 1 provides an exploration of the phenomenon of gastric content aspiration associated with general anaesthesia and its historical and physiological underpinnings. Part 2 provides an examination of the literature concerning the benefits of fasting labouring women.
authors.affiliation: parsons5@bigpond.net.au
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001315:Australia; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing*; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States