title: Oral nutrition in labour: 'whose choice is it anyway?' A review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to identify factors affecting women's oral nutrition in labour.
  
  
  METHODS
  literature review (1988-2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  Westernised maternity care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  women, midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists and hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  when addressing labour stages, the risk categorisation of women and maternal/fetal birthing outcomes, there was a lack of consistent evidence identifying adverse outcomes for mothers/infants when oral nutrition in labour had occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  little evidence exists to support the continuance of restrictive practices around oral nutrition in labour for all women. Women's choice is impacted by health practitioners' opinions, experience and practice methods and policy (or lack thereof). Policies are not reflective of current evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  women's choices and desires regarding oral nutrition in labour need to be addressed. Clear guidelines/policies need to be established based on current evidence. Midwives need greater exposure to research, as well as involvement in policy development and implementation.
authors.affiliation: Women's & Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, 5006, South Australia, Australia. skip_uk@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Byrt
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porter-Nocella
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007662:Ketosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control