Effect of food intake during labour on obstetric outcome: randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of feeding during labour on obstetric and neonatal outcomes.


METHODS
Prospective randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Birth centre in London teaching hospital.


METHODS
2426 nulliparous, non-diabetic women at term, with a singleton cephalic presenting fetus and in labour with a cervical dilatation of less than 6 cm.


METHODS
Consumption of a light diet or water during labour.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure was spontaneous vaginal delivery rate. Other outcomes measured included duration of labour, need for augmentation of labour, instrumental and caesarean delivery rates, incidence of vomiting, and neonatal outcome.


RESULTS
The spontaneous vaginal delivery rate was the same in both groups (44%; relative risk 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.08). No clinically important differences were found in the duration of labour (geometric mean: eating, 597 min v water, 612 min; ratio of geometric means 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 1.03), the caesarean delivery rate (30% v 30%; relative risk 0.99, 0.87 to 1.12), or the incidence of vomiting (35% v 34%; relative risk 1.05, 0.9 to 1.2). Neonatal outcomes were also similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of a light diet during labour did not influence obstetric or neonatal outcomes in participants, nor did it increase the incidence of vomiting. Women who are allowed to eat in labour have similar lengths of labour and operative delivery rates to those allowed water only.


BACKGROUND
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN33298015.
O'Sullivan
Geraldine
G
Department of Anaesthesia, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 7EH.
Liu
Bing
B
Hart
Darren
D
Seed
Paul
P
Shennan
Andrew
A